Lot : 05

Unveiled to great enthusiasm at the 1949 Earls Court Motor Show, the Rover P4 was another brainchild of Spencer and Maurice Wilks. Heavily influenced in stylistic terms by the Raymond Loewy penned Studebaker Champion, its transatlantic lines clothed a highly competent chassis equipped with independent coil-and-wishbone front suspension and a Panhard rod located leaf-sprung rear axle. Various engine options were available during the P4's model life including the '60' a 1997cc OISE four-cylinder engine developing some 60bhp and 101lbft of torque. With the standard four-speed plus freewheel manual transmission this gave a respectable top speed of 80mph. Only marginally slower (2mph) than its '75' big brother, the '60' was also rather too close in terms of list price. Only 9,261 examples of the '60' were built from 1954-1959.

Finished in two-tone grey with grey leather upholstery, this particular example is variously described by the vendor as being in "good" (engine, manual transmission, electrical equipment), "very good" (interior trim) or "concours" (chassis, bodywork, paintwork, wheels / tyres) condition. Boasting a tool tray and functional valve radio, '528 EAU' is said to have "won 1st Prize at many rallies". Riding on steel wheels shod with new tyres, the Rover is believed but not warranted to have covered some 62,630 miles from new (a figure partially substantiated by various MOT certificates dating back to 1971). Simply delightful, this pampered P4 is offered for sale with an original buff logbook, box of trophies, sundry spare parts, MOT certificate valid until April 15th 2008 and historic class (free) road tax valid until March 2008.

PLEASE NOTE: The vendor has informed us that this car has a stainless steel exhaust.