Registration - COY 441H

Chassis No. - 42508488E

M.O.T. - Exempt

Odometer - 04365

The Rover P6 has a dedicated following and highly active Owner’s Club – and this 1969 eight-keeper example is just waiting for a new owner to take it in hand and lavish some TLC on it so that it can take pride of place in club gatherings. Sitting on original stainless steel wheels, as one would expect with a Series I model, and painted in white, with a black vinyl sunroof, ‘COY 441H’ has the stately lines so beloved by P6 afficionados. Inside, the once luxury interior is showing its age, and a new keeper will likely look to reupholster the front seats, replace carpets and generally do some fettling, while the vinyl roof would benefit from a refurbishment or perhaps replacement. The vendor describes the 161 bhp, 3.5-litre V8 engine, three-speed automatic transmission and electrics as ‘good’ and the bodywork, paintwork and interior as ‘average’.

At its launch in 1963 the Rover 2000 (or P6 - the project codename for the sixth post-War Rover) caused a sensation, and was acclaimed as a luxury saloon which combined elegance with performance, safety and technological advancement. It was way ahead of its time, with innovations such as an independent suspension designed for (then-new) radial ply tyres, power assisted brakes to all four wheels, and bodywork crumple zones. An Autocar road test in 1963 declared the Rover 2000 to be ‘one of the outstanding cars of the decade’. The car was the very worthy recipient of the first-ever European Car of the Year award (1964) and, three years later, won the first AA Gold Rosette for Safety. In April 1968 Rover introduced the 3500, modifying Buick’s aluminium 3.5-litre V8 engine – a power unit which was already in use in Rover’s P5B and which became known as the Rover V8 engine. The more powerful new model was faster than most comparable vehicles offered in the UK market at the time, with a Motor road test achieving 115mph and 0-60mph in 9.5 seconds. Some 322,302 P6 Rovers of varying engine capacity were produced before the range was superseded by the SD1 in 1977.

In summary:

· A very original example of Rover’s luxury flagship

· In need of a degree of cosmetic attention to the trim and vinyl roof

· Will provide a new owner with a capable family classic