PRE-PRODUCTION P6 AND MIDGET FOR SALE
Early V8 and MG’s 1961 press car could be yours – full stories inside
Arare opportunity to snap up two pre-production examples of Britain’s favourite classics has come up this week.
A private seller – and serial MG restorer – is advertising a development version of the MkI model. The car, later owned and driven by MG works driver, Bob Nevill, was also used as a press car during the 1961 launch.
Meanwhile, Londonbased classic dealer, Graeme Hunt, is currently advertising a pre-production version of the Rover P6 3500, tested in the US with what would later become Rover’s version of the Buick-developed 3.5-litre V8 engine.
Rover Sports Register chairman, Mike Maher, said: ‘It’s a wellknown car that’s been in Holland before appearing in London and is one of 20 V8 prototypes. It is quite possible that it is one of the first Rover V8s.’
Kensington car dealership, Graeme Hunt, believes that its Rover P6 3500 prototype has the oldest Rover V8 engine fitted to any car in the world.
The car itself was first registered in 1966, after which it was shipped to America in order to test the Buick 215 engine that Rover was purchasing the rights to produce; completed testing on this car contributed to the finished Rover V8 derived from the aforementioned General Motors engine.
After almost a year, the P6B 3500 returned to Britain, where it was then fitted with the third Rover V8 ever built – engine EXP3A. With its role in the test programme complete, the car was eventually sold to a factory employee in 1970. It subsequently fell into disrepair before receiving a full restoration.
Rover Sports Register chairman, Mike Maher, said: ‘It’s a well-known car that’s been in Holland before appearing in London and is one of 20 V8 prototypes. It is quite possible that it is one of the first Rover V8s, though I couldn’t say for certain it is the oldest extant example.
‘I would be surprised if the car is on its original base unit, however, because they didn’t rustproof the prototypes; due to the way they’re built a lot of P6s are “Trigger’s Brooms” these days.’
Graeme Hunt is asking £72,500 for the P6B.
graemehunt.com