Earliest Series 2 3500?

cbv8

cbv8

Member
Hi All,
Having sold my P6b Estate some years ago :cry: i have the P6 bug again :) i have the chance to buy my mates old series 2 3500 it was registerd in early 1970 but has all the series 2 fittings :? I am not exactly sure what month yet but as matter of interest what is the earliest Series 2 3500 :?: It is on a J plate but still has the series 1 strenghtening bracket thingy under the bonnet on the slam panel if that makes sense any info much appreciated :wink:
 
The S2 was officialy launched in Oct 1970,but there are some earlier 1969/70 prototypes about that do carry an 'H' reg!!
The prototypes do have S1 and S2 parts,and can be difficult to ID as authentic!!
If the first 3 reg letters end in XC,it is likely to be an early prototype or dealer/press car!!!
The thing to be really careful of,and to look for the tell tale signs of, is that the car you know of is not a late car with an early id on it!!or an early S1V8 made to look like an S2!!
Or as has been done before a late car shell and fittings with an earlier ID/V5C on it!
Get to know as much of the cars original history as you can,and paperwork to back it up!!!
Couple of pointers!
1. Is it a ribbon [early v8] or round dial speedo.[S2]
2. Batt will/should be in the boot.
3. Where is the fusebox located? inner wing[early] in glovebox{later}
4. What autobox? BW 35,d/s dipstick!! or 65,p/s dipstick!!
5. How is the chassis no marked?
Small plate on n/s inner wing[early]?
Stamped onto both inner wings[later S2]
There was recently a so called 1964 'B reg' 2000 for sale on Ebay that had ALL the trademark S2 signs,once the seller was informed it was not right it was removed from sale to be checked out!
Where are you located?
Find a local club member that can be a 2nd pair of eyes to look it over!!!
 
Re: Whats the earliest surviving Series 2 3500?

Hi,
Thanks for the quick reply but my question really was what is the earliest series 2 3500 i should have said what is the earliest surviving series 2 3500 sorry :oops: I do know quite a bit about the P6 of any varient having had them all over the last 23 years and i have scrapped a few even an Estate which was rotton beyond economic repair :cry: The reason i know so little about this early series 2 3500 is it has been in my mates garage for over 8 years and is still in there :roll: I cannot get access to it for at least a week then i will know more all i can say is it is in EVERY respect a series 2. The circular clocks stainless body strips eggbox grill no aed the only thing i did remember was the bracket thing i am not even sure if it wasn't on a H reg its been that long since i saw the the car :shock:
 
Of course the transition from S1 to S2 is actually rather gradual. The body trims, bonnet and grill, and round dials are really the only differences between a late S1 and an early S2. And the only significant change from a 1968 NADA is actually the bonnet and grill! The big change really is adoption of the later fuse box behind the glove box and fibreglass backed front seats, which come a couple of years later. And of course all changes are readily reproducable in either direction - S1 to S2 or S2 to S1! I'm intrigued, though, by your mention that this car has the S1 upstands on the front shut panel of the base unit. I actually think these are highly desirable in limiting bonnet lift on an S2! I can't imagine why Rover deleted them.

Chris
 
chrisyork said:
Of course the transition from S1 to S2 is actually rather gradual. The body trims, bonnet and grill, and round dials are really the only differences between a late S1 and an early S2. And the only significant change from a 1968 NADA is actually the bonnet and grill! The big change really is adoption of the later fuse box behind the glove box and fibreglass backed front seats, which come a couple of years later. And of course all changes are readily reproducable in either direction - S1 to S2 or S2 to S1! I'm intrigued, though, by your mention that this car has the S1 upstands on the front shut panel of the base unit. I actually think these are highly desirable in limiting bonnet lift on an S2! I can't imagine why Rover deleted them.

Chris
Click to expand...
Hi Chris,
Thanks for that i notice you are 4.6&ZFing your series 1 i fitted a 3.9 inj and ZF to my P6 Estate then sold it :roll: if i do have this early series 2 i intend 3.9ing and ZFing it as i just happen to have the engine and box sitting on my garage floor doing nowt :wink:
 
cbv8 said:
Hi All,
Having sold my P6b Estate some years ago :cry: i have the P6 bug again :) i have the chance to buy my mates old series 2 3500 it was registerd in early 1970 but has all the series 2 fittings :? I am not exactly sure what month yet but as matter of interest what is the earliest Series 2 3500 :?: It is on a J plate but still has the series 1 strenghtening bracket thingy under the bonnet on the slam panel if that makes sense any info much appreciated :wink:
Click to expand...

The first few (hundred?) or so Series II V8's have the Series I bonnet brackets. I've seen three or four in my time. Up to very early 1971 I'd imagine.

Series II production started, in penny numbers, in September 1970, then built up towards the end of the year.

The chassis number will tell you what the car is - when the cars were current owners (and dealers) were prone to updating the styling on their cars by putting on Series II sidestrips and grilles etc. Apparently some of the last Series 1 cars actually left the dealers as new with the Series II bits on them.

Cheers
Nick
 
Can anyone show me what a series 1 strenghtening bracket thingy under the bonnet on the slam panel looks like? I only ask because I have an early S2 car, on a J plate, with the fuse box on the inner wing. :?:
 
Heres some on a NADA car. (not mine sadly :cry: )
FedSengine2.jpg

Basically the vertical bits extending out sideways from the radiator on the flat panels over the headlights. Fitted to all series 1 V8s but I have also seen one early series 2 with them. AFAIK, the fusebox wasn't changed until the '72 model year (so starting about October '71) so all '71 season cars with the separate Rover letters on the bootlid should have the small fusebox in the engine bay, same as series ones. (NADA cars excluded of course)
 
Yep thats the one and i have just found out my mates series 2 3500 is on a J plate so not that early oh well :roll:
 
An update i have just been to see this early series 2 and its only good for spares (just) ie both sills/ floors have rotted out all the wheel arches all doors and wings are rotton :shock: I have never seen a P6 rot away so quickly and this is one that has een stored in a dry garage my only conclusion is it was put in his garage wet many years ago and festered away :roll: I now have the chance to buy his 1968/9 series 1 off him which DOES have a solid base unit having been welded up some years ago and all the panels are rust free :D The only trouble is i am not really a lover of the series 1 as i think they have really dated over the past few years god descisions :? descisions :?
 
Just picked up this thread today as I've been away. My car is a November '70 on a J plate and has all of the above mentioned series 1 features along with series 2 trim strips and grill and the round clocks on the dash.

I'd assumed it must have been fairly early in the series 2 production but is there any way of knowing who has the oldest?
 
Mine was first registered on 19th Jan 1971, Chassis no. 451023**A (blanked the last 2 digits for security, I'm funny like that), on a J plate, so I'm guessing there are older S2 cars out there
 
Hi All,
Well i picked up this early series 2 3500 today and after poking and prodding i have decided to restore her as most the rot is in the sills which is no big deal. I put a battery on it today and all the elecs work even the clock :shock: the only thing that didnt work was the starter motor. Tomorrow i will oil the bores turn engine over by hand replace the plugs and s.motor and put fresh fuel in and i am confident she WILL start-watch this space :wink:
 
Hi Dave,
Yes original 14inch Rostyles it even has a luggage carrier thingy on the boot dont know if that is original though :? That nice workshop as you put it is my homemade double garage it house two P6s no prob and with room to work on em:wink:
 
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