Rover P5 Saloon

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Launched in 1958, the P5 Saloon marked a new departure for Rover as it employed a monocoque construction rather than the separate chassis of the old P4.

Considerably larger and more stately than its predecessor, it was dubbed the ‘middle class Rolls-Royce’ and became the car of choice for company chairmen, politicians and the military top-brass – in fact the Queen is said to have been particularly fond of the Royal P5.

Initially fitted with a silky-smooth 3-litre straight-six, early P5s had a number of styling features which were lost on later cars – the quirky window louvres, early dash vents, bench front seat and tinted sun visors for example.

In 1960 the P5 was upgraded with disc brakes, a feature which this late 1959 built car has. Fitted with manual transmission, it was originally despatched to South Africa and was registered there the following year. Little is known of its life in the sun, except that it appears to have been used continuously, although mileage in more recent years diminished as one would expect.

It arrived back on these shores early this year and has been recommissioned with an MOT that runs to March 2019. The odometer shows 49,000 miles, a figure which the owner believes should have a one in front of it. He adds that the chassis and floor are solid, although the paintwork and wheel arches could do with some tidying. His next job was to improve the cosmetics by replacing the front and rear screen seals and upgrading the chrome, although his plans have now changed, hence its inclusion in the sale.

A perfect candidate to use and improve, we are also advised that first gear is quite noisy and will need attention in the not-too-distant future, all factors taken into account in its tempting guide price.