Rover - Rover P6
With the advanced chassis of the Rover P6 , first introduced in 1963, there were new plans for a more powerful car. Rover had purchased the rights to the all alloy Buick V8 engine from GM (along with all tooling) which they developed. This engine had its lineage with the alloy V8 BMW of the 1950's, the rights to which they had sold to Buick. This engine first saw use in a Rover model called the P5 B in 1967. One of the ideas of having the V8 in the Rover range was that Triumph had a V8, as did Jaguar and Daimler their V8, and for a more powerful car Rover needed something more than their 2 litre and 2.2 litre 4 cylinder engines. Ironically by the time the Rover V8 was finalised Triumphs owners (British Leyland), were also the owners of Rover. There had been a considerable amount of work carrying out the transplant of the V8 into the existing model, bearing in mind the car had not been envisaged with this V8 engine in it originally.
The Rover 3500 was introduced in 1968, with more power and an engine that weighed no more than the P6 4 cylinder engine. The Rover 3500S model was introduced in 1971 by which time the car had some differences and upgrades, including synchromesh on all gearbox gears, which is what the S of the 3500 S signifies! S was for Synchromesh, not Sport) The P6 Rovers continued in production until 1977 when the new model SD1 was launched.
- Tyre size for the Rover P6 that was fitted with the V8 engine, called Rover 3500 and Rover 3500S, had the larger diameter full 80 profile 185R14 tyre size, the larger
diameter being required due to the gearing, because the back
axle ratio was kept the same as the 4 cylinder Rover P6, and this was Rovers way
to get the higher gearing. Blockley produce this highest quality 185HR14 tyre in both standard and whitewall types.
- Tyre size for the Rover P6 fitted with the four cylinder engines (the Rover 2000 and 2000TC) had the smaller 165R14 tyre size as standard. Should one wish, a non standard wider 185/70VR14 or even full profile 185VR14 could also be fitted.
- Blockley produces all the tyre size options
for the Rover P6 models (whether 4 cylinder 2000 and 2000TC or V8 3500 and 3500S) with high speed rated and period correct
tread patterns. The 4 cylinder cars having the 165HR14 tyre size, its wider version 185/70VR14 and the full
diameter 185HR14, all with correct speed rating. See full details of all
these Rover P6 tyre sizes below:
