1974 ROVER 3500 S

With its sophisticated engineering, the P6 remains exceptionally usable in modern traffic, and this is a fine example of the most desirable variant: the Rover P6 3500S with manual gearbox.

As far as we can see, the car remains in standard specification apart from a period-looking stereo modified for iPhone compatibility, an uprated radiator and a modern replacement for the front crank oil seal, a known weak point on Rover V8s of this age.

The car comes with an excellent history file extending back to its original purchase invoice. Dr James of Birmingham bought it new from Harvey Hudsons of Woodford on 7 February 1974 for an on-the-road price of £2,551.64. That sum included a Radiomobile 1070 radio, Innerseal and underseal treatment, delivery charges and number plates, 12 months’ road tax, and £1.68 of delivery petrol — a wonderfully evocative detail from another era.

Dr James even managed to negotiate a £30.00 discount from the list price.

Dr James kept the car until 1989, when he had to stop driving, after which it appears to have been laid up in dry storage. Until 1989, he kept a handwritten record of the car’s activities on old postcards.

We are told that the car remained in the original owner’s family until 2013, when the last owner — who had been searching for an outstanding example — acquired it. The V5 supports this account, recording three owners in total.

Although still in very good order, the car required a full repaint, complete recommissioning and restoration of the brightwork. This work was carried out in 2014, and the supporting invoices are included in the history file. The car was repainted in its original Cameron Green.

The last owner reports covering approximately 10,000 miles in the car, mainly on European road trips to Le Mans and battlefield sites. He describes it as a very reliable and usable part of his collection.

Over the past 11 years, the car has received substantial remedial work in addition to routine servicing and replacement of consumables. Most of this work was carried out by the Haynes Motor Museum workshops.

Documented work includes:

New stainless exhaust and manifolds 2015

Steering wheel retrimmed 2015

Uprated radiator and full engine bay detail 2016

New inertia reel seat belts 2018

New De Dion tube 2021

New water pump, timing chain, and crank front seal conversion 2024

The file also includes the original “Passport to Service” in the first owner’s name, recording 11 services between 1974 and 1983, up to 52,349 miles. The original-style owner’s manual and maintenance manual are also present in their original folder.

Two sets of keys are included.

The odometer reads 83,000 miles. Although we cannot warrant the mileage, all the available evidence indicates that it is correct.

Although the car is now MOT-exempt, the last owner continued to have it tested. The current MOT runs until September 2027 and records no advisories.

On the road, it performs extremely well, with strong performance that belies its age.

The P6 3500S is one of my all-time favourites, and, in my opinion, this example is exceptionally difficult to fault.

Not cheap by any means, but if you’re looking for a very good P6 in what most people regard as the most desirable spec, I think you’ll have to go a very long way to find a better one.

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On our own website, you’ll find our usual two videos: a walkaround appraisal, and driving impressions, which form part of the description.

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E & OE