> Now I don't see Rover going away completely. But I do see where Ford
> may want to renovate the Rovers with their modular block design.....But
then
> again.....Maybe we'll see Mustangs with Rover power plants !!!! Our
Beloved
> Aluminum blocks back in American metal, on American Soil... Who
> knows...time will tell..
>
> Rich
Rich,
You won't see any Ford V8s in Rovers because Rovers are ALL small
front-engined, front-wheel-drive vehicles. You may see a Ford V8 in a Land
Rover, but that's a different kettle of fish.
As someone who is into Rover saloons but not Land Rovers (too pricey), I'm
always a bit mystified when LR people refer to their vehicles as Rovers as
if Land Rovers were all the company ever made. Land Rover was always owned
by the Rover Company and always seemed to be more profitable than the
automobile side, but they've made Rover automobiles continuously since 1904
and Land Rover only came on the scene by accident in 1948 as a stop-gap
measure that took everyone at Rover completely by surprise when it caught on
big and probably saved the company.
It's not that big of a deal, but a Land Rover is a Land Rover. Calling a
Land Rover a Rover is like calling a Dodge Durango a Chrysler. You might as
well call it what it is.
From: Glen Wilson @ Pennsylvania, USA
Email: RoverCar@home.com
Rover Saloon Touring Club of America
Website: http://clubs.hemmings.com/rovercar/rstca.html
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rich Atherton" <gumby@connectexpress.com>
To: "Erlandson, Paul (P.W.)" <perlands@ford.com>;
<buick-rover-v8@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2000 12:27 PM
Subject: Re: Land Rover press release
> I can see this a a potential END to our favorite little engines
> production. Ford Already has a good modular light small to medium
> displacement V-8 engine which it uses in the Mustangs now. It's newer
> technology than the Rover engine is, as we all know it's based on the
Buick
> 215 of 1961. Ford may see this as a way to increase production of their
> own engines rather than continue the GM based Engine.
>
> This is similar to the Plight that Chrysler had to deal with when in
> 1966 they bought a controlling interest in the Rootes Group Automobile
> company in England. Among others, they built the Sunbeam line of Sports
> cars call the Alpine, and the Tiger. The Tiger was based on the Alpine,
but
> with Carol Shelby's assistance and design, and an agreement with Ford, had
> placed (Squeezed) the Ford 260, and later the 289 into the car. When
> Chrysler bought that interest, they found them selves Selling the Tiger,
> with nice valve cover that said of course, Powered by Ford.
Unfortunately,
> Chrysler did not have an engine that would fit. The 273 was way to wide,
> and they didn't want to see something that said Ford on it, so production
of
> the Tiger ended in 67, and the Alpine in 68. Although the Alpine did
> continue on for a few more years without the convertibles, the cost
cutting
> by Chrysler essentially ended the entire line of cars, and eventually the
> whole company.
> Now I don't see Rover going away completely. But I do see where Ford
> may want to renovate the Rovers with their modular block design.....But
then
> again.....Maybe we'll see Mustangs with Rover power plants !!!! Our
Beloved
> Aluminum blocks back in American metal, on American Soil... Who
> knows...time will tell..
>
> Just my ramblings on this wet Saturday morning...It's Seattle, it's always
> wet..
>
> Rich
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Erlandson, Paul (P.W.) <perlands@ford.com>
> To: <buick-rover-v8@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Friday, March 17, 2000 4:57 AM
> Subject: Land Rover press release
>
>
> >
> > # # #
> >
> > FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO BUY LAND ROVER FROM BMW, EXPANDING LINEUP OF
PREMIUM
> > BRANDS
> >
> > DEARBORN, Mich., March 17, 2000 -- Ford Motor Company announced today
that
> > it has reached a memorandum of understanding to buy Land Rover from the
> BMW
> > Group. The transaction is subject to BMW and Ford reaching a definitive
> > agreement, due diligence and regulatory approvals. If successful, the
> > acquisition is expected to be completed in the second quarter.
> >
> > The acquisition involves the entire Land Rover line of vehicles -- Range
> > Rover, Discovery, Freelander and Defender -- including assembly and
> > engineering facilities. It does not include Rover's passenger car
business
> > or any assumption of debt by Ford.
> >
> > Respectfully submitted
> > Paul Erlandson
>
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