P6 Spotters Guide

Model Identfication

Throughout the Rover P6's life the body changed very little and at first glance it is difficult to spot whether you are looking at a series one Three thousand five, or a series two 2200TC.

Cars built before the 1970/1 facelift are now known as series one and are identifiable by the body coloured rear quarter panels and cover sills, flat bonnet, and lack of side trim strips ( except for some export markets ), and an aluminium horizontally slatted grille.

Early Series 1 2000SC in wedgewood blue

Front view of 2000TC in corsica blue

Cars built after the facelift (1970/1 1977) are known as series two and have black or brown rear quarter panels, two power bulges on the bonnet, black or brown painted outer sills and a trim strip along the body swage line The grille is made of black plastic and is in an "eggbox" design..

Early series one 2000s have a vertically slatted front valance panel which is known as a "Sharks tooth", these are quite rare. All cars so equipped are 2000SC's with manual gearbox.

In 1966 the 2000TC ( Twin carburetter ) and 2000SC automatic were introduced. All models look identical and are only distinguishable by the badging. The TCs have a badge above the 2000 script on the front wings and bootlid, while the automatic has an "automatic" badge on the right hand side of the boot.

1968 saw the introduction of the Three thousand five which differs in tyre thickness (185) and a deeper front valance, there is also a V8 badge fitted to the front of the bonnet along with an aluminium eyebrow. Again, the badges on the wing and boot are different.

Series 1 V8 front view in brigade red

Apart from minor detail changes like rear light style, wheel trims and badge design the P6 remained unchanged until the facelift in 1970/1.

In all cases the battery was moved to a compartment in the boot. The quarter panels were covered in a black leatherlook vinyl, Sills were painted satin black unless a brown vinyl roof was fitted, in this case both the quarter panels and sills were brown. The grille changed to plastic and the bonnet gained bulges, the Rover emblem was also moved to the bonnet. Both TCs and V8s had a badge in the left lower corner of the grille. All badges changed from scripts to plaques. In 1972 the 3500S manual was introduced, this should not be confused with the earlier 3500S auto which was only available in the USA.

Back

Throughout the Rover P6's life the body changed very little and at first glance it is difficult to spot whether you are looking at a series one Three thousand five, or a series two 2200TC.
Cars built before the 1970/1 facelift are now known as series one and are identifiable by the body coloured rear quarter panels and cover sills, flat bonnet, and lack of side trim strips ( except for some export markets ), and an aluminium horizontally slatted grille.
	Cars built after the facelift (1970/1 1977) are known as series two and have black or brown rear quarter panels, two power bulges on the bonnet, black or brown painted outer sills and a trim strip along the body swage line The grille is made of black plastic and is in an "eggbox" design..