Spotted: a 1977 Rover 3500
The spotted specimen
Along the beautiful canals of Utrecht, we saw this 1977 Rover 3500, which came to the Netherlands at the turn of 2020-2021. By the way, upon import, the car was given an appropriate license plate, given its year of manufacture. We feel that the car has since become a familiar sight in the city, at least among car enthusiasts. Overall, the Rover looks very nice, although two things stand out. For example, it is a bit high on its legs at the rear, and although the headlights are supposed to be somewhat recessed on early examples, they are very deep in the front on this one.
The Rover SD1
The Rover 3500 was part of a model line better known overarchingly as the Rover SD1. That was the internal designation for the development project, but was eventually popularly used as a type designation as well. In fact, the SD1 had no official umbrella type name; it depended entirely on the specific version. ‘SD1’ stands for Specialist Division 1, where the number is the project number. So the SD1 was the first model of the new in-house development department.
(Not) revolutionary
The Rover SD1 entered the market in 1976, as the successor to both the Rover P6 and Triumph 2000/2500. As for the design, it is no secret that the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’, among others, served as inspiration. For its time and certainly for a British brand, the SD1 was quite revolutionary, with its streamlined design. The car was also full of clever design details. For example, the dashboard was largely modular, so a left- or right-hand drive version could be built using the same parts. The use of materials was also new, with little to no wood but modern, soft-touch plastics.
In technical terms, then, the Rover SD1 was somewhat less advanced. To simplify production, the De Dion rear axle of the previous P6 was replaced with a simple rigid rear axle, and the car also received rear drum brakes. Instead of an all-new four-cylinder, under the long hood lay redeveloped versions of the existing 2.3- and 2.6-liter six-in-line engines, or the also pre-existing 3.5-liter Rover V8.
Rover SD1 becomes Car of the Year
The Rover SD1 was received with enthusiasm by the press and public and was even named the 1977 Car of the Year. Also, the SD1 marked Rover’s return to the North American market (albeit with moderate sales). However, the car was soon plagued by mediocre build quality, for it curbed enthusiasm among many. In 1979 the range was expanded with a new top-of-the-line model in the form of the V8-S, although it was already replaced by a luxury Vanden Plas version in 1980.
Facelift for the Rover SD1
A subtle facelift followed in 1983. The headlights were no longer recessed and henceforth framed with chrome. In the interior, the instrumentation was updated and wood did return for a slightly more luxurious look. The model range was also expanded to include a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, aimed primarily at the business market since the smaller engine size brought tax advantages. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder diesel was also added to the lineup as diesel became popular in more and more markets. A new premium model was also added to the lineup in the form of the Rover Vitesse.
Despite not equally successful sales in all countries, the Rover SD1 lasted through 1986, when the model was relieved by the Rover 800. However, the SD1 remained available from stock until well into 1987.
