1968 Rover P5B 3.5-Litre

Highlights

Full restoration including engine and gearbox rebuild around 10,000 miles ago
Comprehensive brake system rebuild
New front and rear windscreen rubbers, door and boot seals
Five new Avon Turbosteel radial tyres
Judiciously maintained by its motor engineer owner

The Appeal

Used as official cars for four consecutive UK Prime Ministers and even the choice of personal transport for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Rover P5B is without doubt one of Britain's most historically important motor cars.,

To have politicians and royalty gallivanting about in Rolls-Royces or Bentleys would have been somewhat tone death, so the government needed to find a more understated equivalent that had the same capability. That's where the P5B came up trumps. Thanks to Rover's newly acquired Buick-derived V8 engine, it had ample performance should any evasive manoeuvres be required, and the Rover's cabin was as beautifully appointed as any luxury limousine of its day.

The P5B was such a good fit, the government purchased the last batch of the production line and placed them in storage for future use. That's why new-looking examples still turned up outside No.10 Downing Street well into the mid-1980s.

Thus 1968 Rover P5B Saloon has undergone extensive restoration work, making it one of the smartest examples left on the road. It's not just the bits you can see either. The Rover's mechanicals have been completely rebuilt, with the engine receiving new big ends, piston rings, mains, cam followers, camshaft and an uprated Edelbrock inlet manifold/carburettor combination. The gearbox was entrusted to a Borg-Warner specialist and just about everything else has been attended to by its motor engineer owner.

If you're looking for a well-sorted P5B that's ready to go, this would be a superb buy.

History and Paperwork

UK market RHD example registered on 02/05/1968
Just two former registered keepers according to DVLA records
6,733 miles indicated - true figure understood to be 106,733 miles
Full restoration including the engine around 10,000 miles ago
The owner was a motor engineer and did a lot of the work himself to a very high standard
Some service records and invoices present, but the paperwork is incomplete
The owner did not keep records of a lot of work since they never intended to sell the car - the vendor is selling it on their behalf
Exempt from road tax and MOT

The Condition

OEM Rostyle wheels with period-correct Avon Turbosteel tyres
Bodywork restored with any corrosion cut out and replaced with fresh steel
The vendor notes that this is a really solid example and the photographs certainly support this assertion
The Rover presents beautifully, with straight bodywork, well-fitting doors and a very clean-looking underside
The paint exhibits some superficial blemishes upon closer inspection, but nothing especially noteworthy
Very smart brightwork and badging
No dents or corrosion visible
Highly original-looking interior
Some trim pieces are missing inside under the dash, but the vendor notes there's spare trim in the boot, some of which may correspond
Light age-commensurate wear to the upholstery and controls
We understand the various cabin electrics and instruments to be in good working order

The Mechanics

3.5-litre (3,498cc) Rover V8
Edelbrock inlet manifold and carburettor
Automatic transmission
Engine rebuild comprising big ends, new piston rings, mains, new cam followers and a new camshaft
Gearbox reconditioned by a Borg-Warner specialist
Brakes fully rebuilt including slave cylinders and servo unit
Recent battery
Complete new exhaust system
The vendor informs us that the engine runs very well and the Rover drives brilliantly
We're advised that the power steering is a bit squeaky at slow turns but otherwise works well
We're informed that the car accelerates smoothly through the gears with no untoward noises or apparent issues
Recent oil change carried out

BEFORE YOU BUY

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