Not far from me in Bristol, Rhode Island, there’s a Rover 2000TC just like this one languishing in a junkyard. It’s truly a shame: the car is quite solid and parked next to a Mercedes sedan of the same era, almost certainly a his-and-hers pair that came to the yard when the couple passed away and the heirs didn’t know what else to do. These are stately old dames, and the TC is the one to buy if you’re not hunting for the Buick-powered V8 cars. Find this 1969 TC here on craigslist with a parts car for $3K, and go here if the ad is archived.
The Rovers are on the San Francisco craigslist page but sport Alaska license plates. I don’t know why, but I’m fascinated by cars found in places like Hawaii and Alaska, simply because they had to have been brought there by some means other than being purchased at the local dealer. How did they end up in Alaska? What brought the owner there? How many years were they hidden away in some remote garage, seemingly spared from the perils of winter driving? The reasons could all be quite ordinary, but it’s entertaining to imagine the circumstances that brought them there.
Paired with the four-speed manual transmission and uprated TC motor, this has to be a fun driver. The TCs benefited from a refreshed top end over the standard 2000 along with twin SU caburetors. This pushed power output from 104 b.h.p. to a healthy 124 b.h.p., and automotive reviewers at the time praised the P6 for its numerous innovative features: unibody construction, four-wheel disc brakes, synchromesh transmission, and the de Dion tube suspension. Inside, a handsome woodgrain dash greeted drivers along with comfortable bucket seats.
Here’s the parts car that’s included with the asking price. The seller notes all records back to new are available for the white car, which is claimed to be a genuine one-owner example. Bodywork looks quite sound and the inclusion of a parts car always makes taking on a new project seem more doable. While the 3500 may offer more power and an engine that’s easier to live with maintenance-wise, a TC is in the sweet spot of enjoying what was one of the most formidable sports sedans of the day. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Pat L. for the find.
These are surprisingly comfortable, nimble cruisers, and while a 3500 (Buick 215) V8/Manual Overdrive is considered the ultimate, the 2000 TC (for Twin Carburettor, not Twin-Cam) still offers reasonable performance.
Of course, being British, there are the usual oil leaks, hydraulics issues and the Prince of Darkness to contend with, but in my experience, the P6 series – assuming there are no rust issues – are very reliable machines.
Pricing looks pretty good, too…
Nice looking car. It’s dirt cheap for the area. Hopefully it’s as described. I hope it finds a good home.
Steve R
I remember back in the 60’s Jean Shepard used to do advertisements for the Rover 2000TC on his NYC nightly radio show. But astoundingly he drove a Goggomobil Coupe.
I spoke with the gentleman who owns these. The white one is indeed a lifelong CA car, just tagged for Alaska. Appears to have been much loved and well looked after. I want but I can’t.
A neighbour of mine had one of these when I was growing up in the 70s. His was Forest Green with a black vinyl roof and a continental kit on the rear, he kept it till 1982 then traded it in for some front wheel drive thing can’t remember what it was but he regretted it and mentioned it every time you saw him. sadly most of these cars have rotted away here especially in thier country of orogin more so where I live in Scotland due to heavy salting on the roads in the past.
“Newest” car I’ve ever owned– 1968, in 1971. Mine was yellow w/ red leather interior. What fun to drive, with unique horizontal spring front suspension and inboard rear disc brakes.
I had a ’70 3500 back in the day, but I shoved a 5 speed Triumph tranny in it since they all came with autos for the US market. Worked great until I decided to have the engine rebuilt using Buick parts, not realizing the pistons were designed for much lower compression than the Rover equivalents. Result- no power. Sold it to my regret. Now I think it would make a great restomod using a larger V8. Wish I still had it, or could even find another…
Friends,
I have had three of the P6’s…mechanically they are great, the engineering is one of a kind….safety was a big plus…It came apart much like a Citroen…suspension was great..DeDion rear axel….engine…needed “shims” for adjustment….As with all English cars here…heating was a problem…..the P6 with the ole Buick V8 was outstanding…..as Rover 3500. I still have a ’71 and keep looking at it….but lots of work…but…..?
The show Wheeler Dealers wanted to do one of these in their last season, but it was so trashed that Mike passed on it and bought a Lancia from the seller instead.
I have a Travco that was ordered in 1975, arrived in ’76 and was taken to Alaska. Was brought back down to the lower 48 in the early 2000’s and re-done inside & out. I got it about 3 years ago- original owner is my uncle (mom’s family has been there for 7 generations) so I’ve known this rig most of my life. I can tell you that there are some crazy finds up there-
The S/U ( Skinner Union ) carbs were used on the Rolls Royce Merlin V12 which powered the Supermarine Spitfires that won the Battle of Britain 🇬🇧 , hell of a history to that little company .
Story I heard was that, yes the early Spitfires used SUs, but since SUs don’t function well upside down, fuel injection was introduced to the planes. May or may not be true.
Worst car ever!!! (I had one. Leather was nice).
SU (Seldom Understood) are great in pairs or triplicate. Burlen has taken good care of the brand, but the quality has suffered somewhat.
It IS fascinating where odd old cars end up around the globe. I’ve read that a brace of Austin 7 made it to Lhasa, Tibet, (carried in pieces and assembled on arrival) and if you look up historical pictures of the terrible Alaskan earthquake of about 1964, there parked on a heaved up buckled street ….is either an Austin Mini or Morris Mini. Who/why on earth would someone take such a little British car, at the time a novelty to many, to Alaska….in 1964 ! Who drove it there….one of the Flying Finns perhapes…!
(And more to the point….has it survived ?)
I had one of these when I Lived in the UK. Sadly had to sell it as I was emigrating to Canada. It was a ’69 which I bought from the original owners wife ( he had just passed away), she drove it once and damaged the front fender and door, so sold it to me for 200 pounds. I replaced the door and fender and it was a great car to drive, loved the fact that everything just unbolted. I sold it two years later for eight hundred pounds and would love to have another, unfortunately no room for one.
I had a ’66 when I was in college (1980). Heavy and slow, but not economical. Great seats, heavy steering till I inflated the tires to 50psi. Handled great, changing rear brake pads was not fun.
I’ve had several of these Rovers, and still do. The V8 was only available with automatic here in North America, and is not significantly quicker than a manual 2000TC though it sounds great. The engineering was quite advanced for the era, and they are competent and usable even now. Alaska is a long way away unless you’re already there, so these cars will likely stay there. They look like good value at this price though.