Launching in 1958 the Rover P5 was refreshed one last time in 1967 to become the P5B, the additional letter a nod to the Buick V8 motor under the bonnet.
Production continued until 1973 when British Leyland made the final curtain call. The 3.5 litre in the P5B was the favourite of Prime Ministers, serving as transport for Harold Wilson and Margaret Thatcher. It wasn’t just the halls of governmental power that loved the P5B though, the Queen also took delivery of one, opting for a saloon in Arden Green.
The History
Looking over UOT 454H it is clear real attention has been lavished on this car in the past although the vehicle does not have any paperwork to back up the work done. This shouldn’t detract a buyer that knows judging by the metal tells a story of its own.
The vendor believes there to have been restoration work and standing in front of the car and seeing the stunning paintwork, clean bodylines, and excellent condition of the interior it is hard to argue.
The Paperwork
UOT 454H will be supplied with the V5C document however it is understood no history will come with the vehicle.
The Interior
An outstanding interior that the vendor believes has been retrimmed has very few signs of wear. Sitting in both front and back seats revealed all were comfortable and still retained good support. A tool kit that slides out from the centre of the dash and is released via a lever is joined by a complete tool kit in the boot, all in great condition and a charming original feature for the future owner.
All of the carpets were in great condition and what appeared to be the original wood remained in the dash without the typical scratches or damage that may be expected of a fifty year old vehicle.
The vendor advised that the rev counter can be lively, bouncing around the dial instead of sweeping cleanly as the revs build, this does not affect the drive.
The Exterior
The coupe variant is generally considered the prettier and more desirable of the P5B’s and standing a few paces away from this one it is hard to argue, your eye follows the uninterrupted lines of the blue paintwork from bumper to bumper, a true British beauty.
A gem to look at when surrounded by the modern wash of grey and silver the Rover proudly shined in the bursts of sunlight between the clouds. It took a thorough inspection to find any blemishes on such a stunning vehicle but you can always find something if you look hard enough, the minor paint chip and dent on the edge of the front nearside wheel arch were minor and displayed the honesty of such a delightful vehicle.
What made this car really shine was the chrome, mirroring everything around it, only the two small mounting arms for the wing mirrors showed any signs of age with some pitting, both front and rear bumpers looked incredible. There were also the red plastic extensions above the indicators, a rare original feature that are nearly impossible to replace.
Taking a step away to stare at the body lines and imposing grille was a joy to behold, none of the presence is lost from its days of diplomacy and royalty.
The Mechanics
Firing up immediately at the twist of the key the power steering functioned excellently and the gears swished from one to other smoothly without hesitation or pause.
Opening up the bonnet revealed a motor that was not only running crisp with what felt like every healthy horse it left the factory with but also looked fresh and without any obvious perished rubbers. Looking to the back of the bulkhead showed what appeared to be a coating of wax oil protecting the paintwork.
The Appeal
You can’t walk past a P5B without taking a second look, it exudes presence and demands your attention. Something that wasn’t overlooked by those at the height of stature when this car was in production.
After faithful service, many found their end by on a racetrack and so today a clean Rover P5, especially the largest output P5B, is a rare joy both to look at and to drive.
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the sellers discretion.
Please see our FAQ's here and our Terms & Conditions here
Please see our FAQs
here
and our Terms & Conditions
here
Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller.
More about buying with us
1970 Rover P5B 3.5 Coupe
About Max Bids
The max bid process allows you to bid without any hassle.
Enter your maximum bid and we will then bid on your behalf to ensure you're the highest bidder - just enough to keep you in the lead and only up until your maximum.
Anti-sniping
Car & Classic prevent auction snipers from bidding in the last seconds to win an auction.
Auctions are extended by 3 minutes if anyone bids within the last 2 minutes to allow other bidders to react and counter-bid.
Auto-bidding increments
If your maximum bid is equal to or below the reserve price, your maximum bid will be applied in full if you are the highest bidder.
If you are the highest bidder and place a maximum bid above the reserve, we will automatically put in the reserve as your first bid.
Once the reserve has been met, Car & Classic will make sure you are the highest bidder using only the bidding increments stated below.
We will keep you in the lead up until your maximum bid OR the increment closest to your maximum bid, providing your maximum bid is enough to cover the increment value.
Bid Amount
Increment
£0 to £9,999
£100.00
£10,000 to £49,999
£250.00
£50,000 to £99,999
£500.00
£100,000 +
£1,000.00
Automatically outbid immediately
When you place a max bid and are outbid immediately that means that another bidder has placed a max bid limit which is higher than yours.
You can bid again and we will use our automatic bid system to try and get you as the highest bidder.
Matching max bids
When there are two max bids of the same value, the one placed first remains the lead bidder.
Pre-authorisation
We may hold a pre-authorisation charge on your card until the end of the auction when the hold will be cancelled. If you win, we'll take a security deposit which counts towards the payment for the vehicle and isn't any extra cost to you.
What are pre-bids?
A pre-bid means you're able to place a bid before the official start of the auction.
You will be notified whether or not you are the highest bidder when the auction starts.
Problem with your bid
Bids are contractually binding. To help protect you, we have some rules in place if we think it's been mistyped. Please check and amend what you have entered.