Corgi’s Rover 2000: the first Car of the Year

The first European Car of the Year was a Rover. In 1964, the Rover 2000 took the award ahead of the Mercedes-Benz 600 and Hillman Imp.

Behind the restrained saloon body was an unusual chassis: independent front suspension and a De Dion rear axle. The four-cylinder 2000 came first; the better-known V8 version belonged to a later stage of the P6 story.

Corgi chose the 2000 for model no. 252. Our museum example has light blue metallic paint, a bright red interior and a black spare wheel mounted on the boot lid.