The TARC Heritage Group was formed a few years ago as a sub-group of the Toronto Area Rover Club, with the primary mission of keeping as many older Rover cars on the road as possible, and the more immediate aim of helping its members locate and obtain parts for their cars at advantageous prices.

The group maintains a fund, separate from the TARC treasury, for the purchase of likely vehicles. These are either resold at a nominal markup to Rover enthusiasts looking for restoration projects, or if beyond restoration, parted out. Members of the Heritage Group have first claim on these parts at cost price, TARC members next priority at advantageous prices, and then the general public, at what are still very reasonable prices.

ACTIVITIES
In 1995, the Group parted out a 1960 P4/100. In 1996 they rescued a 1963 P5 3-litre, which was subsequently sold to an enthusiast in Vermont. In 1997 the Group rescued a P4/100 from Montreal, along with a complete P5 3-litre engine. Since then, a number of other Rover cars have been acquired. These have been parted out to the benefit of several other Rovers worldwide.

Other Heritage Group activities have included the rescue of a huge assortment of P6 parts, and the cannibalisation of a number of P4 series cars.

Heritage Group member Bill Osmond contemplates the remains of a Rover P3 in a breaker's yard near Ottawa.

The Heritage Group have a varied assortment of parts in their collection, including many for the P6 series (2000 and 3500), as well as many for P4 and SD-1 cars. In May 1998 the Group acquired two Rover P6Bs, and these have been dismantled for parts. Other P6 cars (both V-8 and 2000TC) have been parted out since. See the For Sale page for details.

THE CYCLOPS PROJECT
In 1998, the Heritage Group acquired a 1951 75 "Cyclops" as a Group restoration project. This car apparently spent some time in Vancouver, British Columbia, and for its age is in remarkably good condition.

The Heritage Group's 1951 Rover 75 Cyclops, as received.

By June 27th, 1999, we had succeeded in getting the engine running and the car drivable under its own power, although without brakes (see the Pictures page). Apart from a broken windscreen and missing front bumper and grille, the body was in good shape, with very little rust. This car is now (2008) the property of Heritage Group member Bruce Findlay. Bruce has replaced the windscreen, and bit-by-bit is working on the rest of the car.

THE P3 PROJECT
In 2007, the Heritage Group acquired a 1948 Rover P3 75. This car is quite solid -- indeed the thickness of the sheet metal is astonishing -- but will need some mechanical work. Compression is low, water is leaking from somewhere under the head, the clutch is frozen, and the brakes need some serious attention. The sunroof will also need to be reconstructed. But potentially, this is a runner, and we look forward to working on it.

Here are some pictures of Heritage Group members arranging pick-up of the car....

HERITAGE GROUP MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to any member of the Toronto Area Rover Club, and involves a one-time subscription fee of $100. Contact Bill Daddis magnet@roverclub.org for more information.

GONE AND LARGELY FORGOTTEN
A fascinating offshoot of the Heritage Group's activities is the collection of decals from Rover dealers of long ago. Here are some examples.
 

Overseas Cars of Toronto imported Land Rovers into Canada in the early 1960s. This is the only known example of their decal to survive (captured on a Land Rover in Pembroke, Ontario).

Another Toronto Rover dealer was Robert Motors, who are still very much in business, although no longer selling Rovers. This advertisement, which appeared in the October 1964 issue of Canada Track and Traffic, shows 114FLK, the car that appeared in much of the early Rover 2000 marketing literature.