Production History

June 1976 The SD1 was manufactured at the purpose built Solihull factory, made with:
A V8 3.5 litre engine.
A 3 speed automatic gearbox or a 5 speed manual.
Independent front suspension with self-levelling rear.
Power assisted steering
Servo-assisted front disc and rear drum brakes.
Electronic ignition system.

On release the SD1 was extremely popular, with many second hand models being sold for more than new cars as there was a huge waiting list. Motoring journalists approved of the new SD1 and received various other awards.

October 1977 The new 6 cylinder models were released, the 2300 and the 2600.
The 2300 had a 2.3 litre engine and a 4 speed manual gearbox.

There was an optional 5 speed manual or 3 speed automatic gearbox.
The 2600 had a 2.6 litre engine and a 5-speed gearbox.
An optional 3 speed automatic was also available.

All of the SD1 range was now available with optional Dunlop Denovo tyres, making a spare wheel needless, gaining more boot space. Dunlop claimed the tyres could run deflated at 50 mph for 100 miles.

Quality problems began to appear with the self levelling rear suspension units failing, water leaks, shoddy paintwork, gearbox and electrical problems.

Poor build quality started to become apparent to Rover dealers and motoring journalists. Company fleet buyers and the public became soon aware of the problems and sales dropped dramatically. Complaints and warranty claims started increasing.

October 1978 The 2600 received power steering as standard. The 3500 now had rear seat belts incorporated.

July 1979 The V8-S was released. This was to all intents and purposes a 3500 but with corduroy seat trim, sunroof, tinted band at the top of windscreen, headlamp washers, air-con and rear headrests. It also came with black painted bumpers and gold alloy wheels, both unique to the V8-S.

A new range of body colours became available this month. The traditional Rover badge, made a comeback in plastic, replacing the metal skeletal Viking ship design as on earlier SD1's. A new air intake was integrated in the panel above the front bumper. This was added for SD1’s with air conditioning to increase air flow. This air intake also helped improved cooling for all the other SD1 model range.

September 1980 The entire SD1 range was upgraded. The 2300 was united with the 2300S. The 2600/3500 now became the 2600S/3500SE. The V8-S was discontinued and replaced with the Vanden Plas.
Instruments were improved with illuminated switches on all models. They all had improved trim including, central locking, electric windows, and velvet upholstery. Headlight washers and sunroofs were now available optionally for most of the range.

The 2300 S gained power steering.
The 2600 S gained power steering, self-levelling rear suspension and a sunroof.
The 3500 SE had alloy wheels, halogen front fog lamps and inertia reel seat belts front and rear.
The Vanden Plas had a luxury specification with leather upholstery, cruise control, electric sunroof and door mirrors, headlamp washers also bronze tinted glass.

1981 There were major quality issues and production stopped at the Solihull factory and production moved to the Cowley plant in Oxford. The revised ‘face-lifted’ SD1 had improved build quality as customer complaints had been noted. These are known as Series 2 cars.

January 1982 The new ‘S2’ SD1 were face-lifted ‘S1’ leaving the bodyshell unaltered. Face-lifted bodies have deeper altered tailgate with a rear wiper. The new rear window glass extended further down the tailgate by a further 10cm, which answered customer complaints about poor rear vision.

The SD1’s interior had a revamp after customer complaints about the S1 cars lacking any real luxury features like wood. A new instrument binnacle featuring rectangular instruments replaced the previous round instruments. Depending on the model spec, the volt meter was replaced with either a digital clock or a trip computer. Rover added smatterings of wood into the interior, lower spec cars got wood on the doors, higher spec models also had wood veneer fitted across the dashboard. The centre console also had a minor revamp. Also a new thicker rimed steering wheel was fitted, still semi-quartic though!

Also new this year was the 2000 model fitted with the four cylinder ‘O’ Series engine with twin carburettors from the Morris and Triumph range. Unfortunately most of the engine internals were not compatible with other ‘O’ Series engines, they were specific to the SD1.

June 1982 Another new model launched this year was the 2400SD turbo. This was an SD1 fitted with an Italian VM 2.4 litre engine. A four cylinder turbocharged diesel engine connected to a 5-speed manual gearbox and equipment related to 2600 S. This was the fastest diesel car of its time.

