1973 Rover P6 – Project Profile

The Rover P6 rolled out of dealerships in 1963, and when it did it blew minds. This car was a huge leap forward. Not only in terms of how far it left its predecessor, the P4 behind, but in terms of the motoring world in general. It looked radical, it drove like nothing else in its class and was exceptionally well built. When Rover penned the P6, it was very much at the top of its game. Rover back then was a brave, forward-thinking, exciting company associated with luxury and high-end life. As such, the P6 was not only a car that wowed the people who were lucky enough to buy one, it also left thousands of drivers with something truly magnificent to aspire to.

In the modern day world of classic cars, the Rover P6 retains a great deal of its aspirational value. It might now be cheaper, but it’s still a classic a great many of us dream of owning one day. In 2019, the Rover P6 is a car that, remarkably, you could used every day. It’s safe (for an old car), it’s practical, it’s comfortable. As long as you’re not doing starship mileage, there is nothing a modern car can do that a P6 can’t. Though when the P6 does it, it’s just cooler. 

What is it? 

As we’ve touched on above, the P6 was the successor to the ageing P4 (the P5 was actually built alongside the P6). The car we’re looking at here is a 1973 3500, meaning V8 power and facelift looks care of the black plastic grille and other touches. This was the model to have. The 2000 and 2200 were good cars, but if you’re going to have a big old Rover you need it to be powered by that Buick-derived V8, don’t you? The only thing that could make this better would be if it was 3500S, which would mean a four-speed manual transmission. 

This particular car is perfectly appointed, if very ‘70s. The body is in period Scarab Blue while the interior is tan box-pleat leather – no cloth in this rolling gentleman’s club. It sits on the correct wheels with original hubcaps and the whole thing seems to have led a cared for, easy life. That said, the car does have an old insurance marker against it, but as the seller states, when that happened, the car was worth very little. This means that a simple bent bumper could have written it off. Happily, someone had the foresight to save this old girl. And now it’s presented as a great project. 

Why is it a project? 

The vendor states that they acquired the vehicle as a non-runner, though curiously it does still have an MOT on it, not that it’s a bad thing. The car is now running, having been serviced fully, so that’s one less thing to worry about. The paintwork, while exceptionally presentable, is old and does show some signs of age. The interior is nice, but has imperfections such as a split in the driver’s seat. There seems to be little to no major rust though, which is a huge boon with a car like this. The P6 loves to rot unfortunately. Oh, and the vendor keenly states that this P6 is sitting on a matching set of nearly new tyres, which is nice to know.

The big issue here, and you knew there was one coming, is the gearbox. Apparently the car will engage reverse, but if you want to go forwards you’re in trouble. Apparently the car barely crawls along. This could be something as simple as it needing a damn good service, or it could be something more serious. You’re not going to know until you get under it. Handily though, the Borg Warner ‘box is not a rare item, so a replacement should only be a call away.

Five things to look for:

• Rust

As we said, the P6 likes to rust. The Vendor has been wonderfully forthright with information, and has clearly had the car up on a ramp for an inspection. Still, it never hurts to satisfy yourself by having a good poke around. Sills, A pillars, inner chassis rails – they love to rot on a P6.

• Suspension

Particularly the front suspension. In a Rover P6, the front springs sit horizontally and act on a pushrod/bell crank to work the front strut. It’s an elegant design, but you need to check the condition of it as if it rots or fails, it can be quite an involved job to put right. 

• Paperwork

The car has an insurance marker against it, so it would be good to get a bit more clarity on that, just for peace of mind if nothing else. And also it would be wise to look through the MOT history. If it still has an MOT, how come it was a non-runner when it got to the current vendor?

• Engine

The Buick-derived 3.5 V8 is a touch beast, but it’s also an engine people like to abuse. So listen to it, satisfy yourself that there are no deep clonks or rattles. Rebuilt parts are plentiful, but it’s still work you want to avoid if at all possible.  

• Interior trim

Mechanical parts are easy to find, but trim is not. So check the condition of the dash, specifically the top. The steering wheel should hopefully be crack free. Check the door cards, fastenings, headliner and anything else you can see. You really want it to at least be present, at least you have something to work with then. 

What should you do with it? 

If it were our money, (and trust us when we say it very well could be, so get in there fast) we would get rid of that knackered automatic gearbox and throw in a manual. Well, we say ‘throw in’, it would be a bit more involved than that, but it would be worth it in the end, as it would make it more of a driver’s car. 

Once the car is up and running, it would be the perfect base to have as a rolling restoration. Something you can enjoy as you sort the time, the paint and the little bits of rust it does have. And then at the end of it you’ll be left with a super desirable V8 classic. What’s not to like about that plan?

If you’re motivated to buy yourself this handsome old Rover P6, it could be yours for just £1,650. Though at that price, you need to get in there fast!