1937 Rover 12 P2 – Project Profile

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Chris Pollitt

Oh how fun it is to mock Rover. Head gaskets, Alan Partridge, Hyacinth Bucket (it’s pronounced BOUQUET), industrial strikes, the Cityrover. Yes, there is a lot to mock. But don’t be one of those who jump on the cliched laugh train. Instead, stand proud and shout the good word of Rover. Or, go a step further and buy one. One like this 1937 12 P2. Yes, that handsome, if somewhat mismatched machine is indeed a Rover. And more than that, it’s an example of Rover at its best, when it was squaring up to the likes of Rolls, Bentley and Jaguar. The misguided think that Rover had ideas of luxury and image that were beyond its station. Look at that 400 with wood trim, they’d say. But the reality is that Rover, in its heyday, was a flagbearer for luxury. It was a true luxury brand, the kind of car that only the finest members of society could dream of owning. The rest of us had to slum it in an old Morris or Ford.

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Yes, Rover was a flagship brand and cars like the 12 P2 were the stuff of motoring dreams. Laden with wood and leather, all of which had been hand assembled with care and pride, the 1930s Rovers were a force to be reckoned with. The 1,500cc engine might not have been a powerhouse, but it was smooth and refined. The suspension was engineered to be supple and forgiving, and as such, to be a passenger or driver was quite a thing. Yes, Rovers of this vintage are cars to most definitely be celebrated. 

What is it? 

It’s a 1937 Rover 12 P2. Launched in 1937, the P2 took over from, unsurprisingly, the P1. The main changes were aesthetic, with the body being reworked to be more curvaceous and as such, more in keeping with its contemporaries. That said, there were some mechanical changes, too. The brakes, which were drum all round, were upgraded to a Girling rod system, the chassis was stiffened to give more torsional rigidity, while later models featured a synchromesh on the final two gears. Body wise, customers had the same options as available on the P1. There was the 6-light (meaning six window) saloon, the 4-light sports saloon along with a convertible sports tourer. The car you’re looking at here is the 6-light saloon. 

Sadly, back in the 1930s and 1940s, there wasn’t a classic car movement like there is today. Old cars soon fell out of favour, and as such, were scrapped. Those that did survive, either by luck or by the hand of a caring owner, were thinned out again in 1960 when the MOT was introduced. Add in your typical issue of old car corrosion, time-earned damage and the fact that these old Rovers have only recently fallen into a position of any financial worth and it makes for a small number of surviving cars today. That’s why this one is so special, and why you should consider taking it on. 

Why is it a project? 

Well, first of all, it’s not a project. It’s an “exciting project” according to the vendor, and we’d be inclined to agree. Projects normally bring with them a need to roll around on the cold floor while you fight with stubborn nuts and bolts. That’s not the case here though. The previous owner was an engineer (working on Concorde, no less) and as such, he has clearly relished in the task of bringing this P2 back to its mechanical best. The chassis, the engine, the suspension, the brakes, the steering – it’s all been stripped, cleaned, rebuilt, renewed and repainted.

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For reasons unknown, the project came to a halt, which is where you come in. The car is structurally sound, better than new probably. It just needs someone to take it over the finish line. There is some wiring to attend to (though looking at the engine bay picture, it seems that there is a new loom in play), the matter of interior trim needs to be addressed and of course, there is no escaping the fact that a beautiful body needs a lick of paint. This car is 80% of the way there, it just need you to bridge that final 20%. 

Five things to look for: 

1) Spanner check

While we love the fact that the previous owner was an engineer, it still doesn’t hurt to give the car a spanner check. We’re confident there will be no malicious errors, we’re just saying that one man can easily forget to tighten up nut A. It takes an hour and gives you peace of mind.

2) Wiring

The vendor states that some wiring work is needed. As we said, it looks like there is a new loom in play, but it’s still worth checking. Has it got all the right connectors, is it a complete loom, are you going to have to pay a specialist to sort it? 

3) Trim

It’s no secret that this Rover needs some love in the trim department, and for the most part that shouldn’t be an issue. Any skilled trimmer should be able to see you right. That said, you do need to look for the car specific bits, the door pulls, handles, visors, window trim. If these are broken or missing, it’s going to get expensive.

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4) Engine

Nothing too sinister to worry about. Just remember that this is an old car with a very old engine, so maybe do a compression check on it and a good visual inspection to satisfy yourself it’s in good health. Nothing specialist, just the normal checks you should always check. 

5) Transmission 

This is an early 12 P2, meaning the gearbox is without any kind of synchromesh. As such, it could have been subjected to years of heavy-handed gear-changes that may well have damaged the teeth. You need to be sure the car goes into gear without any issue. 

What should you do with it? 

There’s a part of us that likes the idea of sorting the wiring and trim and then leaving the body. However, this is a grand old car, so in reality you’d probably want to throw some paint on it and bring it back to its former glory. Back in the day it would have been a very dark, muted colour. As such, why not go the other way and paint it in a hue a bit more lively, a nice old English white, or perhaps a pastel yellow. Make the old girl stand out and shine. This is a car to be celebrated, not to be left to look like something the Ant Hill Mob would drive.

If you missed out on this one but are interested in a former flagbearer for luxury like this, here’s where to find a Rover 12 for sale.

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