Lot Ended
Description
A handsome example of this aristocratic 'gentleman's club on wheels';
has spent much of its time on Guernsey; just three owners since 1986; only
63,760 miles indicated
Launched at the 1958 Motor Show, the
Rover P5 Saloon was dubbed the ‘middle class Rolls-Royce’ and immediately became
the establishment’s motor of choice – the Queen is said to have been
particularly fond of the Royal P5, Harold Wilson had a built-in pipe rack in
his, and Margaret Thatcher was the last Prime Minister to be whisked into office
in hers.
The P5B version produced from 1967 - 1973 had a larger
Buick-derived 3.5-litre V8 under the bonnet in place of the original 3-litre six
and really gave the car the go to match the show. With 160bhp and plenty of
effortless grunt under his right foot, the chauffeur could waft his passengers
to 110mph and crack 60 in under 11 seconds, even with the mandatory auto box.
Coupled with surprisingly good ride and handling and some of the most
comfortable seats ever to grace a motorcar, this really was the archetypal
‘gentleman's club on wheels’.
For the more caddish toffs, Rover also
produced the P5B in four-door coupe style with a slightly lower roof-line,
slimmer chromed window surrounds, twin-armchair rear seats and additional dash
instruments, this being the most collectable variant today. Some 20,600 P5Bs
were sold before production came to an end in 1973, with just 9,000 being in the
desirable Coupe style.
First registered in February 1972, this Coupe
comes with no early history but a Guernsey Registration Book shows that it was
resident on that small island from 1986 – 2003 during which time it was owned by
a Mr Salmon of St Sampson, a small parish in the north of the island.
There are various invoices showing that it was well looked after during
his 17-year ownership, any work required being carried out by the same local
garage, Graham M Le Page, although it only seems to have covered around 500
miles during this period – hardly surprising as Guernsey is only six miles long
and three miles wide! Aside from routine service items, there are invoices for a
new exhaust system, new power steering box, re-cored radiator, new fuel pump and
brake servo kit plus new Michelin tyres.
In June 2003 it was acquired by
a Mr R Thomas who was to keep it for the next 18 years. He presumably brought it
back to mainland UK although he doesn’t seem to have got the registration number
changed so perhaps he never drove it – who knows?
An old MOT issued in
Wisbech in July 2003 gives the mileage as 63,088 at this point and it now shows
63,760 miles so it has clearly been very little used in the last 40 years.
In October 2021 it was acquired by a Mr Levine of Wisbech, DVLA
correspondence showing that he got the registration number changed from the
Guernsey number 23310 to LJW 66K which was presumably the car’s original
Wolverhampton-issue number.
Our vendor acquired the car in April 2025 and
although there are no invoices to show what was done, he tells us that it was
entrusted to his long-term classic car mechanic for a thorough service and
check-over to ensure that it was in good shape to drive.
As you can see
in the photos, this Coupe looks reassuringly straight and solid with a nicely
original interior. The paintwork is pretty good overall and would doubtless
respond well to a machine polish. It has been starting promptly and running
nicely as we have moved it around on site, with a lovely V8 burble from the
stainless steel exhaust and riding smoothly over the large pot holes at the
bottom of our yard with not a rattle or a squeak.
What this handsome
Coupe really needs is an enthusiastic new owner who can give it the more regular
exercise that it deserves. These are great cars to own and are still perfectly
suited to daily driving in considerable style. Everyone loves them so you will
win friends wherever you go in this one...
Consigned by James
Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com