Rover SD1 1969 P5B Saloon 4Door

This Lot will be sold at auction at Symphony of Spring; Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 7th March. Boasting its rare original Ebony leather interior. Offered with a large history file including the original book pack. Although a marriage of expediency, the union between Rover's stately P5 model range and the exBuick 3528cc allalloy OHV V8 engine resulted in an unexpectedly fine motorcar. Launched in 1967, the Rover P5B was conceived to stave off increasingly refined competition from the likes of Jaguar and MercedesBenz. Available in Saloon and Coupe guises both of which employed four doors the big Rover was equipped with independent front suspension, a leafsprung 'live' rear axle and disc/drum brakes. Fitted with threespeed automatic gearbox and powerassisted steering as standard, it proved a relaxing drive. Though, with some 161bhp and 210lbft of torque on tap, it also boasted a 115mph top speed.This Rover P5B Saloon was manufactured in 1969 and supplied new by R. H. Collier & Co. Ltd of Birmingham, being registered on 4th of July that year. Finished in Bordeaux Red, the P5B Saloon still retains its original rare Ebony leather interior upholstery and beige carpeting. Well maintained while in its first ownership, the accompanying history file displays regular servicing through their custodianship, which lasted 23 years. Purchased by the second owner in 1992, it was driven from Birmingham to Coventry, when white smoke began to appear and the new owner decided the head gaskets had failed. Starting to dismantle the Rovers engine, a stroke sadly stopped progress almost immediately and the P5B remained stored in a dry garage for the next 24 years. The previous owner, a wellknown and renowned classic car specialist was informed of the car in 2016 and purchased RON 569G with some 52,000 miles on the odometer. Quickly discovering that a leaking brake servo was the actual cause of the smoke, the P5B was fully recommissioned, with RON 569G returning to the road in the summer of 2016. Other than the recommissioning, the Rover only required improvement to the paintwork, with a full respray undertaken shortly after purchase. Notably original, this P5B was used regularly by the previous owner. Offered with a large history file that contains the original book pack with the wellstamped service book, numerous servicing and maintenance records from the first owners custodianship, right back to the first service document and a current V5C registration document. Examples of the P5B with such originality come up rarely, so with very good provenance, low mileage, and just three owners from new, this is a fantastic opportunity. Consigned by John Tomlin