1962 Rover P4 100

It is believed that ESJ 455 went straight from the factory to the Managing Director of an engineering firm in the Midlands in 1962 – and if that isn’t peak Rover P4, we don’t know what is.

It then moved to Chelmsford in Essex, again as a company car, for five years before disappearing off the radar for the next fifteen, eventually resurfacing in Ireland. Apparently purchased by an officer in the British Army, it was still stored for a number of years while the old boy was serving overseas.

It was then – and I swear we aren’t making this up – put back on the road as part of the regimental fleet. As such, no road tax or insurance was required, and there are no DVLA records to confirm this part of its history as a result.

The owner discovered it in Ireland, where the officer had retired, still wearing its Irish plates. It was repatriated to England where it was correctly reregistered with the DVLA and given its original registration number.

With an older respray and a reupholstered interior, it is only being offered for sale as the owner has lost his storage.

In running condition and with a short MOT, it would make the ideal car for someone looking for a rolling restoration project – and, despite one of the most interesting histories we’ve ever seen, it isn’t going to break the bank, either…

Clearly the recipient of a respray in its middle-age, the Rover looks great from ten yards with shiny paint and a good stance. The chromework, including the huge grille with its period AA badge, is another real high point, and it looks splendid in its two-tone green livery.

The paint was clearly applied to a good standard at the time, but it has cracked in places over the years and needs some attention. Both front wings have cracks and rust bubbles, while there are other bits and bobs that will need sorting like the door rubbers, slightly scabby sills, and the odd hole in the inner wheelarch.

But, it’s so gloriously Old England that it’s worth saving; suicide rear doors, the clamshell bonnet, and huge chrome radiator grille are all redolent of a kinder, gentler time, and deserve to be preserved.

Few things reek of class quite like an old Rover; at a time when thinking of what a Rover stands for often means a badly-built, rebadged-Honda, it’s easy to forget that once upon a time they were only one rung down from a Rolls-Royce.

You think that’s hyperbole? Not a bit of it: ". . . and I honestly believe (barring the Rolls-Royce) that there is no finer car built in the world today." That was Bob Dearborn of American magazine Road and Track writing about the Rover P4 in August 1952. Still unconvinced? Well, Grace Kelly owned one, and if that’s not endorsement enough then it’s probably safe to conclude that you’ve got a saved eBay search for Katie Price’s old cars, haven’t you?

The Interior of this P4 100 is gorgeously over-designed. So, you’ll find the ‘Shepherd’s Crook’ handbrake, a wonderfully OTT gearchange mechanism (which predates the current fad for exposed linkages on cars like the dog-box equipped Abarth 695 by half-a-century…), a huge flat Bakelite and chrome steering wheel, plus the most wonderful tan cloth and leather seats you’ll find this side of five figures.

It’s all in great condition too, including the headlining, door cards, beautifully bound carpets, and the extensive wooden trim. Someone’s spent some serious money on it in the recent past because it all looks to be in great shape. Plus, it all works bar the clock but that’s a common enough fault and one that wouldn’t be unduly expensive to put right.

And, it smells like an old car should; for those of us who grew up being ferried around by our grandparents in cars of this vintage, the smell will take you straight back to endless summer holidays, apples being stored in the cellar, and jumpers for goalposts on balmy summer evenings

Work to do is limited to some slightly pitted and rusty chrome handles and the wooden door capping on the nearside front door which needs fixing back on. 

Fitted with the desirable overdrive gearbox, we are told that it has had new front discs, pads, flexible hoses and rigid brake pipes in the recent past, as well as a new heater valve, a new rear silencer, some track rod boots, a windscreen washer motor, and new oil and filter. It also had a new battery in August 2017.

There are three sheets of closely typed notes on the work the car has had done, and some suggestions as to what might need doing next. Please see the notes themselves for the full details on what has been done, but the work that was identified is a pair of new rear springs and new dampers all round.

The comments were also made that the car has a “very good engine and gearbox” and “there are no hidden horror spots on the chassis and sills.”

However, a couple of niggles have made themselves known since we’ve had the Rover with us. The first is that although the car starts fine, it has a tendency to cut-out and will not hold an idle.

The second is that there is a coolant leak from the radiator, so probably best to budget for a new one or to have the old one reconditioned. That said, it has had new engine and heater coolant hoses, a thermostat and a radiator cap, so half the work has already been done.

The engine bay might be a bit scruffy, but when you start to dig you soon realise that it’s all superficial, easily remedied stuff like a rusty air filter and heater box. 

The Rover’s MOT expires on the 12th of February 2020, and while it is exempt from the need to have one by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have the car re-MOT’d at the earliest opportunity.

The cost of an MOT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The Rover comes with the original owner’s instruction manual, a guide to the location of Rover dealers, some Rover P4 Guild paperwork and newsletters, some old MOT certificates and a few recent invoices. Sadly, the bulk of the paperwork appears to have been lost after the death of its owner in Ireland.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of what paperwork there is.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please contact us here at The Market to arrange an appointment.

As a touchstone for middle-England in the 50s and early 60s the Rover P4 takes some beating and the provenance of this one, with its MD first owner and subsequent move into the stewardship of an Army Officer, is unimprovable.

And it really is a lovely old thing, albeit one that needs a little TLC. With this in mind, we think it should fetch somewhere between £4,000 and £7,000, at which price it gives plenty of headroom for the new owner to rectify the bodywork.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.