1969 Rover P5B Coupe

With only three former owners, the car has been in the care of the current owner for the past two-and-a-half years during this time he has carried out a mixture of mechanical and trim work to bring the car to the gorgeous but largely original condition you see here.

A classic car enthusiast, a recent move of address left him without adequate storage for his collection so the time has come for him to reluctantly find a new home for the Rover.

Being offered in good mechanical order, it still needs a few minor jobs doing to bring it up to the sort of condition that we all like to see in our pride and joy – and if you’re an even moderately competent DIYer you’ll see this as a good thing because the car’s current condition is reflected in the price, which we think is a bit of a bargain…

The Bordeaux Red paintwork is in generally good condition but is starting to show its age in a few places, most notably on the roof where it is slightly faded. The solid colour means that localised repairs would be relatively straightforward and would negate the need for a complete respray. Even the inner wheelarches look to be in very good condition, which is always a good sign that other, less visible areas, are in similarly good order. Of course, we recommend a personal visit while the auction is on to confirm our description, use the Contact Seller button to ask questions and more.

The boot has benefitted from £200-worth of new chrome fittings, a move that did highlight the age-related fading on the chromework around the lights and the rear bumper. Other than that it’s all good news as the old girl presents herself very well indeed. More importantly, there are only a few minor rust spots to deal with rather than the terminal rot of so many of her sister cars.

The interior is in wonderfully patinated condition. Typically British, it is a symphony of wood and leather, enlivened here and there with high-quality chrome fittings. The lights, dials and switches all work as they should with the exception of the rev counter, which is a bit jerky.

The red leather seats are lightly creased but could be brought back to almost new condition very easily as there are no rips, tears or serious scuffs. And, as a 1969 model, this example benefits from the greater rear legroom found in the later cars.

The complex rear parcel shelf has been retrimmed at a cost of £250 and is looking fabulous, as is the interior of the boot. The carpets are still in good condition too and they’re currently protected by rubber mats.

The headlining is taut and while most of the wooden trim is in good condition, some of it could do with being refinished if you’re looking for perfection. The same can be said of some of the minor chromework, which is showing its patina in places.

However, it must be emphasised that it’s an honest, lightly worn interior that wears its years well; if you don’t mind owning and driving a car that presents its half-century honestly, you’ll have no problem driving this largely ‘as is’.

However, that’s not to say that the new owner won’t have anything to do, because there is a short list of (inevitable but very satisfying) jobs to complete. These include: sorting the front passenger door handle mechanism, which only opens from the inside; fettling the driver’s window winding mechanism, as the window only goes up about 90% of the way although it can be fully closed by hand; and, the heater controls need some attention as the heater works but the lever is stuck in the ‘off’ position.

Oh, and the new door seals that come with the car need fitting.

The owner tells us that a recent comprehensive ignition overhaul (new plugs, leads, distributor cap and coil) and engine and coolant service has left the car in very good health. A manual choke conversion to the SU carburettor means that the Rover now starts “first time every time, hot or cold” and he goes on to say that it “drives superbly”. He confirms that the suspension has no knocks, and that the gearbox changes gear smoothly.

The brakes have been overhauled with new front pads as well as recent rear shoes and brake cylinders. However, there is still some air in the system that needs bleeding out; the brakes work well but only after the brake pedal has been pumped.

The Rostyle wheels are fitted with tyres that all show good tread. The engine bay is neat and clean but would benefit from a weekend’s-worth of detailing.

The car is showing as HPI-clear and there is nothing on the online MOT history that would concern us, least of all serious structural corrosion, which is the big fear with the Rover P5. In fact, it hasn’t even generated any advisories in the past four years, which might just be a new marque record…

It will be supplied with a burgundy Rover wallet containing an owner’s handbook.

Please visit the ‘Gallery’ section of this listing where you will find old invoices and other paperwork. And if there are any particular areas of the car you would like to see, the vendor has promised to add photos as you request.

The Rover P5B Coupe is, in our opinion, still chronically undervalued. With even the best cars only fetching £20,000, we think there is still room for appreciation, especially when you consider what its contemporary rivals are fetching now.

However, this is good news for anyone considering buying one as we think this will sell for between £8500 -11,000. And, as ever, the reserve is set at a lower point than this, so you might just be able to snaffle a bargain if you’re lucky…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen in Sheffield; 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: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

Note from above:

Interestingly, the UK government stockpiled the P5B saloon when production ended, so it isn’t unusual to see cars with a registration date of up to ten years later than their build date being offered for sale. And, in a move that confirms just how suspicious British institutions can be when dealing with new-fangled models, the Metropolitan Police is said to have done the same thing with the outgoing Rover SD1…