Rover P5B coupe 3.5 Litre V8

The stylish Rover P5B Coupe

With only 17 of the 1973 model year on the road and 360 P5B’s in total. This car was the 185th last of the model that ceased production in 1973.

The Rover P5B was quite the car in the 70’s,  as it is today  The last iteration in a production run of 13 years, it was very much a desired luxury car of the era and now a highly desirable

The P5B was named so because of its new bigger 3.5L V8 engine, which was designed by Buick (being the B)

From a design perspective, the car has a lower roofline and rakish rear window to the saloon, with striking front headlight cluster, the introduction of fog lamps, and the 3.5 badges and Rostyle wheels Mechanically the coupe included power steering and a Borg-Warner automatic gearbox as standard.

The 3½ Litre saloon variant was a favourite of high-ranking Government Ministers and served as Prime Ministerial transport even the Queen had one.

Presented at the London Motor Show in October 1965, described at the time as “even more luxuriously trimmed and furnished”. It was again available in two 4-door body styles, coupé and saloon. Externally it could be distinguished by the full-length trim strip along the body and Mark III badging; internally it replaced the rear bench seat with two individually moulded rear seats, making it more comfortable to ride in for four occupants.

The final iteration of the P5 appeared in September 1967,  powered by the 3,528-cubic-centimetre (215.3 cu in) Rover V8 engine also used in the 3500, the car was badged as the “3.5 Litre”, and commonly known as the 3½ Litre. Output of 160 metric horsepower (120 kW) was claimed along with improved torque. When introduced in 1967 the Buick designed V8 produced 160 PS (118 kW; 158 hp) the new engine provided improved performance and fuel economy resulting both from the greater power and the lower weight of the power unit.

Production ended in 1973, by when 9,099 coupés and 11,501 saloons had been built.

This car:

Registration documented History overview

Built on 5th June 1973, being the 185th from last to be built and supplied to Henley’s of London. First owned by Midlands Electricity Board for 5 years, then by next owner for 17 years. She then went to Holland for 8 years before returning home in 2004 with 2 further owners since.

• Heritage certificate
• Original Passbook, Owners manual, 10th-anniversary brochure of Owners Club, various articles and magazine, previous tax discs
• Old MOTs dating back to 1989 when the mileage was 86095 this includes Avon tyres, exhaust, water pump, new rubbers
• Significant history file od servicing and parts up to 2019
• Resprayed in 2002