Classic Car Catalogue
Rover 1972

3½-Litre (P5B)
2000/3500 (P6)
Range Rover
Land Rover
Great Britain

ROVER 2000 £1,868
Nearly ten years old now, the Rover 2000 with its pioneer safety features has had an obvious effect on the design of many later models from other factories. There are two versions, with single and twin carburetters. The body, with its strong cage structure does not depend on the outside panels for strength. A smoother gear change was recently added and cold starting made easier.
ROVER 3500 £2,207
Rover enthusiasts who have longed for a 3500 with manual gearbox now have their wish granted. The car is faster than the automatic transmission model and cheaper. The four-speed gearbox has its own oil pump and it leaves space for bigger diameter exhaust pipes which release more horsepower. There are new stainless steel wheel trims and new seats giving better lateral support.
RANGE ROVER £2,399
Unassailable in its combination of speed, comfort and crosscountry ability, the Range Rover attracts more orders than the factory can meet. Its powerful V8 engine runs on low-grade fuel and four-wheel drive with an eight-speed transmission give it the off-road abilities that enabled the British army to score the first ever run right through North and South America.
London show review
2000 and 3500
2000 SC (R4 cyl, 1978 cc, 89 bhp)
2000 TC (R4 cyl, 1978 cc, 110 bhp)
3500 V8 (V8 cyl, 3528 cc, 144 bhp)
3500 S (V8 cyl, 3528 cc, 150 bhp)
Saloon

2000 SC Automatic
Rover 2000 SC and SC Automatic
In an age of spectacular technological change it is surprising to realise that a motor car can still be a class leader several years after its first appearance on the roads. Is this because motor manufacturers are slow to catch on, or that a car can be so advanced at the time of its inception that the rest of the field are never quite able to catch up? At the time of its announcement we said of the Rover 2000, 'it is more than a car, it is an integrated motoring system.' And so it is. 'Takes motoring years ahead', we said. And so it did. That it has remained ahead through eight highly competitive years is due to its advanced original design, in which safety plays an essential part, combined with Rover's own particular brand of engineering. During this time it has undergone no radical change but has been progressively improved in matters of detail. It will be seen that the result is a car of considerable charm and distinction.
There are three models in the 2000 range: SC single carburettor version, TC with twin carburettors, and SC automatic. Each has its own particular character and all are typically Rover inside and out. All three are virtually identical in outward appearance and are distinguishable mainly by the appropriate model lettering. They are also similar internally except that whereas the single box-type instrument panel is retained on SC and Automatic versions, the TC has a full range of dial instruments. All models now have a rotary map-reading light and a hazard warning switch that operates all external flashers simultaneously.
Inside the Rover 2000 all is compactness and comfort with ample room for the four people it is designed to carry, but no wasted space. Four leather-faced, individually formed seats are specially designed to give effective lateral support for fast touring. Although leather is the normal seat facing material, brushed nylon, in sandalwood colour or ebony, can be provided as an alternative.
In the SC Automatic the transmission is the three-speed Borg Warner type 35 incorporating certain special features to Rover specification. In fact, this transmission can be operated automatically or manually at the driver's discretion. Fully automatic operation is obtained by putting the selector lever in position D, manual control by selecting positions 1, 2 or D when the appropriate gear will be engaged and held.

2000 SC

2000 SC

2000 TC
.... and 2000 TC
The Rover 2000 TC is the natural complement to the 2000 on which it is based, providing additional power and performance for the motoring enthusiast who requires a more sporting saloon. The initials TC refer to the twin carburettors that give the engine its extra power. This engine, which is basically that of the 2000 SC, received much of its early testing in some of the world's most gruelling rallies and in its present form is a highly developed, reliable source of power. The 10:1 compression ratio TC engine develops 113.5 brake horsepower at 5,500 rev./min. (DIN) giving a maximum speed of around 110 m.p.h. with performance in the intermediate gears to match. A 9:1 compression ratio engine is used for countries where high-octane fuels are not readily available. Driving the car is an impressive experience. From the outset, the 2000 has received wide acclaim from motoring experts throughout the world for its suspension system-independent at the front, De-Dion at the rear. It gives phenomenal road-holding qualities which, combined with powerful disc brakes, impart a feeling of stability and safety under all conditions. The steering also has its special refinements. The wheel is adjustable for rake to provide the most comfortable driving position and the box is mounted high up on the scuttle behind the engine where it is out of harm's way in an accident.
The latest TC instruments are shown, and include large speedometer and tachometer dials with smaller petrol, water temperature, oil pressure gauges and ammeter on either side. Clear but unobtrusive illumination is provided for instruments and switches for easy reference at night.

