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| Lot number | 27 |
|---|---|
| Hammer value | £1,900 |
| Description | Rover P5B Saloon |
| Registration | RHP 371H |
| Year | 1969 |
| Colour | Maroon |
| Engine size | 3,528 cc |
| Chassis No. | 84004969D |
| Engine No. | 84009830 |
Sedate, comfortable and beautifully built, Rover cars represented the finest traditions of the British motor industry and were the default choice for the upper middle classes from the 1940s onwards.
Launched at the 1958 Motor Show, 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 the P4, it was dubbed the ‘middle class Rolls-Royce’ and immediately became the establishment’s motor of choice – the Queen is said to have been particularly fond of the Royal P5, Harold Wilson had a built-in pipe rack in his, and Margaret Thatcher was the last Prime Minister to be whisked into office in hers. Furthermore, no self-respecting minister, tycoon or top brass army officer would be seen in anything less.
The P5B version produced from 1967 until 1973 had a larger Buick-derived 3.5-litre V8 under the bonnet in place of the original 3-litre six and really gave the car the go to match the show. With 160bhp and plenty of effortless grunt under his right foot, the chauffeur could waft his passengers to 108mph and crack 60 in under 10 seconds, even with the mandatory auto box. With surprisingly good ride and handling and some of the most comfortable seats ever to grace a motorcar, this really was the archetypal gentleman's club on wheels. Good ones are increasingly sought after today.
First registered in Coventry in November 1969, this P5B Saloon was acquired for the Stondon Collection in 1997. Maroon with a black leather interior, it was last taxed and on the road in 1994, three consecutive MOTs on file from 1992 to 1994 showing the indicated (unwarranted) mileage rising from just over 11,000 to just over 18,000 during this period. Apart from being moved from one side of the museum to the other occasionally, this stately carriage has not gone anywhere these past 18 years and now needs a caring new owner to nurse it back into more regular use.
