Arrested Development – Rover P6

The world today is a litigious one. You can’t watch telly or listen to the radio for more than nine seconds without being bombarded by commercials offering to, in essence, sue someone on your behalf. It used to be for a trip or fall, then when that reservoir ran dry, it was mis-sold PCP and now, alarmingly, it’s Covid claims. Yup, if you want to sue someone, there has never been a better time. Ambulance chasing lawyers are waiting for your call.

What, you may be wondering, does this have to do with a rather beautiful Rover P6? Well, we’re getting to that. First, we need to look at modern cars and the research and development involved. Before they can launch a new motor, they need to test it. This has, of course, always been the case. Today though, manufacturers will build test mules, use them, gather data, dismantle them, reassemble them, drive them some more, and then they will be quietly taken around the back of the factory and put in a crusher. And this isn’t a discriminatory thing. A new Clio will see the same fate as a new BMW M4.

Heart-breaking for those of us with a taste for petrol, but thanks to the aforementioned litigious world in which we live, necessary. If they sold those cars that had been prodded and poked and driven akin to something on Police, Camera, Action and then, as a result, it burst into flames on the way to ASDA, someone would sue. The potential risk is far greater than the cost of writing off the car in the name of R&D. However, that wasn’t always the case. Back in the day, development cars did indeed make it into the wild. Cars like this development Rover P6.

Pop the big bonnet of this handsome, first-generation Rover P6 and you’ll be confronted with what is now a familiar sight – a Rover V8 engine. It’s a P6, they came with the V8, so nothing odd there, right? Well, there is actually. You see, when this car rolled down the assembly line, it was built as a 2000TC, hence the badges that say as much. However, it was pulled from the line with a small number of other P6s to be used for development and testing. The unused 2000 engine was pulled from the car, and in its place, a V8 was fitted. Not a Rover V8 though. No, this car was fitted with one of the original Buick engines that Rover bought along with the rights to cast and build the engine as its own.

So then, you’re now under the impression that this car was used as one of the V8 development cars, right? It was even registered with the Solihull Vehicle Registration Office as ‘P6B Prototype’. But no, this car wasn’t built to test the engine. It was in fact built to test air-conditioning of all things! Rover wanted the V8 version of the P6 to offer all kinds of modern tech, and air-con was high on the list. But which system? Offered by third party suppliers, Rover needed to do some testing. There was one system from Delaney-Gates, which was fitted to another P6 and then there was the Smiths system, which was fitted to this car. This car was also painted Zircon Blue to differentiate it from the City Grey of the other car (this one started life in City Grey too).

Now, these cars could have driven up and down the M6 a few times, but that wouldn’t have been the most vigorous of testing for air-conditioning. Instead, they were both converted to left-hand drive and sent to America. Once on American soil, they racked up thousands of miles through highs and lows of temperature. The history file includes photographs of the cars mid-test. Endless data was gathered, the cars were pushed hard and throughout it all, their occupants remained cool. Job well done, then.

The other P6 stayed in America for further testing, while JCX813D was shipped back to home soil. Once it landed, it was converted back to right-hand drive and it was fitted with its third and current engine. This, again, is deeply significant. The engine number is EXP3, and it is believed to be the third Rover casting of the Buick design. The first chapter of this car’s life is significant, but to have the third V8 Rover cast? That’s some serious holy grail stuff. Rover used it for more research and development before retiring it. But, unlike the modern cars we spoke of at the beginning of this story, this P6 was not sent to the crusher. In fact, it was sold to someone in Rover’s buying department. He used it for a number of years before selling again. Eventually, the kind hand of fate saw that the car was bought by Mike Beetham of the Rover P6 Owner’s Club. Aware of the car’s significance, Mike stored the car away. It was, by this point, a little down at heel though.

The car lay at rest until 2014 when it was sold to the person who would restore it to the condition you see here. More than aware of the car’s history and the resultant significance, he set about restoring it not to original condition, but to the specification it was when used for testing in America. Before that though, there was a mammoth amount of mechanical and structural work to do. The P6 had suffered considerably during its hibernation, and so a donor car was needed. Everything that could be saved from JXC813D was used, while the donor car served to sacrifice itself in the name of once again providing some all-important structural rigidity. It was a huge amount of work, seeing floors, pillars, bulkhead, sills and other areas all being significantly repaired or replaced. But it was worth it, as soon the car had its strength back and the build into ‘development’ specification could begin.

Mechanically, a complete overhaul was required. The engine was key, as it was irreplaceable. However, it was in a bad way and as such, its future was touch and go. Thankfully though, J. E. Developments in Lutterworth were able to bring it back to life. New rods, crankshaft grind, pistons, bearings, camshaft, it was all overhauled. EXP3 was saved at a cost of £5,553.22 which is a lot considering how easy it is to source another engine. But that wouldn’t do. It wouldn’t have been right. As such, it was money well spent. EXP3 can now live on.

The suspension was completely refurbished, the brakes and steering too. In fact, the steering was once again converted to left-hand drive, so as to be true to the car’s days in America. New wiring went in, the correct interior was sourced and of course, a new coat of Zircon Blue was applied. The 3500 badged it had acquired at some point in the past were thrown in the bin, and the 2000TC badges it would have had originally were put back in place. It was done. It was finished, and it was every bit the car it was while used for testing in America. The only missing item, somewhat ironically, is the air-conditioning – as it would have been near impossible to source and replace.

Freshly restored, running and registered, this highly significant Rover P6 has been saved. Had it have lingered any longer in that barn, it may well have been a very different story. Thankfully though, that’s not the case. Thanks to a team of invested, passionate people this important piece of British motoring history is fighting fit and ready to continue on. Some would argue that it’s probably better now than it was when it was new. Having seen and driven the car, we would be inclined to agree. It’s an incredible machine, one that is as thrilling to drive as it is to read up on. Truly one of the greats.

Cars like this are what make the classic car community so great. Powered by passion and by a thirst to preserve history, restorations like this not only serve to save icons, they also serve to motivate you and I to press on with our own restorations. This is an example of how wonderful saving an old car can be. Bravo, truly, to all involved. This is quite literally one for the history books.

Want to own a slice of history? 

Does the story of this development P6 excite and enthral? Would you love to get your hands on a car like this? What about owning this exact Rover? Well, you can, as it will soon be going live on Car & Classic Auctions. Your chance to slide behind the wheel of a true piece of British motoring history is but a click and a bid away.