2000 TC

Safety by design
The strength and safety of the 2000 is founded on a steel base unit which carries all the mechanical components and forms the passenger compartment. Occupants therefore sit in what is virtually a steel cage with a very strong bulkhead forward of the facia to afford good protection in the event of an accident. In respect of a head-on collision this bulkhead prevents the engine being pushed back into the passenger compartment.
The safety features listed below apply generally to the 3500 and 3500 S models which are, of course, based on the 2000 design concept.
Base Unit
1. The base unit method of construction makes it possible to locate the passenger compartment within a robust steel cage designed to resist distortion and protect the occupants.
2. The steel bulkhead, moreover, is designed to prevent the engine penetrating to the passenger compartment in the event of a head-on collision.
Interior Furnishing
3. The front seats have a padded roll along the top edge of the back to lessen the likelihood of head injuries to rear seat passengers thrown forward in a collision. In the event of rear impact the squab will also 'give' rearwards, thus minimising risk of neck injuries.
4. The glove lockers positioned at knee height have a flat padded surface backed by a material which will collapse in the event of impact, therefore affording protection to the knees.
5. The seats are designed on the basis of medical advice to support the small of the back and they have infinite rake adjustment.
6. Vital areas of the roof and rear quarter panels are fitted with thick resilient padding.
7. Provision for inertia reel safety harness on front seats in addition to standard provision.
8. The rear door lock interior handle cannot be operated when the sill-button is depressed to minimise accidental opening of the door by a child. The door can still be opened from inside in an emergency. Anti-burst locks are fitted to all four doors.
9. The sun visors are softly padded and collapse on impact.
Controls
10. Instruments mounted close to normal line of vision to reduce visual adjustment when driver refocuses from road to instruments. (Many people have difficulty refocusing rapidly.)
11. Switches are designed and marked to minimise injury and give easy recognition.
12. Interior mirror fitted with protective frame.
13. 'BRAKE' shows on instrument panel when brake fluid reservoir is low or hand-brake is on.
Ventilating System
14. To minimise fatigue and drowsiness, the car is fitted with a throughflow ventilating system.
15. Fresh air ducts at face level can be operated individually regardless of heater setting.
16. Opening rear quarter vents for additional ventilation.
17. Air intake is above the exhaust level of other vehicles.
Steering
18. Steering box mounted high up on the scuttle at the rear of the engine to avoid the steering column and wheel being pushed up into the passenger area in a head-on collision.
19. The steering wheel is dished for safety and adjustable for the most comfortable position.
Fuel System
20. The fuel tank is positioned within the main structure of the car and separated from the passengers by a steel bulkhead.
Braking System
21. Servo-assisted disc brakes on all four wheels for the maximum stopping power.
Suspension
22. Independent suspension of the front wheels and De Dion suspension at the rear gives the car great stability and cornering power, with safety.
Tyres
23. Radial ply tyres not only fitted as standard but included as part of the basic design. They provide improved handling, precision steering response and offer better adhesion on wet surfaces.

3500 S
Rover 3500 S
The 3500 S has been added to the Rover range to satisfy insistent public demand for a four-speed gearbox manual version of the 3500. The new model can be distinguished from its automatic stablemate by the grained vinyl roof covering in Huntsman (brown) or Ebony, depending on exterior body colour, and by the brushed stainless-steel spoked wheel trims.
This car has a performance superior to that of many more expensive models from both British and European manufacturers, a fact clearly indicated by its 125 m.p.h. maximum speed and 0-60 m.p.h. acceleration time of around 9.5 seconds. But out-and-out performance is only part of the story. With the 3500 S, the way this performance is achieved impresses as much. Instant power response, swift, smooth progression through the gears, and cars which were alongside moments before become a mere reflection in the rear-view mirror.
Then there is the comfort. Four well-proportioned seats finished in ventilated box-pleated Ambla material (leather facings optional extra) support the body where the body needs support and the interior furnishing as a whole has the quality and refinement the owner of a car of this class is entitled to expect. Full, refrigerated air-conditioning is available as an optional extra.
Because of its close relationship with the Rover 2000, the 3500 S is one of the safest cars on the road.

