Description
Rover 3. 5 Coupe (P5B) first registered 8th September 1972, finished in the classic ‘Press Car’ and ‘Motor’ road test colour of Burnt Grey over Rover White. Owned by me for 22 years and a reluctant sale as I purchased another classic car a few years ago and this lovely P5B doesn’t get driven enough. The vehicle was restored in the 1990s and it has always been garaged since I acquired it in November 2002. I have covered around 11, 000 miles during ownership – odometer is showing 67, 471 miles. MoT pass at 66, 758 miles and there is service history for the last 30 years.
The engine starts easily and is wonderfully smooth and responsive without any tappet noise. I had the BW35 gearbox replaced approximately 10, 000 miles ago and it functions as it should. The vehicle has had much work carried out over the years by my local garage to maintain it to the standard expected.
A local Rolls-Royce/ Bentley classic car specialist recently carried out a full service plus new brake servo unit, new rear wheel cylinders, rear brake shoes, new track rod ends, throttle cable, metal heater pipes, new hoses and general re-commissioning at a cost of £3, 000.
As evidenced in the photos, there are age related cosmetic items that a new owner may wish to address. Three of the doors have bubbling to the lower paintwork, a small section of paint is missing from the offside front wing, there is a small indentation on the top of the nearside front wing and slight bubbling at the lower front, slight cracking of paint around rear number plate, the stitching has failed on one panel of all four seat squabs, period radio not working.
Notwithstanding the above, this P5B gives much satisfaction in the way it looks and drives. The carpets and leather are very good and the headlining is spotless. All the gauges, switches and levers on the dashboard work as they should. The Rostyle wheels and tyres are in very good condition. The chrome work is excellent. There is a full set of tools in the under-dash picnic table.
This vehicle deserves to be used more often and so regrettably I am selling. This lovely P5B can be enjoyed as is, or, with a modest amount of work/ expenditure, can be taken to the top level.
