Discussion
The British Army Motoring Association ran ex works P5's in the mid 60's. I did the RAC in one in 1966. It had been a Rover team car on events like the Liege Sofia Liege and the East African Safari (team prize winner!)and then been used as a support car!When we had it mileage was over 50000...all International Rallies On the RAC all went well until the steering box came loose! Catching up after having it fixed the M&S tyres threw lumps of tread if we went over 90 on tarmac! Then the gearbox lost 3 &4th & we did the last 250 miles including lapping Silverstone in o/d 2nd! WE won the o cer 3litre class I think!
There were a couple of P5B's in the 1993 LOndon Sydney Marathon, one Dutch one Brit...very strong & fast (up to 4th at one point)
There were a couple of P5B's in the 1993 LOndon Sydney Marathon, one Dutch one Brit...very strong & fast (up to 4th at one point)
DBSV8 said:
my Father had a P5 3000 coupe not the P5/B which had rostyle wheels Rover v8 and extra lights
The roof lines were identical
twas a great car however the engine was prone to warping valves/they had F-heads the intake manifold and its valves are located on top of the cylinders (in the cylinder head) and were operated by pushrods, but the exhaust manifold and its valves were located beside the cylinders (in the block). The exhaust valves were parallel with the pistons; their faces pointed upwards and were operated by direct contact with the camshaft.
Father's claim to fame was he bent a valve in the cylinder head took the car to the local Rover garage , they took a look and told him to junk the head as they wouldn't be able to remove the bent valve which was stuck !!
He worked for Winfrith the atomic energy reasearch Authority laboratory , came home with a flask of dry ice , used some plastecine around the cylinder head poured in the dry ice and after 5 minutes the valve dropped out !!!
Bit of a rare beast on an E plate,only ran from Jan to August plus thats the year the V8 was introduced The roof lines were identical
twas a great car however the engine was prone to warping valves/they had F-heads the intake manifold and its valves are located on top of the cylinders (in the cylinder head) and were operated by pushrods, but the exhaust manifold and its valves were located beside the cylinders (in the block). The exhaust valves were parallel with the pistons; their faces pointed upwards and were operated by direct contact with the camshaft.
Father's claim to fame was he bent a valve in the cylinder head took the car to the local Rover garage , they took a look and told him to junk the head as they wouldn't be able to remove the bent valve which was stuck !!
He worked for Winfrith the atomic energy reasearch Authority laboratory , came home with a flask of dry ice , used some plastecine around the cylinder head poured in the dry ice and after 5 minutes the valve dropped out !!!
This was my old girl in the late 80's,rearend shortly after this was taken.
Nice looking saloon there ;o)
All this talk of P5s is making me come over all twitchy again, despite being very happy with my P6B I can't shake off the yearning for another P5B Coupe, I dare say I never will either!
This one is up for grabs on my doorstep, if only I had the space and moolah to justify it.... http://www.rugbyclassics.com/index.php?webpage=pro...
Not too keen on the whitewall tyres, but the colour combo of Bordeaux Red and a Mulberry interior is ace!
The V8s were launched around September '67 so would have been on an F plate, although the first few pre-production cars bore E plates, including those used for press shots and brochures. I think James Taylor said the first V8s came off the line in March or April '67 ready for testing at MIRA.
All this talk of P5s is making me come over all twitchy again, despite being very happy with my P6B I can't shake off the yearning for another P5B Coupe, I dare say I never will either!
This one is up for grabs on my doorstep, if only I had the space and moolah to justify it.... http://www.rugbyclassics.com/index.php?webpage=pro...
Not too keen on the whitewall tyres, but the colour combo of Bordeaux Red and a Mulberry interior is ace!
The V8s were launched around September '67 so would have been on an F plate, although the first few pre-production cars bore E plates, including those used for press shots and brochures. I think James Taylor said the first V8s came off the line in March or April '67 ready for testing at MIRA.
Edited by P5Nij on Friday 20th January 12:49
quiraing said:
There was a P5B for sale recently which had been converted at great expense to Range Rover 4X4 and had a Chevy V8. Will try to find a link. Don't remember if it was saloon or coupe but think it may have been built for the Ashley family.
This one?http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
BLUETHUNDER said:
My cousin has an absolutely stunning example of one. Belonged to an ex met commissioner. Completely unrestored and in original unmarked condition. Dry stored and only driven on dry days. I have book marked the thread and will put up some pictures when I get the chance.