3500 S

3500 S

3500
Rover 3500
Like the 3500 S, the 3500 is based on the extremely successful Rover 2000 principle in which safety in all its aspects plays an essential part. Additionally, within its sleek lines and compact overall dimensions, the car combines to a remarkable degree all the requirements for fast and luxurious executive travel.
Because of the power of its lightweight V8 engine and outstanding road-holding capabilities, the 3500 is first and foremost a driver's car. The automatic transmission, which incorporates manual control, allows it to be driven quietly around town or vigorously, using maximum performance, when there is a wish to 'press on'. Either way, journeys for business and pleasure can be covered with untiring ease.
Interior appointments leave no doubt that this is a true Rover and the detail specification is comprehensive, to say the least. Although leather is the normal seat-facing material for the 3500 automatic, brushed nylon in sandalwood or ebony is available as an alternative and this material is shown in our interior illustration. Equipment, which also applies to the 3500 S, includes: full range of instruments, smoothly moulded rotary switches, hazard warning switch, brake pad wear warning, windscreen wiper with intermittent wipe control for drizzle and road splash, gear-driven front quarter vents, rotary map reading light, all handles designed for safety.

3500
3½-Litre
P5B (V8 cyl, 3528 cc, 151 bhp)
Saloon
Coupé

3½-Litre Coupé
Rover 3½ Litre Saloon
Travelling in modern traffic conditions can be a frustrating experience for ordinary motorists but within the 3½ Litre Rover Saloon or Coupé one can view every situation with a degree of detached calm, insulated against the noise and bustle of the workaday world. This more relaxed outlook is largely inspired by the car's exceptional silence, the drawing-room comfort of the interior as a whole and the carefully thought out appointments and accessories which provide for a high proportion of driver's and passengers' motoring needs.
The all-aluminium V8 engine represents the very best of modern automotive engineering and as such offers a combination of power, smoothness and reliability that would be hard to equal.
Transmission is automatic, incorporating optional manual control as with the other Rover automatic models. Rover 3½ Litre seats have leather where you sit and where you lean. It 'breathes', is soft to the touch and very longlasting. Large, luxurious front seats have adjustments fore and aft, and for cushion height, whilst the backrests are infinitely adjustable between vertical and fully reclining.
One of two alternative seating arrangements can be specified for the rear compartment of the Saloon. You can have two individually moulded seats, or a single, full-width seat to accommodate three passengers. A folding centre armrest is provided with both specifications. The picnic tray is not provided in full-width bench seat specification.
The 3½ litre Rovers in both Saloon and Coupé versions have an especial appeal among people whose style of living and business or professional standing are complemented by a car of equally high character whose effortless performance makes for hours of strain-free travel. The Coupé is particularly suitable for those who prefer a low, sleek line and more sporting appearance, and do not normally require accommodation for more than four people. Few cars carry greater prestige and fewer still can compete as a straightforward, value-for-money investment.
It is claimed that large cars are a nuisance in busy city streets. Not the 3½ litre Rovers. Power steering enables them to be parked easily-with one finger if you like.



