DRIVEN: 1995 Rover 800 Coupe - Classic Cars for Sale
Thirty years ago, Austin Rover set about reinventing itself with a range of what it hoped would be exciting and desirable model range. The 800-series executive saloon, co-developed with Honda, was just around the corner, and had been designed with a view to spearheading a return to the American market for Rover – and a Coupé version would add appeal. The Rover 800 Coupé was first mooted by management in 1982, and a number of design concepts were developed. By 1985, the styling was so well developed, Austin Rover design director and ex-Rootes/Chrysler man, Roy Axe, devised the idea of building it up into a concept car to be shown at the 1986 Turin Motor Show. And he wanted to hold off Rover’s return to the US until the Coupé was ready to complement the 800 saloon. But it never happened, and once Rover’s Stateside re-launch was under way – from 1987 under the Sterling marque – pressure to get the 800 Coupé to production mounted, with an anticipated launch date of 1990/’91. And that meant it would end up... And despite looking very different to the saloon it was based on, the production 800 Coupé would share its underpinnings, and a number of its body panels. Source: www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk
