As some of you know, I can’t resist a good junkyard car. I’m still haunted by a Rover V8 hiding in the tall grass of a junkyard in Bristol, Rhode Island – it is a complete car, parked next to a Mercedes coupe of a similar vintage and likely the casualties of an estate clean-out. The combination of Rover/Buick V8 power in a handsome British body is hard to resist, and this one looks like a tough car to top in terms of condition. Find this 1969 Rover 3500S here on craigslist, where it’s described as a phenomenal survivor still wearing its old-school Oregon plates and listed for $6,250.
The Rover is listed with an asking price of $6,250, which seems like a relative bargain for one that’s as nicely preserved as this. Everything appears correct on this car, down to the badges on the hood and the grill to the three hood scoops denoting V8 power under the hood. The chrome looks outstanding and all lenses are intact (and there were a lot of them on the nose of a 3500). The hood pins are an interesting touch, and certainly a bit unbecoming for a British saloon such as this.
The clean appearance continues to the rear, with unmarked chrome bumpers and lenses in good shape. The paint also appears quite nice, and the seller says it has stayed local to Portland in the care of one owner for 50 years. He acquired it from the estate, likely after that longtime caretaker passed away. Paperwork seems to indicate the mileage of just over 78,000 is correct, but the seller doesn’t claim it’s 100% authentic.
Original hubcaps finish off the preserved look, and from this angle, the front end almost looks too busy. That wouldn’t stop me from owning one, especially with the Borg Warner automatic transmission having recently been rebuilt. While most enthusiasts gravitate towards the Sunbeam Tiger as the ultimate expression of British style with American reliability, make mine a Rover 3500S with the Rover/Buick V8. It’s a quarter of the price with almost as much style and pace.
You lost me at the hood pins. Otherwise, a great car.
I owned one once upon a time. When I lived in the U.K. Great car. Plenty of power. Good handling, brakes were a little iffy. This feels like a decent buy at the asking price but you can bet there is another $2-3k in expense lurking under the skin to make it “Just Right”. BTW, at $6k is 1/10 of the sale price of any Sunbeam Tiger I’ve seen in the past 5 years. I doubt this will ever active collector car status but it would be a fun car to own and to take to the British car exhibits.
Hood pins…and triple scoops…Really?
No hood pins. Needs a four speed with glass packs and dual exhaust to make that little V8 roar. Very nice Rover!
why 3 hood scoops?
If I recall correctly it’s because of clearance issues with the engine
I believe they are there for extra engine bay cooling, and were manually opened for hot weather.
Despite Australia’s (sometimes) hot weather we didn’t get the ugly scoops here in Aus
Maybe the hood pins truly are all that’s holding the hood down.
Love this car. When I was a teen my friends father had one and we would use it as much as we could. Great car. On this one there is something funky going on with the hood. The rear of the hood is not sitting right at the rear and I think the hinges are shot and the hood pins are the only thing holding it on.
I always thought these hoods open’d from the rear? But not sure with hood pins where they are.
This one sold for $500 not too long ago, then $1500 more recently. All of the Rover people are familiar with it. This flip caused a stink on the Rover sites. Someone looked at it at one of the earlier, cheaper prices and passed due to some softness in the floors.
That is great back story info “Jasper” so thank you for that. So here is a CL Seller who states in their listing that the car has wear and breakdown inside and needs seat covers and yet does not include one interior picture.
So many pics that I feel very confident in pursuing this car.
These are wonderful cars to drive, especially with a four-speed/overdrive ‘box.
I wonder what the story is with the hood pins, too? Jasper’s comments are quite telling. Caveat emptor.
These regularly come up for sale in NZ and usually at very reasonable prices for a roadworthy example (and yes, I am often tempted!).
There was a lawyer who lived around the corner from us who
had a new one from that era,in Tabacco color.I thought it was really cool
back then.
The round thing on the trunk lid is covering the hole that you could
mount the spare tire with.
One of my first cars in this same colour, loved it, but was an auto not an “S”. All the wings could just unbolt to be changed. Think petrol cost was not an issue at that time, but only good memories of driving it.
I’ve always wondered by there are so many Rovers in Oregon – 2000TC’s, these cars and even the later last models. Who was that prolific Oregon Rover dealer?? Monte Shelton maybe??
If anyone really wants pix I could take a look, I’m an hour and a half away. I know what I’m looking at, I have a TC.