The Vanden Plas Owners Club was established in 1980 and aims to help and encourage members to maintain these fine cars in good running order and appearance.
Rover 800 Vanden Plas
The Rover SD1 replacement, the Rover 800 did not have a Vanden Plas version until coachbuilders Coleman Milne introduced the Rover 800 Vanden Plas in 1988.
They took a standard top of the range Rover 800 Sterling and added an extra 12 inches to the rear doors. The standard cars rear windows were now incorporated into the rear doors and the car had a much thicker rear pillar as a result. The extra length of the car gave much increased rear legroom enabling rear passengers to take full advantage of the electrically adjustable reclining rear seats as fitted to this model and the standard Rover 800 Sterling. Mechanically identical to the Sterling, the Vanden Plas was powered by a Honda 2.7 litre, 24-valve V6 engine mated to a 4-speed electronic automatic gearbox. It was fitted with fully independent suspension with anti-roll bars front and rear. The rear suspension being self levelling. Power steering, bosch anti-lock braking, 15 inch sport alloy wheels, central locking, electric windows, electric heated door mirrors, headlamp wash, cruise control, stereo radio/ cassette player, trip computer, air-conditioning electrically operated leather upholstered front and rear seats, extra reading lights and shag-pile footwell overrugs were fitted as standard.
When the standard Rover 800 was restyled in 1991 with its traditional front radiator grille and more rounded bodywork, the Colman Milne produced Rover 800 Vanden Plas was similarly updated. 1996 saw a minor facelift notably the front grille fins which had been black were now coloured silver. The cassette player was also updated to a 6-disc CD auto-changer and climate control was also added. The model ceased production in 1999.
