Beschrijving
A regular and well-known participant on the show circuit across Yorkshire since 2011, this striking Rover P5B Saloon presented in Admiralty Blue with Cream hide exudes quality and charisma like no other classic car can. The pride and joy of an elderly gentleman covering around 1500 miles every year, this remarkably original car has been regularly maintained and MoT inspected by the same garage in Bradford for the past 10 years and comes with a large file of rally and show memorabilia documenting its exploits. With scope for light refreshment or just enjoy as is, this is a fantastic opportunity to acquire a very useable and rather iconic British great.
Introduced in 1958, the Rover P5 was an all-new model for the company, a large luxury saloon affording elegance with dignity, a traditional, well-appointed interior and more than adequate performance from a 2995cc inline 6-cylinder engine producing 115BHP. In 1962, the Mark 2 entered production with the same engine now producing 129BHP and featuring improved suspension. But the biggest news of 1962 was the Autumn launch of a 4-door Coupe, a sporting brother to the saloon, with roofline chopped by 2. 5 inches and thinner B pillars. Three years later, the Mark 3 made an entrance with more power again and a revised interior, but this was just a warm-up act for what was to come. In September 1967, the P5B and the final incarnation of the line, hit the roads featuring an aluminium Buick-sourced 3528cc V8 engine developing close on 160BHP mated to a Borg-Warner Type 35 automatic gearbox. With bold 3. 5 litre badging, a pair of fixed front fog lights and chrome Rostyle wheels with painted black inserts, the P5B looked as good as it performed and caught the eye of high-ranking government ministers. Harold Wilson, Edward Heath and Margaret Thatcher all favoured the P5B in saloon form - these remained a familiar sight in Westminster well into the 1980`s. It is a well-known fact that our late Queen Elizabeth II was also a big fan of this model and owned a pair of saloons, still currently on display at Gaydon Motor Heritage Museum.
With just 9, 099 P5B Coupes and 11, 501 Saloons built between 1967 and 1973, these were rare cars when new and today there are believed to be just a few hundred still in circulation.
Supplied new in Surrey in November 1970, the Rover remained in the County for most of it`s life only moving North to Hull in 2009. Around 18 months later, it was acquired by a Rover enthusiast and leading light in the East Yorkshire Thoroughbred Car Club living in central Bradford. A retired gentleman, his passion was attending classic car shows and rallys with the car and it is evident from the large quantity of plaques, rosettes, entry slips and general memorabilia that accompany the Rover, he was present at around 25 events each year! Maintained by Napoleon Garage in Bradford, the car has been used and enjoyed in all winds and weathers. Indeed, this is what the car is all about - it is an original, unrestored survivor that has benefitted from very regular use rather than one that is rolled out the garage twice a year with the inevitable issues that arise. It has only come available with its elderly owner reluctantly giving up driving and moving into a residential care home.
The car presents as seen in the photographs. The body is excellent with great panel fit and the largely original Admiralty Blue paintwork polishes up well still retaining a deep lustre. Localised bubbling beneath the paint is evident to the bottoms of the doors and rear scuttle panel but all panels are solid and could be cosmetically restored with relative ease. Chrome is good with just a little light pitting. Inside, the cabin is delightfully original and whilst would benefit from perhaps some leather treatment and detailing, is still a wonderful place to be. The leather itself is in good condition with just one seem splitting on the rear bench with original door cards, headlining and dashboard all excellent. Carpets show some evident wear but are tidy and functional. Turn the key and the rather iconic V8 fires immediately into life settling down to almost a whisper-quiet rumble. Indicative of regular maintenance and annual MoT inspections, everything on the dash works as it should and this level of comfort transfers to the driving experience when out on the open road. The Rover pulls well with smooth gearchanges from the Borg Warner automatic gearbox, excellent brakes and superb road manners. I am a big fan of the P5 and they never disappoint. On a cold and frosty Saturday morning, I took a run down towards Bridport and came back on the coast road through Abbotsbury. The car drove without fault and could easily be used and enjoyed on a daily basis.
The Rover comes with a large file of show and rally history going back to 2011, excellent MoT history from 2009-2022 and a current V5C.
An honest and very genuine survivor capable of immediate use and ready for a new chapter.
Shore Classics is based on the West Dorset coast within easy proximity of both Weymouth and the County town of Dorchester. As classic and vintage dealers, we offer full brokerage facilities. So if you require some help and guidance with selling your classic car or motorcycle, just give us a call today.
Deposit now taken.
