Curious about the Rover SD1 model? You may want to check out this informative article:

http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/Rover-SD1-Design.htm (includes 20 photos too)

I just wish the article could tell us definitively how many Rover SD1's made it to North America (or even more importantly, how many remain.) Neat cars!

Very nice cars, indeed! I've only seen one up close, but was very impressed with its quality and appearance. Too bad that it, like many British cars of the era, never had a chance.

It was part of the demise that affected the TR8, one of which I'm lucky to own. Who knows what might have been, had the industry not all but folded when it did?

There are some nice SD1's around. Very capable and comfortable cars.

For more info about these and all their contemporaries, check this site out:

http://www.aronline.co.uk/

Click on "The Cars" on the left side of the screen.

Mickey

The SD1 was produced from 1975-1986 with over 300,000 made. Less than 1200 stayed in the US after the failed attempt at marketing them here. Some say it failed here because of the the timing. 1980, oil crisis, ringin' a bell? Everyone wanted a small Japanese car that sipped fuel, not a V8 Sedan.

The success and high production of the SD1 delayed the release of the TR8 though as Rover was using all of their V8 engine production capacity on SD1's and Range Rovers. The V8 saloons were much more popular than their I6 counterparts.

My research indicated only about 1200, and even fewer of those where the 5 speed / V8 combination (they all has V8's here, it is the 5 speed that were rare).

As to how many survive, I can't imagine that more than a couple hundred are still around. If there were not dry climate cars or seriously well kept they suffered from exterior panel rot and all suffered from variable built quality.

I got a project one if you are tempted....

Owned an SD-1....great road car!

ok TD, I thought the deal was you were driving it half way and I was meeting you to buy your SD1? I love these cars, the looks, the familiar V8