A fantastic 1972 Rover 2000 SC (P6) in truly exceptional condition. Effectively one owner, and just 23,500 miles from new.
Used very infrequently during its early years and dry stored for the last 15 years
Never restored or welded and remarkably rust free the car retains all of its factory fitted glass and panels.
The taxation class is historic vehicle so you will not have to pay for Road fund licence
Must be one of the finest, lowest mileage examples of a 1972 Rover 2000 SC in the country.
It has been over 30 years since the last one left the production line the Rover P6 makes a good choice for a classic car. Parts are readily available and there are owners clubs. The only downside is that good original condition unrestored examples are rare, extremely hard to find and therefore highly prized and sought after.
A Little History About The Car
The owner of XDV 346K, a Devon Business man, had always much admired the Rover 2000. As he approached retirement he fulfilled his dream and, in the spring of 1972, became the proud owner of the car offered here today.
Never intended to be used as daily transport but more of a ‘retirement’ car XCV 346K saw very infrequently use during its early years. Kept in an integral heated Garage it was cherished and only aired for short local journeys during the summer months and for family holidays in the U.K and occasionally in France.
The car had been fitted from new with a vinyl roof with matching fold back, London design Centre award winning, Weathershield sunshine roof.
The Rover Passport to service book present with the car shows main dealer servicing every 3,000 miles up to 19,000 miles in 1982. By this time the car had only been covering a few hundred miles a year according to the 1978, 79, and 1980 M.O.T certificates. The 1989 certificate records the mileage then at just 20,676 and the car, whose owner was suffering ill health, was all but laid up in dry storage.
In the early nineties, sadly, the owner died and a few years later title to the car transferred to his son although the car remained unused in the heated garage at the Fathers house.
In 1998 the car was M.O.T’ed for the first time in 9 years and the son, whilst not often using XDV 364K, kept every thing free and running by driving the car a few dry miles each month and servicing the car himself.
By 2002 the mileage was 23,392 and today this remarkable Rover 2000, which is on sale for the first time in 37 years, has covered just 23,500 genuine miles from new.
BODYWORK
Finished in its original Mexico Brown with dealer fitted contrasting beige vinyl and sunshine roof the car is utterly striking to look at.
Corrosion, as we have said, can be a problem on the Rover P6 and the lack of it on XDV 364K is quite remarkable.
All of the panels remain those that were fitted on the production line.
There has never been a requirement for welding whatsoever and, of course, none is required now.
By the late eighties as the owners age advanced he had just clipped the garage door frame a couple of times on the rear n/s wing and the off side front leaving very minor scrapes. Several years after leaving the factory some minor paint defects had developed in one or two small areas, a little micro blistering that sort of thing.
Ordinarily none of the above would have warranted anything other than localised rectification. However the owner’s son (whose name is now on the V5) was coming to the end of an apprenticeship as a professional vehicle painter and needed a vehicle to repaint for his final assessment before qualifying. It was normal at the time apparently for friends and family to be given the opportunity of having their cars repainted by the apprentice for their work assessment. The paintshop would not charge for the apprentice’s labour time and materials were supplied at cost. As you can imagine there was quite queue of people hoping that their car would be selected, but in this instance it was XDV 364K that was chosen.
With his qualification riding on it and The Rover being his farther’s pride and joy the son carried out the very best of job’s. No corners were cut and no account was taken of what would normally have been chargeable hours. No body filler was required or used with the exception of a little surface skim over the two slightly damaged areas.
The respray on XDV 364K, as you would expect, was done to an exceptionally high standard and twenty odd years later the mirror finish still looks amazing today. No further paint work other than touching in with a touch up brush of the odd stone chip and blemish has been carried out since the work was finished. This is warranted in a letter from the son that is now present in the history file.
Testimony to the original condition of this car, and a noteworthy point, is that the road wheels have never even required painting and all still have their factory ‘red spots’ on them.
The dealer fitted vinyl roof is as new as is the sunroof which operates perfectly.
The boot bonnet and door shuts are truly excellent.
INTERIOR
The seat facings are in cream leather that has a nice 37 year old look and feel. There are no rips, splits or major cracks.
Door cards, dash, centre consul, headlining, including that of the matching sun roof, are in excellent condition.
There is a late seventies quality Pioneer FM Radio cassette player.
The carpets have not faded and were in first class condition up until early this year. Unfortunately it would seem that moths got into the car and have caused some damage to the carpets.
Our initial thoughts were that we would replace them with a new full set but on reflection we have decided to let the new owner decide. You may for the sake of originality keep the existing ones and, maybe use some over mats to hide the worst of the damage, you may just live with it as it is for awhile, you may feel that with a car of this stature you may want to source a set of new old stock originals or indeed a set of after market none wool carpets that are around for about £150 or a wool set for about £225. The choice is yours. Fitting should take no more than-say-half a day.
The original under felt is present, in excellent condition and shows no signs of ever having been damp.
Floors below the carpets are as new with no signs whatsoever of rust.
UNDER THE BONNET
Original stickers are still in place.
The under bonnet area is exceptionally clean and original with no signs of rust or anything untoward.
IN THE BOOT
The boot is in excellent condition with no tears, stains or wear to the Rubber side covering or boot carpet.
Spare wheel with original tyre, jack and wheel brace present.
The boot floor and other areas are as new with no signs of any corrosion.
ON THE ROAD
The car starts on the button with manual choke.
On the road the car drives like a dream, no overheating, undue noises or smoke.
The gears change up and down just as they should.
Everything tested works as it should.
HISTORY FILE
1 V5c.
2 M.O.T 11th June 2010
3 Service book stamped by main dealer every 3,000 miles.
4 Old MOT’s for the years that the car was used from 1978.
5 Handbook.
6 Valuation and condition report from the P6 Rover Owners club carried out less than 2,000 miles ago but in 1998. Extracts show overall condition class as ‘first rate’ base unit condition as very good with details of apparent repairs as ‘none’ mechanical condition ‘very good’ electrical equipment ‘very good’ and a valuation 11 years ago of £3700.
7 Invoices for service parts, stainless steel exhaust and brake discs.
8 Letter from the owner’s son guaranteeing mileage of 23,500 as genuine and the history of the car and of the respray.
9 Some old tax discs
SUMMARY
It is hard to imagine a more genuine Rover P6 than XDV 364K.
This is a very special car indeed and should not be compared to the majority of Rover P6’s for sale. It is in amazing condition. It has been loved and cared for all of its life by its fastidious owners.
It is effectively one owner who was a member of the owners club and loved and cherished this car.
It looks fantastic, drives superbly and with the exception of the carpets wants nothing doing.
It is without doubt in show winning condition and could straightforwardly become a concours contender.
VALUE
Low mileage, history, condition, and originality will contribute greatly to the value of any classic, XDV 364K ticks all these boxes.
In 1998 when there were far more P6’s about and top condition examples were no where near as rare, this car was valued, by the people best qualified to do so, at £3700. 11years on, in line with the most classics cars that are in remarkable condition, the value will have most likely risen three fold.
We are always looking for cars that make you smile with great history so if you have a part exchange that sounds like its for us then get in touch, cash either way.
Please, Please, Please, with the greatest respect do not email or make offers that waste my time i am 100% genuine and would like to deal with the same. If you have any further questions, would like any more pictures or would like to view the car then please do not hesitate to contact me.
Good Luck, Paul
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