1968 Rover P5B Coupe

This 1968 P5B Coupe was enjoyed by eight owners before falling into the capable hands of our seller way back in 1992. He has enjoyed the car over the extended period of ownership and is such a fan of the marque, this example is not the only one he owns.

Old age and ill health have meant the Rover has seen little use in the last few years, and so this and our seller’s collection of cars must now find new homes.

Anticipating the sale, the car was MoTed in September, which should give reassurance to any would-be purchaser.

The car runs and drives but having only travelled 60 odd miles in the last four years, we would expect a little light recommissioning may well be required.

The seller informs us that the P5B was subject to a major body restoration a few years ago, which cost him around £10,000. Much work was carried out under the skin we believe as well as a repaint.

Silver Birch over Admiralty Blue, a lovely colour combination without a doubt and with the car having little use since the restoration, it still presents rather well.

Letting the side down a tad is the car’s extensive chromework, which is pitted in places, especially on the bumpers. There are many specialists available who will be able to restore to new condition if required.

The famous Rostyle wheels are fitted all round, though they are clad with tyres of varying makes and condition. We would budget for a new matching set.

An interior full of period charm. Swathes of cream leather cover the seats and door cards and the heady aroma of fine hide greets you on entry. The front seats are lovely and comfortable, but they do show their age. A good specialist would be able to clean and treat the deep cracks, though there are plenty of good products on the market for the enthusiastic DIYer.

Less easy to tackle will be the spilt in the offside bolster of the driver’s seat, so maybe a specialist will be the way forward then. They could also tackle the central armrest too.

The rear seats are in better condition, but some time and effort here will surely improve the look. A rather lovely touch is the control for separate rear heating, something that is still a rare option today.

A pair of static seats belts are fitted to keep those up front safe, though a popular option is to upgrade them to the more comfortable inertia reel variety.

The headlining is a little grubby in places, so set aside some time for a good cleaning session.

Mats and carpet have stood the test of time reasonably well, though a good steam clean would doubtless bring about a noticeable improvement.

No luxury car from this era would be complete without a splash of wood and the P5B is no exception, with veneer to the dash and door tops. We would get the polish out to improve the finish.

A raft of Lucas gauges a fitted to said dash, allowing the driver to keep tabs on the oil pressure and battery condition, as well as the expected fuel level and water temperature.

Tunes are provided by an old Sharp radio/cassette, though we have not tested this. We would look for something more in keeping to replace it.

The Rover boasts a huge boot, making this the ideal car for weekends away. A general spruce up of the space would not go amiss and we would try to refit the rubber seal properly. The rather battered battery cover lifts up to reveal a modern Bosch battery.

We always include plenty of photographs of a car’s hard to inspect underside and that is the case here. There is a little surface corrosion in places, but we suspect a good clean and the application of some more protective underseal should do the trick.

We were pleased to note that the MoT testers made no comment on the condition of the chassis, and we know they do tend to have a really good prod and a poke these days. All that money spent by our seller was clearly worthwhile.

Lift the bonnet and that familiar and sonorous Rover V8 hoves into view. There are pictures in our gallery for your delectation. We believe this is the car’s original engine and the reading on the odometer of a little 55,600 miles may well be genuine. In any case, this is a tried and tested unit, good for big mileages.

As we have already stated, this Rover has been in our seller’s hands for some thirty years. It has never had a huge amount of use, with a plethora of other cars at his disposal, but it has been maintained by a local garage, being serviced when needed. Sadly, we have no paperwork so cannot be any clearer than that.

The £10,000 bodywork restoration appears to have dealt with any corrosion issues and the paintwork still looks rather smart.

The September MoT did throw up a few advisories. One was for a damaged tyre, though we have already recommended fitting a new set of rubber. Also mentioned was some seepage from the steering box and some free play.

The previous test was carried out in May 2018 and a clean sheet was issued. Only 60 miles separates the two tests. Rewind to 2012, and we note only a further 1,200 miles have been added to the present day.

Some early MoT certificates accompany the car, as does the owner’s instruction manual.

Best of British rather sums up the Rover P5B and the desirable coupe variant we are offering for sale will likely attract plenty of interest.

Once some light recommissioning has taken place, this British beauty will be all set for new and exciting motoring adventures.

If you think this great eye-catching and usable classic would look good in your garage, we suggest bidding without delay. We expect the car to sell for between £6,000 and £8,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, 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’.