Rover 3500 SD1 SE 1982

Description:

In Brief:

• 1 of just 16 Rover 3500 SD1 SE’s left registered for use on UK roads
• Comes with immense history file including over £10k worth of invoices and MOT’s back to ’86
• Fitted with 3.9 litre Rovercraft engine and manual transmission
• In great condition overall
• Owned by The Vendor for the last 37 years

On the Surface: Presented in a red exterior finish complemented by a brown velour interior, this 1982 Rover 3500 SD1 SE is a fantastic example. Manufactured and registered in the UK in 1982, it has remained under the custdoianship of its current owner since 1987.

Maintenance: In 1989, the car underwent significant work with the installation of a new 3.9-liter V8 Rovercraft engine as well as conversion from automatic to manual transmission with the vehicle only travelling approximately 35,000 miles since this overhaul. The car was stored from 1999 until recently which led to recommissioning efforts which have restored and furthered the car, with the replacement of various essential components and installation of new ones such as a new radiator, a custom made exhaust and tubular exhaust manifolds, new brake servo, master cylinder and brake pipes, new clutch and clutch hydraulics, an electric cooling fan and controller, new front suspension track control arms, new tyres, newly refurbished compmotive alloy wheels and finally uprated springs, shock absorbers and rear brakes.

History: This SD1 is accompanied by a plethora of documentation, including MOTs dating back to 1986, purchase invoices, and correspondence with Rovercraft, this Rover 3500 SD1 SE has an immense history. Noteworthy invoices from Rovercraft and The Unique Vehicle & Accessory Co Ltd provide insight into the the engine conversion and the fitting of the custom exhaust. It is worth noting that all of the invoices in the file amount to a significant investment of over £10,000.

The Model: The Rover SD1 was introduced in 1976 as the V8-engined Rover 3500. Produced by the Specialist Division which later became the Jaguar-Rover-Triumph divisio), and finally the Austin Rover division. The SD1 quickly gathered acclaim, earning the European Car of the Year award in 1977. In “SD1”, the “SD” refers to “Specialist Division” and “1” is the first car to come from the in-house design team.

Sale Insight: We are delighted to offer this 1982 Rover SD1 3500 SE. These type of examples are certainly hard to come by when you take in to account it’s history file, condition and long custodianship.