Autoboxes with overdrives

[Phil Nottingham]

I thought this was an interesting topic posted (yet again on the old forum)
Author: ian rinn
Date: 5/31/2005 4:51 pm EDT

Was there any model of the P5 fitted with an automatic
gearbox together with an overdrive ?
I was assured by a friend last week that there was and I have a job believing him as an auto box is already an indirect drive , so to speak because of the convertor ,and an O/D coming in behind this which uses a cone clutch to engage and disengage seems a very unusual marriage .
Thanks in advance for any help with this question
Ian Rinn


My response being:


Hi Ian

Just checking out the old defunct board I was intrigued by your posting - you should have used the new link!

Actually I have heard this story before and as far as I am aware no production P5 has been fitted with an overdrive because as you say its not really needed. Anything is possible in aftermarket conversion though

The Roverdrive auto box fitted to P4's was actually a normal two speed gearbox plus an overdrive and torque converter

Where I think this story originated from is that Mk11 3 litres autos with the DG Borg Warner box had an intermediate hold device what looked like the overdrive switch on the column of the manual 3 litres. This gave the 1st gear start and held 1st and 2nd gears longer without moving the main selector lever or using kickdown


Any other views out there?

[dorsetflyer]

Or did someone fit a Roverdrive unit into a P5?

[Phil Nottingham]

Apparently RoverCo tried and it failed - perhaps its was a prototype?

Actually my present Coupe MK11 Auto was once being sold as Auto with overdrive in Leics - I rang up to enquire and he was most admamant but as the price was extortionate I left it.



The same car turned up again a year later with another owner which I did test drive - it was the normal DG auto.

It was still overpriced but turned up agin a year later and I did buy it for less than 1/2 the original asking price 3 years earlier - still no o/d!!