1972 Rover 3.5 Coupe

First registered in August 1972 during the final full year of P5B production, this stylish and regal four-door coupé - as opposed to the four-door sedan model, identifiable by the split rear door windows and lower C-pillar line - has racked up an impressive 128,000 miles during its lifetime, and has evidently been well-kept and cherished by its owners throughout its time on the roads.

Purchased by the vendor and current owner in early 2021, this V8 powered coupé has wanted for virtually nothing, thanks to the level of attention and fettling that the previous owner had bestowed upon the car, with paperwork to back this up.

This work, whilst in the care of the previous custodian, included a full respray in the correct Arden Green, though at the time the decision was made to spray the roof in a grey/gunmetal colour. Upon purchase, our vendor decided to have the roof panel re-sprayed in the correct silver/white colour.

Other than this, and a new battery, the only other works carried out on the vehicle in the last year were the fitment of four new whitewall tyres in the correct size, and the commissioning and fitment of a custom 15.5” steering wheel, which matches the wooden trims inside the vehicle.

Interestingly, there are a number of ‘extras’ fitted to the vehicle, some of which may or may not have been factory-fit, or retro-fitted at a later date by one of the car’s former custodians. These extras include inertia reel seatbelts, door-mounted mirrors, a heated Triplex rear windscreen, front headrests, and rear speaker fader controls.

There have also been numerous subtle upgrades fitted, including a retro-look modern radio unit with USB connectivity, electronic ignition, an alternator conversion, and newer mats to protect the vehicle’s carpets.

Now, having had a year of enjoyment behind the wheel, burbling around the picturesque New Forest, numerous runs to Beaulieu and other shows, the decision has been made to move on this lovely P5B, to make room for the next chapter in the owner’s automotive life.

Resplendent in Arden Green, this P5B still cuts an impressive silhouette to this day, with its quad-light front end, raised wing profiles and imposing grille - every inch the diplomat or distinguished gentleman’s car of choice.

Looking along the flanks of the body, there were no signs of any impact damage that we could see, though the vendor notes that the new door seals are somewhat stiffer than expected, and cause the NSF door and boot to sit slightly proud of their intended shut lines, though hopefully some use and time in the sun will help soften the rubbers.

The paintwork is also in excellent condition overall, with only a couple of small (5p sized) patches of bubbling noted along the upper edge of the offside rear wing, along with a few very minor usage related marks such as stone chips.

All of the glass is marked with Triplex engraving, whilst the Lucas headlights, fog lights and rear lights are undamaged and wonderfully clear.

Similarly, the chrome bumpers are both in wonderful shape, with only a small scuff noted on the nearside edge of the front item. The side trim and window surrounds display some light pitting, usage marks and minor indentations, but nothing that would not be considered commensurate for a vehicle of this age and mileage, and these imperfections are only visible up-close.

Underneath the arches, all four Rostyle wheels are in good order, with some light pitting and marks noted to the chrome details and dishes, though nothing that looks out of place. All four American whitewall tyres are in excellent condition with plenty of life left.

Step inside this P5B coupé, and it’s not hard to see why these well-appointed vehicles were the choice of high-ranking officials. The leather armchair seats, wooden trims and overall plush feeling suggests that entire continents could be crossed behind the wheel without so much as breaking a sweat. The steering wheel is also the original 17" one.

Speaking of the seats, the rear items are in excellent condition, though we did notice a number of small nicks, rips and tears on the driver’s seat up front, and some more notable scuffing on the front passenger seat - all commensurate for a vehicle with over 120,000 miles on the odometer, however.

The various wooden trims scattered throughout the vehicle are in good order, with only some light marks and chips noted from years of enjoyment, along with perhaps some more pronounced wear to the offside rear passenger door capping, if we’re being very particular.

Up above, the headlining is in excellent shape with no sagging to speak of, whilst the carpets are also in fine fettle, having been preserved by the fitment of grey over-mats.

Ahead of the driver, the dashboard, instrument binnacle and centre console all present wonderfully, with only a few light usage marks to speak of, and no sign of any cracking or sun damage to the dashboard top or instrument binnacle.

It should be noted that the odometer has ‘rolled over’ and the correct mileage would be in the region of 128,730.

In the rear, the capacious boot looks to be in good shape, and boasts a new battery fitted underneath the OE battery cover. We did note some ‘crispiness’ around the battery earth strap, but that is par-for-the-course on a vehicle of this era, and hasn’t been flagged as being of any particular concern.

During our photo shoot, there were no signs of any faults, warning lights or issues with any of the interior gauges or systems, and no reported faults from the vendor.

Firing into life with ease, the alloy 3.5-litre, Buick-derived V8 under the bonnet settled almost immediately into a steady idle, complete with a subtle V8 burble which will no doubt delight enthusiasts and owners far-and-wide.

During our photoshoot, the car was happy to start, stop, turn and idle, with no noted issues, noises or untoward behaviours emanating from the engine, transmission or brakes. The oil pressure remained comfortably in the ‘normal’ zone on the gauge, and the temperature gauge never indicated any cause for concern.

In fact, the only ‘quirk’ that reared its head was that the electric sensor for the transmission being in ‘park’ is slightly temperamental, requiring a slight nudge of the selector for it to engage, thereby allowing the vehicle to start.

In the engine bay, the block, ancillaries and bay itself all present well, with only a few light stains and typical patina to the cam covers being observed by our photographer.

Looking underneath the vehicle, there is the usual ‘bloom’ and cracked paintwork as expected from a vehicle of this age, but no signs of any major issues that we could see.

Whilst in the care of the vendor, the vehicle has “wanted for nothing… owing to the work put in by the previous owner” which is always music to our ears.

The history folder for this Rover P5B is split into two sections. The first section is all of the invoices, documentation and paperwork from the previous and current owners (2015 onwards) whilst the other section deals in more historical paperwork, from the late 90’s, mostly.

As always, we’ve photographed all of the documentation, which is available to view in the gallery below.

A few highlights include:

- Numerous invoices from a thorough engine rebuild earlier in the vehicle’s history

- MoT certificates from 1989, with a total of 30 certificates confirming the vehicle’s mileage, with the odometer having rolled-over.

- A workshop manual, parts catalogue, owner’s manual and two sets of keys

- The V5, showing nine former keepers

- Extensive invoices from the previous keeper’s time with the vehicle, including nearly £3,000 spent on paint and bodywork

Cherished, charming and characterful, this lovely P5B Coupé in Arden Green is a fantastic example of the breed, having benefitted from extensive works whilst in the care of previous owners, with the result being a useable, yet excellent V8-powered coupé which is ready to simply jump in, turn the key and enjoy.

Our estimate for this car is £28,000 - £34,000.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with the vendor in East Boldre, Hampshire; To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.