Highlights

£40,000+ restoration completed 2014 with dry weather use and much further investment since
Work included bare metal respray, retrim, new engine and reconditioned gearbox
Subtle upgrades to suspension and drivetrain
Desirable Silver Birch over Admiralty Blue colour scheme
Very highly presented example of these sought-after cars
Voluntary MOT valid to November 2026

The Appeal

David Bache’s clever coupe roofline and Buick’s all-aluminium 3.5L V8 transformed the conservative P5 into one of Britain’s foremost Q-cars. Today, these cars are sought after, and with good reason: they have the quality of a Rolls-Royce with performance akin to a Jaguar Mk2.

This 1968 P5B Coupe is surely one of the very best available. Finished in desirable Silver Birch over Admirality Blue with Cream leather, it is the result of a £40,000 restoration around 11 years ago. Sparing use since means it presents now much as it surely did on completion. The work covered a bare metal respray, including many new panels to key areas such as sills, wings and doors, a new long block engine, reconditioned gearbox and torque converter and upgrades to the suspension and drivetrain. The interior was fully retrimmed, retaining original features where possible, such as headlining and woods.

The vendor tells us that it benefits from a recent service, including a new water pump. The cooling system was also checked and serviced. The car comes with a useful voluntary MOT valid to November 2026.

The car’s vast history file attests to the care of its handful of keepers. This is a really usable example of the very rewarding P5B and one that would likely be a star attraction at your local show.

The vendor says:

“A very impressive P5B Coupe boasting a £40k+ rebuild and upgrade carried out over 2013-2014 with regular maintenance and much further investment since.

“My 3rd P5B Coupe and by far the best, genuinely superb. I’ll now hand over the opportunity for someone else to get into a very well sorted, showable yet infinitely usable P5B without paying the eye-watering restoration bill that you would expect to get a car to this standard today.”

History and Paperwork

First registered 23rd September 1968
Seven registered keepers
V5C
Heritage certificate
Original Rover owners' manual
Maintenance manual
Full factory workshop manual
Folder of invoices as shown
Photographs of restoration
Records of various upgrades completed over the last 12 years
Dyno test print out
VIN number 84501349A
1 set of keys
V5C
MOT valid to 5th November 2026 with one advisory

The Condition

Extensive bare metal restoration in 2013 to 2014
Work included panels, glass and interior removed
Repairs to common P5 areas, including new inner and outer sills, new wings, lower door skins, door post sections
Car fully repainted in Silver Birch over Admiralty Blue
New seals fitted during restoration and remain in very good order
“Beautiful straight bodywork without the usual rust issues, excellent paint finish” says seller
Chrome work and trims are very good with a small amount of patina.
Glass is reported to be very good throughout
Rostyle-type wheels in very good order with new Radar Classic tyres
Retrimmed interior in cream leather, including seats, door cards, centre tunnel and carpets
Interior retrimmed using high-quality materials for leather and carpets
Fitted with front and rear inertia seat belts
Original headlining and wood in very good order
Electrics function as they should, we are told
Subtle stereo upgrade fitted in the glovebox with speakers beneath the seats
Original Motorola radio still fitted in the dash.
Vendor states that underside remains in excellent condition

The Mechanics

New long block 3,531cc Buick V8 engine fitting during restoration
Automatic gearbox refurbished during restoration, including torque converter
Recent full-service
New water pump fitted during service
Cooling system service at the same time
Replacement suspension and steering joint rubbers during restoration
One MOT advisory for the track rod end
Adjustable Spax dampers
Upgraded leaf springs
Internal braided fuel lines and internal brake lines
Stainless steel exhaust

The vendor says:

“Drives very well as you’d expect and easily keeps up with modern traffic. P5Bs were already way ahead of their time, and a well-sorted car today is still a surprisingly usable and impressive classic. Electronic ignition, upgrade alternator and fuel pump help keep things reliable. It has previously completed a long-distance road rally event along with a European trip. Originally set up on the rolling road by Northampton Motorsport, it is a strong performer.”

BEFORE YOU BUY

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:

✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..

✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.

✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.

✓ VAT is included in the buyer's fee. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.

✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.

✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.

✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection

or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it's worth checking beforehand. It is the bidders responsibility to confirm import eligibility prior to purchase.