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1963

Rover 2000 (P6)

The thinking driver's saloon, and the first European Car of the Year.

ROV 263A
Rover 2000 (P6)
Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The story

Rover's young engineers started from a clean sheet, with a strong inner skeleton, bolt-on outer panels, disc brakes all round and clever de Dion rear suspension. The wide engine bay was laid out with a gas turbine in mind. The V8-engined 3500 came in 1968.

Inside

Four individual seats shaped like armchairs, a strip speedometer and padded shin bins under the dash. Safety was a selling point long before it was fashionable.

In period colours

Tap a colour to respray the drawing.

Zircon Blue
Did you know?

It won the very first European Car of the Year award, for 1964.

Meanwhile, in 1963

The Great Train Robbery made headlines, Beatlemania took hold and Doctor Who began.

Best-selling single of 1963: She Loves You by The Beatles

Buying and running

Before you buy a 1960s car

  • Check the sills, floorpans, wheel arches and the bottom of the doors for rust.
  • Ask for any old MOT certificates, service records and bills.
  • Parts for popular cars are often available from specialists, but trim and body panels can be hard to find.

General notes, not specific to this model. Check the model's own history before buying.

Rivals of its day

Picked automatically: cars on sale at the same time with similar size, speed and price.

See the real thing

These open in a new tab: the car on Wikimedia Commons, the interior and the badge as Google image searches.

Flat out 020406080100120 MPH
104 mph
First builtOctober 1963
Age today63 years since launch
Built atSolihull, West Midlands
On sale1963–1977
Years in production14 years
Number madeAbout 322,000
Kerb weight1,040 kg (approx.)
Fuel economy28 mpg combined (approx.)
Engine2.0-litre overhead-cam four
Power90 bhp
Top speed104 mph
Speed rankingJoint 120th fastest of 164
0–60 mph14.6 seconds
Price when new£1,264
In today's moneyAbout £34,500
Designed bySpen King and David Bache

Today's money: the launch price adjusted for inflation to 2026, using the Office for National Statistics price index.