Range Rover

(V8 cyl, 3528 cc, 132 bhp)
Estate 3-dr (wb: 2540 mm)


Range Rover
The interfusing of Rover car comfort with Land-Rover strength and four-wheel drive mobility has resulted in a vehicle that is really four vehicles in one. (1) It is a seven-days-a-week luxury motor car for all domestic purposes. (2) It is a leisure vehicle that will range far and wide in pursuit of its owner's activities and interests. (3) It is a high-performance car for long-distance travel. (4) It is a working cross-country vehicle. As a command car for military, police and fire duties it must surely be unbeatable.
The Range Rover's wide doors offer extreme ease of entry to front and rear seats which themselves provide outstanding body support for up to five people. The individual front seats are constructed on the safety-seat principle. They are very strong and fitted with built-in lap and diagonal safety harness.
A full-width rear seat provides first class accommodation for three passengers. With backrest folded down and the whole assembly tipped forward, the usable load space achieved is an impressive 59 cu. ft. (1.67 m³).
Comfort, safety and flexibility are greatly enhanced by the suspension system—one of the outstanding features of a truly outstanding vehicle. It is uncannily smooth over rugged country whilst providing excellent handling qualities on the road.
Additionally, a self-energising 'rise-level' unit automatically ensures that the vehicle maintains a level aspect under varying body loadings and trailer nose weights.
The vehicle body consists of a steel safety cage, in the Rover 2000 manner, on to which outside panels, mostly of aluminium, are attached. These panels are specially treated and finished in hard, scratch-resistant paint.
Power is derived from a variation of the supremely successful Rover V8 engine, which powers the 3½ Litre and 3500 models. It is a lightweight aluminium unit noted for its reliability and uncommon silence and smoothness in operation.
A four-speed, all-synchromesh gearbox has been produced to meet the high power output of the engine. Added to this is a high- and low-ratio transfer box. The resulting combination provides a choice of eight forward and two reverse speeds and an enormous range of overall ratios.
A third differential unit is connected between the front and rear axles to obviate transmission wind-up and other problems associated with four-wheel drive operation at high speeds. A lock-up device can be engaged when required, to make this differential inoperative, and provide maximum traction on both axles for severe crosscountry work.
Disc brakes are fitted front and rear, with a dual-line hydraulic system for double safety.
The Range Rover has been given a Land-Rover type of chassis, the deep-section frame members of which are immensely strong and capable of withstanding the most rigorous treatment. Additionally, they are painted inside as well as outside, making them resistant to rust and corrosion over a lifetime of operational use.




Land Rover
88 series III, wheelbase 2235 mm
R4 cyl. petrol, 2286 cc, 70 bhp-DIN
R4 cyl. diesel, 2286 cc, 62 bhp-DIN
109 series III, wheelbase 2769 mm
R4 cyl. petrol, 2286 cc, 70 bhp-DIN
R4 cyl. diesel, 2286 cc, 62 bhp-DIN
R6 cyl. petrol, 2625 cc, 86 bhp-DIN
Forward Control series IIB wheelbase 2794 mm - discontinued
R6 cyl. petrol, 2625 cc, 86 bhp-DIN
Lightweight series IIA (for military only)
R4 cyl. petrol, 2286 cc, 70 bhp-DIN
101 FC, wheelbase 2565 mm - new model (for military only)
V8 cyl. 3528 cc



SUPER ESTATE WAGON, (short chassis)
The two-door short chassis Super Estate is a unique multi-purpose vehicle, equally at home in town or country — and the perfect towing partner for boat or caravan.
The Super Estate is fully trimmed and equipped to saloon car standard, having excellent soundproofing and insulation. And its double skin fully ventilated roof has curved Alpine windows for maximum light and visibility.
The Super Estate has seating for seven plus substantial luggage accommodation. The rear seats fold flat against the sides of the body, leaving an uninterrupted loading space of over 60 cubic feet.



STATION WAGON ROYALE (long chassis)
The town vehicle with a country pedigree.
The Station Wagon Royale is the multipurpose touring and sporting vehicle, spacious and airy for around town use with superb visibility and Ergo contoured, deeply upholstered face forward seating for six. Plus face sideways seats for six additional passengers.
Vast space for luggage or dogs, shooting and fishing gear makes the Royale the ideal vehicle for holidays. The Royale will effortlessly tow a boat down to the waters edge, pull a Caravan or horsebox across a ploughed up field — or go on Safari to the further corners of the Globe.
The luxurious Royale is designed for the townsman with country interests and for the sportsman who appreciates his comfort. Your family and your investment are secure in a Searle Luxury Land Rover.

