Lot Ended
Description
A super example of this 'gentleman's club on wheels'; restored at
a cost of over £16,000 about 10 years ago; displayed on the Rover P5 Club stand
at the NEC in 2023; few owners; lots of history; driven 70 miles to the
sale
Supplied new by
Barretts of Canterbury in January 1973, this lovely Rover P5B Coupe was first
registered as KK 2856, becoming KKP 946L when the first owner sold it in 1984.
It comes with an impressive history to show regular upkeep throughout its life,
the original service book showing that it was serviced 29 times up to 1993 by
which time it had covered 84,896 miles – an average service interval of just
3,000 miles. This included new crankshaft and thrust bearings in 1991 at 80,416
miles.
In 2012, when the car had covered 84,200
miles, it was acquired by a Mr J Hopkinson of Bawtry (the car’s 5th
owner) who sent it to E Whiting of Beverley for a sympathetic restoration which
took four years to complete and cost over £16,000.
The full extent of the work carried out is too detailed to list in
full here but is amply covered in many invoices and notes on file. It seems that
the bodywork was already in very good shape and needed little more than a new
right front wing, rechromed brightwork, a bare metal repaint in the original
Burnt Grey over Silver Birch and thorough waxoiling throughout.
The engine was overhauled as required with a new
timing chain, camshaft and followers and the gearbox was also overhauled with
new seals, gaskets and kickdown switch. Other highlights include: carbs
overhauled; electronic ignition; stainless steel exhaust system; reconditioned
radiator; full brake system overhaul with new pipes, discs, pads, master
cylinder etc; suspension overhaul with new rubbers and refurbished leaf springs;
steering box rebuilt; propshaft overhauled; new Sundym glass windscreen; new
door, window and boot rubbers; new wiper motor etc.
The interior was completely stripped out and refurbished with a new
carpet set and underlay; Jaeger clock rebuilt; new interior lights; door cards
refurbished; window winder mechanisms and door locks refurbished; new inertia
reel seatbelts front and rear; new front seat foams; black leather seat covers
re-Connollised and repaired as required; original Radiomobile radio upgraded
with phone and MP3 connectivity. A push-button starter/isolator was also
discreetly incorporated into the dash instruments as a security measure. It also
has headrests front and rear, a very desirable option which look great.
Our vendor acquired the car from Mr Hopkinson in
2017 and has continued to look after it well and use it regularly, covering some
7,000 miles over the last 7 years (including several 300-mile round trips to the
south coast), the odometer now showing 93,082 miles which is correct.
Kept in a nice dry garage when not in use, it
had the rear brakes overhauled in February this year and in 2019 it had a new
carpet set supplied by Aldridge Trim (including the boot); new leather centre
console panel; new speedo cable; refurbished alternator and the power steering
pump was rebuilt. A high-level LED brake light has also been cleverly
incorporated into the top of the rear windscreen trim as a safety
feature.
Often seen on the show circuit, in 2023
the car was displayed on the Rover P5 Owner’s Club stand at the NEC Classic Car
Show, also featuring on the front cover of the show programme. As you can see in
the photos, it looks most attractive indeed, the only real blemish we noted
being a slight crease in the bottom of the front left wing and a small rust
bubble at the base of the front left door (as pictured). Driven some 70 miles to
the sale, it has been starting promptly and running sweetly as we have moved it
around on site, with healthy oil pressure.
Good
examples of this classic ‘gentleman’s club on wheels’ are extremely thin on
the ground these days and the very best P5B Coupes can now
fetch £40k+. This pampered example is well worth a look at the
attractive guide price suggested.
For
more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email [email protected]
* All charges are subject to VAT