From The Classifieds: 1970 Rover P5B

From The Classifieds
1970 Rover P5B

Believe it or not, this very British selection from the classified section of carsales.com.au was inspired by a recent road test of the US-built Chrysler 300C sedan.

Although it’s doubtful that British and American stylists used the same references when the lines of the respective cars were being penned more than 40 years apart, in many ways the 1950s/1970s Rover P5 saloon has a striking resemblance to today’s Chrysler 300C – a slightly retro creation that owes its inspiration to the 1950s C-300 Chrysler which, in its time, was the most powerful car that could be bought straight off the showroom floor.

The big Rover saloon was favoured by senior ministers in the British government in the 1960s and 1970s (including the likes of Harold Wilson and Margaret Thatcher). Even Queen Elizabeth owned one, which is reportedly still on display at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire.

The plush, long-lived P5 Rover was produced between 1958 and 1973, in both saloon – and, from 1962, in low-roof four-door coupe form which today bears the stronger resemblance to Chrysler’s 300C – and was powered initially by a 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine, switching over to the company’s widely-used and Buick-sourced alloy 3.5-litre V8 with the P5B (B for Buick) model in 1967.

The 1958 Mark I version’s 86kW 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine used the strange side-valve-overhead valve combination seen in its P3 predecessor and in earlier versions of the 4x4 Land Rover.

The P5 Rover progressed through the Mark I to the Mark II and Mark III models before the introduction of the 120kW P5B V8 in 1967. Over time, the design fundamentals remained essentially the same, apart from subtle and progressive styling tweaks that culminated with the four-headlight P5B.

The P5 was always a plush, spacious car well-suited to VIP use and became even more so towards the end of its tenure where it featured four heavily-cushioned leather seats, Borg warner automatic transmission, variable ratio power steering and the usual heavy application of wood trim.

It is believed the British government bought a batch of P5Bs in 1973 to hold in storage for future VIP use, which resulted in a drawn-out appearance of fresh-looking P5Bs well after the end of production.

With its solid, nicely balanced lines the Rover P5 still looks pretty stylish for a car that first appeared in the 1950s and it continues to attract a following from those British-car aficionados who choose not to follow the Jaguar path.

This black exterior/maroon interior 1970 P5B from Verona in NSW is a good example of what can be found in today’s market and is described by the owner as having an “immaculate” interior restored to original specification complete with Wilton carpet, working air-conditioning and the original radio and clock.

The exterior paintwork is described as good, with “a few blemishes but looks great for a 45 year old car.” It’s all set off nicely with the original Rostyle wheels and “near-new” whitewall tyres.

According to the owner: “Mechanically the car is excellent having recently had a rebuilt transmission, engine and power steering pump.” The owner has “receipts for over $25,000 in work done since 2012 including brakes, suspension, and steering. Seatbelts are fitted and all lights, switches and instruments work.”

The Rover P5B is on sale for $14,950 and will be sold complete with a roadworthy certificate.