Original alloy wheel option?

T

tonys

Active Member
The advert states that the alloy wheels were an original option on the VIP models. Is that correct?

I haven't seen these on a P6 before and don't recall alloys being an option when they were new, although I haven't seen any original brochures etc. for the VIP models. I know that some dealers fitted Minilites etc., but didn't think that alloys were a listed Rover option - were they???

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C232417
 
There are no brochures for the VIP model - they were sold by word of mouth! Certainly alloy wheels were never an option during production. It is just possible that an odd VIP might have been fitted with alloys from new - but these would be the early 14" SD1 3500 "S" model wheels. I've not seen any information or photo's to support that though.

Minilites, however, were an option. I think only on 4 cylinder S1 cars, but I'm open to correction as to whether it was a book option on 3500's at any stage. Police cars did tend to collect all sorts of odds and ends. There are photo's of police cars wearing Minilites, Avon safety wheels, and Dunlop wheels (similar to MGB V8 and Scimitar).

SD1 alloys of all varieties were quite common aftermarket fitments, and of course Nelson (NZ) built cars for Australia frequently sported SD1 alloys on later cars.

Chris
 
They are Dunlop wheels. Alloy centre and steel rim. I think they were just an aftermarket wheel, not a Rover option. The seller may be confused by a magazine article a few years back that featured a VIP with those wheels.
 
KiwiRover said:
They are Dunlop wheels. Alloy centre and steel rim. I think they were just an aftermarket wheel, not a Rover option. The seller may be confused by a magazine article a few years back that featured a VIP with those wheels.
Click to expand...

They are indeed.. can't wait to haul my set out of the attic and fit them once the estate is back on the road :)
 
tonys said:
The advert states that the alloy wheels were an original option on the VIP models. Is that correct?

I haven't seen these on a P6 before and don't recall alloys being an option when they were new, although I haven't seen any original brochures etc. for the VIP models. I know that some dealers fitted Minilites etc., but didn't think that alloys were a listed Rover option - were they???

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C232417
Click to expand...

As Chris says, there were no brochures. And the only spec. sheet I've ever seen looked to be fake, and was missing details.

Ian Elliott (now 'Freewheel' editor, but then press department at Solihull) did design a VIP brochure, but it was never printed as the cars sold themselves before they could be done.

The blue V8 was previously Simon Hill's. It's a superb old beastie, and indeed was used in episode one of 'Life On Mars' - we have photos of the shoot.

Cheers
Nick
 
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