The 2000 and 2300 SD1’s have velour trim.
The 2300 S, 2600 S and 3500 SE all have a steel sliding sunroof, front chin spoiler and central locking as standard.
2600 S and 3500 SE now had walnut veneer trim.
3500 SE now fitted with electric door mirrors.
Vanden Plas specification similar to the 3500SE, but with greater trim improvements.

The trip computer was standard fitment on the VDP (Vanden Plas). New wheels trims and alloy wheels were added to the range as standard.

All models in the range with the exception of the VDP had a 5 speed manual gearbox or optional 3 speed automatic gearbox. The VDP had a standard automatic transmission with 5 speed manual option to order.

September 1982 The new 2600SE, the same mechanical spec as the 2600S but the same equipment spec as the 3500SE. The spec includes headlamp washers, trip computer, fog-lamps, alloy wheels and velour upholstery.

From the end of this year all models in the range have tinted glass.
The 2000 and 2300 models are now fitted with central locking.
The 2300S now has electric windows, electric mirrors and radio/cassette unit as standard. The 2600S and 2400SD now have electric mirrors fitted and twin-speaker radio/stereo cassette.
The 3500SE and VDP became available with manual or automatic transmission at same price.

October 1982 The new Vitesse was introduced with the 3.5 litre V8 fuel injection engine and a 5 speed manual gearbox. Initially released as a limited edition order only model. It was based on the 3500SE. The Vitesse was created because Rover wanted to go racing. The Vitesse was notably different from other models in the range by having larger 15'' lattice spoke style alloy wheels, lowered sports suspension and a large rubber rear tailgate spoiler. Flanking both lower sides of the car, Vitesse decal was written boldly making it very obvious which model it was.

This new model was to be called ‘Rapid’, but couldn’t because Aston Martin Lagonda owned that name, Rover changed the name to ‘Vitesse’ translated meaning ‘fast’.

The interior was basically identical to the VDP but available only in two tone grey. The major interior difference was the front bucket seats, unique to the Vitesse. Some Vitesse’s had their seats trimmed in leather.

August 1983 Automatic gearbox became standard on the 2300S with the 5 speed manual gearbox as an option.

October 1983 Automatic gearbox became available on the Vitesse.

July 1984 The 2600 and 3500 VDP’s were updated replacing the SE. The 3500 Vanden Plas EFi was introduced this month with similar mechanical specification to Vitesse but with automatic transmission and normal suspension. Updates include electric sunroof, cruise control and leather seats.

The 2000 and 2300 models were also updated with electric windows, radio/stereo cassette player, new velvet seat trim with adjustable front seat lumbar support, walnut veneer door trim and extra chrome exterior trim.

The 2300S, 2600S and the 2400SD gained alloy wheels, side coach-lines, velvet upholstery, burr walnut door trim, radio/stereo cassette player and under bonnet lamps.

The 2600 and 3500 VDP interior gained a trip computer, an improved stereo system, rear head restraints and extra walnut trim. The VDP model was the ultimate luxury version and was only fitted with an automatic gearbox. It remained at the top of the range until SD1 production ceased. The Vitesse only had one minor change, polished burr walnut door/facia inserts replacing the existing veneer.

October 1984 All models in the range were now fitted with an electronic fuel control system.
The 2000 and 2300 gained intermittent screen wipe and rear speakers. There were optional heated electric door mirrors and a manual sliding sunroof.

The 2300S, 2600S and 2400SD gained electric sliding sunroof, electronic stereo radio/cassette with rear speakers, shadow-stripe and plain velvet trim.

The VDP models gained the same improvements as S models plus 3-band electronic stereo radio/cassette. Box and plain velvet trim. It also received the Vitesse engine and this new flagship SD1 became the Vanden Plas EFi.

The Vitesse gained an electric sliding sunroof, new deep re-styled chin spoiler, side body mouldings and the Vitesse decals removed.

March 1985 Indicator side repeaters were fitted across the range fitted on the front wings between the wheel arch and the front doors.

February 1986 The only change this month was the new Philips radio/cassette.

July 1986 The entire range was reduced to the remaining VDP and Vitesse

February 1987 All production ceased.