I had the pleasure of visiting with Tim Cooper from Placerville, CA, who is reknowned on the West Coast for doing some seriously extreme modifications to Rovers. He's famous for doing, among other things, a Series II with a Cummins B9 diesel.

His current ride is amazing. He started with a 1951 Series I, one of the first 302 Rovers imported to the US. He's had it for like 18 years, and a couple of years ago decided to "do something" with it. It's more or less out on a shake down cruise...

He did his usual amazing work to the rig -- all the steel bits are galvanized, almost all of the rest is restored to just about show grade. You notice a few things right away that aren't *quite* right -- a set of Chevy crossed flags over the "Fuel Injection" emblem from a '57 Corvette, the Hurst shifter, and a steering wheel center that is familiar but not right...

The front fenders are still ratty, since he's still doing final fit an finish, but when he grins and pops the lid, well, you're just not quite prepared for what's underneath -- a Cadillac 6 liter from an Escalade!

Tim says that it's "improved" and probably up to closer to 500 HP than the stock 345 HP, and that it's mated to the famous Munchie "Rock Crusher" 4-speed, a heavy duty overdrive from Spain, and stock Series transfer case and axels. Well, almost stock axles -- the front has a Quiafe and the rear has a Tru-Track.

It's an amazing ride.

He says he gets 20+ MPG at 70 MPH, that it will cruise comfortably at that speed for long distances (he'd just driven up from the Bay Area), and that it's a kick.

I can totally see that.

Be on the lookout for him as you're out and about, it's amazing to see and hear him talk about it!

Stan