Description
Kelham Hall | Newark, Nottinghamshire Viewing: Tues 22nd September 2026 from 12pm Auction: Weds 23rd September 2026 12pm Location: Kelham Hall Main Street, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG23 5QX Registration No: NI-Reg Chassis No: T. B. A. MOT: Exempt Notably original and nicely presented example Just 37, 500 recorded, and believed genuine miles, on the odometer Finished in a delightfully period colour scheme, including fabulously original interior upholstery Reputedly part of the Ronald White Collection since the 1990s/ 2000s Introduced in 1963, the 2000 was the sixth and last of the P-Series Rovers which began with the pre-war Twelve. Designed in-house, it bristled with innovation and was quite rightly the winner of the first-ever European Car of the Year Award. Braking was through discs all-round while fully-independent suspension comprised a novel de Dion arrangement at the rear and an equally unique rocker system operating horizontally-mounted coil springs at the front. The intention behind the latter was to create an engine compartment wide enough to accommodate Rover’s gas turbine unit, though this was never fitted to production vehicles. Initially powered by a 1, 978cc (hence the 2000 name) OHC in-line four-cylinder unit, the maximum output was 90bhp at 5, 000rpm. Some 322, 302 P6 Rovers of varying engine capacity were produced before the model was superseded by the SD1 in 1977. A real exemplar of originality, this Rover owes its superb state of preservation to some two decades in the Ronald White Collection. Although Mr. White cannot recall exactly when he acquired it, he understands it was in the 1990s or 2000s, which makes it very likely that the reading of 37, 442 miles on the odometer is original and genuine. Altogether, the condition of the Rover is in keeping with that of a low-mileage, unrestored car, especially the interior, which exhibits a splendid light patina. After a long period of static display, it will require recommissioning before use, but once it’s up and running we can very easily envisage it being highly commended for its condition at rallies. There may even be a preservation award beckoning. Unfortunately, we have not been able to locate any paperwork for the Rover, so it may be up to the vendor to arrange registration with the DVLA, but that should be a simple matter. The recommissioning should also be straightforward, so the most important responsibility for the new owner will be the continued conservation of the car in its supremely original state. About the Ronald White Collection: A lifelong enthusiast, Ronald White inherited his interest in motor cars from his father, Joshua. Joshua was still an adolescent when he took over a small bicycle repair shop and grew it into a successful family-run garage as private car ownership became more commonplace after the Great War. Father and son alike caught the collecting bug, and Joshua started the collection with a Bullnose Morris, which he displayed at the garage, and it grew from there. One of the White Collection’s gems is a delivery-mileage Morris Minor, which Joshua had the foresight to preserve from new, astutely identifying it as a landmark in the post-war Morris range. Another was the Alvis, which was sold new to a local gentleman, Nevill Bond, who lived at a stately home called The Argory. Joshua bought it back after Mr Bond had suffered an assassination attempt while driving it! The Whites also developed a personal friendship with Harry Ferguson; hence, the White Collection came to feature Ferguson tractors. By the 1950s, Joshua White Ltd. was well-established as a large BMC, Ford, and Ferguson dealership. It was around that time that Ronald—known to friends as Ronnie—started competing in tests, hill-climbs and rallies with his local motor club in Northern Ireland, always displaying the proud sponsorship of Joshua White Ltd. Upon his father’s retirement, Ronald took over the business and also set up Armagh Garages to sell Fiats. Come the 1960s, his competition career blossomed and took him all over Ireland and into England and Scotland. He was successful in many events, including the Circuit of Ireland Rally. In the late 1970s, his interest turned to rallycross, again competing in Ireland and England. It was a testament to his amiable personality that many of his employees at the garage would work through the night to prepare his cars for their sporting outings, and several continued to maintain his collection after he retired from running the garage. While his father had collected significant production cars, Ronald’s particular interest was competition cars. Naturally, many of his own race and rally cars found their way into his collection, and perhaps the most significant is ’52 LPH’, one of eight Austin-Healey Sebring Sprites prepared by John Sprinzel. Ronald bought it in November, 1962, and campaigned throughout the 1960s with his sister as navigator. He never lost his enthusiasm, and even in his twilight years, he was taking...