Saloon or Coupe?felixlighter said:
Looks a nice straight car RJ. Any plans for this one?
Hopefully keep it for a long time, it runs and drives nicely so should be perfick for attending shows further afield, and regular usage 
I think the timing chain could do with replacement, so that'll be pencilled in for replacement I think. The PAS leaks too from a couple of copper washers, I'll need to find some.RJ
felixlighter said:
BLUETHUNDER said:
My cousin has an absolutely stunning example of one. Belonged to an ex met commissioner. Completely unrestored and in original unmarked condition. Dry stored and only driven on dry days. I have book marked the thread and will put up some pictures when I get the chance.
Saloon or Coupe?Marky i think when the weather is a bit more predictable you should bring it over for a wash and wax mate.
P5B Coupes are still cheap to my mind. Every since I was a kid I've wanted one and they just haven't climed in value like I thought they would.
While I haven't looked at any of those for sale, there seems to be some nice solid, useable cars for £8K which I think is almost silly cheap for such a great car. I guess too many people are still to hung-up on a Jag Mk2.
While I haven't looked at any of those for sale, there seems to be some nice solid, useable cars for £8K which I think is almost silly cheap for such a great car. I guess too many people are still to hung-up on a Jag Mk2.
LordBretSinclair said:
+1 and to think it was originally a marine unit that was going to be discontinued 
Actually it was already discontinued when Rover stumbled on it, but Buick had already made about 750,000 of them in the States so it was quite well tested.The marine link came after it was discontiued and was never pursued.
P5B Coupe OOF247G, Woof the Rover. You were already semi-borked when Dad bought you in 1977, but that didn't matter one iota. I drew endless pictures of you as a four year-old kid, with me standing and waving from the full-length Webasto... and one day I'm going to find me a keeper that was just like you, you beautiful, woofly old dame.
I few years ago I chanced upon a two-door coupe that had been extremely sympathetically converted. Doors extended, B posts moved back, it was achingly gorgeous - the car Rover should have built, but probably weren't allowed to thanks to BL politics. Would've outsold the XJS by miles.
I've tried looking for the pics, but can't find them, I'll post if I do.
I few years ago I chanced upon a two-door coupe that had been extremely sympathetically converted. Doors extended, B posts moved back, it was achingly gorgeous - the car Rover should have built, but probably weren't allowed to thanks to BL politics. Would've outsold the XJS by miles.
I've tried looking for the pics, but can't find them, I'll post if I do.
Great cars. My father owned one for many years (BYL723H). Bordeaux red coupe with mulberry leather. The interior was a work of art and had that coach-built feel. Picnic tables, slide-out tool kit under the radio, dual zone heater / audio, toggle switches all over the shop. Chrome quarter light latches, combined rear armrest / drinks holders. They must have lost money on every car.
It also used to blow coolant hoses for fun(typically late at night)and needed several gearboxes but it was a wonderful car. I'll always remember the rev counter wafting around the 3000rpm mark , in much the same way as the car wafted. I remember the day Dad bought it home after a body resto and I dropped my bike on it, chipping off a thumbnail-sized chunk of not-quite-cured new Bordeaux Red paint.
I still see it around locally occasionally (the chap who bought it in 1990 still runs it) but I can't excuse him changing the interior colour to magnolia - even though it's his car now.
My grandfather (who lived next door) ran another coupe (white with black leather, EJB900K) at the same time that was used to take five children to school in daily. Like others, I can't believe they aren't commanding proper money. One of the most "British" cars ever.
It also used to blow coolant hoses for fun(typically late at night)and needed several gearboxes but it was a wonderful car. I'll always remember the rev counter wafting around the 3000rpm mark , in much the same way as the car wafted. I remember the day Dad bought it home after a body resto and I dropped my bike on it, chipping off a thumbnail-sized chunk of not-quite-cured new Bordeaux Red paint.
I still see it around locally occasionally (the chap who bought it in 1990 still runs it) but I can't excuse him changing the interior colour to magnolia - even though it's his car now.
My grandfather (who lived next door) ran another coupe (white with black leather, EJB900K) at the same time that was used to take five children to school in daily. Like others, I can't believe they aren't commanding proper money. One of the most "British" cars ever.
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