Rob, this is excellent; I know the RSR, Enthusiasts and the Ultimate 75 'clubs' will all be pleased to see this. I would like to post it as a link, but don't know how to do it, so if anyone can do it, will it be OK. If not I will put a post on their forum by referring to the Community etc.
The 3 Litre Rovers shown are early 1958 launch models (see Rover badge on the front end of each front wing, which was soon deleted), and this was probably the pinnacle of Rover design and engineering. The 6 cylinder engine had overhead inlet and side exhaust valves in a sloping aluminum head, which was first seen in the 1948 P3 Rover 75, and the later P4s. This arrangement had the spark plugs sitting between the valves in what was a very efficient cross-flow style head design. The track test was made by more than one tester per car, one being a woman because they were good at detecting squeaks and rattles. Also, when I visited Rover at Solihull in 1963, the cars were sent out on test, and when 'passed' were handed over to the 'pre-delivery' women, who then fitted the hub caps and polished the cars, under strong fluorescent lights, with Simonize wax polish.
This was before BLMC/BL/ARG etc., started to dilute the quality, and when Rover (with Land-Rover), was one of 'Britain's Fine Cars', often referred to as the poor man's Rolls Royce. My 1963 3 Litre Coupe, manual with Overdrive, was the best car I had ever owned, until I got my R40 Rover 75 CDTi manual. In my opinion, the design team for R40 were spot on with their interpretation of the BMW design brief to produce a modern version of those 1950s/60s Rovers.
If there are other similar films around, it would be interesting to see them on here. I know the 75eu site has some, and others are on here under the Auto Boot opening conversion For Sale entry.
Roverite.
Posted 18 May 2013, 14:54
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