14 Rover P6 3500
Sold/no built 1963-’77/329,066 (all P6s) Engine ohv 3528cc V8; 143bhp @ 5000rpm; 197Ib ft @ 2200rpm Transmission three-speed auto, RWD Suspension upper and lower links (f), de Dion tube (r); coils, telescopics f/r Steering worm and nut Brakes discs 0-60mp
If, like our much-missed chief sub editor David Evans, who chose this car for our shortlist, you’ve always hankered after a Citroën DS but have realised that a good one is now beyond your means, then the Rover P6 represents a highly credible second best. After all, like the DS it used a clever system of unstressed panels bolted to a main central ‘hull’, and offered styling that took its maker from a traditional past to the forefront of modern design trends.
A short drive in the lovely 1975 P6 3500 brought along by Dave Griffin – and absolutely not for sale – is enough to convince you that it might even be a better bet than the revered DS. Instead of a rather weedy four-pot it’s powered by a deliciously smooth and powerful V8, and as well as offering a fine ride it’s dynamic in the bends – not to mention ridiculously affordable.
Today it seems like an olde-worlde choice, but it’s worth remembering that the P6 was a revolution for Rover after the staid P4 and P5 when it was unveiled in 1963. The sleek David Bache styling was complemented by a fresh, modern interior – a combination that was enough to land Rover the very first European Car of the Year gong in 1964. Although the base 2000 was undeniably a fine car, with 100mph potential, the chassis could clearly handle more than its 89bhp. First came the 110bhp 2000TC (for ‘twin carb’) from 1966, then two years later the compact, Buick-derived 3.5-litre V8 was dropped in to create the ultimate P6 – with uprated suspension, cooling and brakes to match.
While wannabe street racers favour the manual 3500S that arrived in 1971 – with 60mph from rest in 9.1 secs, no less – the three-speed Borg-warner auto is less troubled by the V8’s torque and perfectly suits the effortless nature of the P6. “I just love the car,” says Rover P6 Club stalwart Griffin (www.p6club.com). “The power is there if you need it, and it’ll keep up with modern traffic, but most of all it’s about the comfort. Plus it’s incredibly reliable, too: I never have to do anything except the annual service.”
As you sink into the corduroy-effect seats and enjoy that comfort, gazing over the modern, rational dash, this remarkably original P6 is a reminder of just how sweetly cars used to ride. And thanks to its sophisticated suspension, with a well-located de Dion rear end, it handles very tidily, too – you soon start to wish that the planned gas-turbine version had made it into production.
For all of its brilliance, the P6 remains the most affordable car in our seven-strong shortlist by some margin. Prices are low enough that a full rebuild isn’t cost-effective, so buy the best you can. Tidy cars are available from around £5k, while even stunners can struggle to top £10,000. If you’re lucky, you might even track down one of the c160 ‘Estoura’ estates converted by coachbuilder FLM (Panelcraft) – they’re super-cool, if not quite as practical as they might appear.
Fantastic choice, David.
‘Today it seems an oldeworlde choice, but the P6 was a revolution for Rover after the staid P4 and P5’