Unique Rover 3500 A Great British Icon

Article written by Bush Tyres

No Normal Rover 3500

Our Spalding branch enjoyed a blast from the past with a visit from this 1981 (SD1) Rover 3500 ‘Vanden Plas EFi’. The owner decided to treat the car to a full alignment check and setup which is a really important check to have done periodically for reasons of both safety and fuel economy.

Rover 3500 Vanden Plas ‘SD1’

If there was ever a car ahead of its time it was this one. The Rover SD1 launched in 1976 was like nothing that had come before it. From 1976-1986 over 300k cars were produced at the Castle Bromwich, Cowley and Solihull factories in England as well as Chennai in India and even Nelson New Zealand. The Rover 3500 SD1 was a truly global car.

At the time Rover was under the ownership of the mighty British Leyland group. The name SD1 evolved from the original name RT1, Rover/Triumph No1. Initially intended as a replacement for either of the outgoing Rover P6 or Triumph 2000/2500 models. The car eventually became known as SD1, Specialist Division No1 after the new Special Division created by British Leyland by joining the rover and Triumph design teams under one umbrella group.

British Leyland had originally intended the car to be fitted with the new 2.2 DOHC 16v slant four engines, they then switched to a redesign of Triumph’s 6 cylinder inline six engine. The cars eventually got the benefit of the mighty 3528cc Rover V8 engine as we see in this customer car. This car is also a very rare Vanden Plas (VP) model, introduced in 1980 the VP replaced the even rarer ‘Triton’ model and featured luxury enhancements such as a leather interior as standard.

Despite everyone still referring to the car as SD1 models, Rover never marketed the cars as such. They were always described by their engine size and model type. This one is a Rover 3500 Vanden Plas EFi. Other models were simply referred to as Rover 2600 or Rover 2000 S for example.

In this modern age, cars like BMW 6 series Grand Coupe and the Mercedes SLS or Audi A7 fastback all owe a part of their existence to the original 5 door sport saloon/coupe. All the practicality of a four-door saloon, plus the advantage of a hatchback boot with folding rear seats for luggage and the looks and performance of a sports coupe. The Rover 3500 SD1 had it all!

Wheel Alignment

Tyre manufacturers recommend checking your car’s wheel alignment every 6 months or 5000 miles to get the greatest benefit from the check. This should be done along with your monthly pressure checks. These checks are all available free of charge at all our locations.

A properly setup car will provide maximum grip and afford better performance but what is often overlooked is the fact that it will also maximise the lifespan of your tyres. This is especially important after any suspension or restoration work. Along with correct tyre pressures, alignment helps to ensure your car performs as the makers intended.  Correct alignment and regular pressure checks can also help save you money on your fuel bills.

We at Bush Tyres use the most up to date 3D digital alignment machines, available at all our locations. These machines are calibrated regularly to ensure the highest standards are achieved. Before every car is aligned, we also carry out a check of all your vehicles major suspension components. This ensures the best results every time.

Should your car have had any recent suspension or restoration work carried out, make sure you take advantage of our FREE alignment checks. Please call into one of our many local branches, you will get the best advice on the setup options available for your vehicle.

To find out more about the importance of having a correct wheel alignment check, and the benefits from better grip, reduced fuel economy and longer tyre life just as the owner of this Rover 3500 is experiencing now, click on the button below.

Wheel Alignment Check