'Jubilee' P6...

G

grifterkid

Member
I've been told that at the 1977 motor show BL painted most of (if not all...) their cars silver to celebrate the queens silver jubilee... I believe a P6 was subjected to the special paintwork... Is this true and if so what shade of silver was used, was it a Jaguar colour? Also, does this car (if it did exist) still do the rounds...?
 
grifterkid said:
I've been told that at the 1977 motor show BL painted most of (if not all...) their cars silver to celebrate the queens silver jubilee... I believe a P6 was subjected to the special paintwork... Is this true and if so what shade of silver was used, was it a Jaguar colour? Also, does this car (if it did exist) still do the rounds...?
Click to expand...

Not heard that one - The P6 was not a current model by the time of the 1977 show.

I do know that in 1975 they had all the cars in the BL range on a special display, all painted in silver.
The 2200 manual that was the P6 representative is still with us, although I've not seen it now since 2004. Just trying to find a photo.

I suspect the 3500 car was one of the two initial VIP's, built in October 1975. Both cars were Platignum, a colour then used on SD1's.
 
NickDunning said:
Not heard that one - The P6 was not a current model by the time of the 1977 show.

I do know that in 1975 they had all the cars in the BL range on a special display, all painted in silver.
The 2200 manual that was the P6 representative is still with us, although I've not seen it now since 2004. Just trying to find a photo.

I suspect the 3500 car was one of the two initial VIP's, built in October 1975. Both cars were Platignum, a colour then used on SD1's.
Click to expand...

It must've been for the BL jubilee then, not the Queens...! I heard this story so long ago I must've got my wires crossed. I'd love to see some snaps of the silver P6 if you can find them...
 
NickDunning said:
grifterkid said:
I've been told that at the 1977 motor show BL painted most of (if not all...) their cars silver to celebrate the queens silver jubilee... I believe a P6 was subjected to the special paintwork... Is this true and if so what shade of silver was used, was it a Jaguar colour? Also, does this car (if it did exist) still do the rounds...?
Click to expand...

Not heard that one - The P6 was not a current model by the time of the 1977 show.

I do know that in 1975 they had all the cars in the BL range on a special display, all painted in silver.
The 2200 manual that was the P6 representative is still with us, although I've not seen it now since 2004. Just trying to find a photo.

I suspect the 3500 car was one of the two initial VIP's, built in October 1975. Both cars were Platignum, a colour then used on SD1's.
Click to expand...

I've searched high and low and finally struck gold (or silver) - here's the car....

Platinum.jpg


The only time I've seen the car was when it was brought up to the RP6C gathering at Nuffield Place in May 2004. It was then owned by a gent from Abingdon, but since then we've heard nothing.

It looked pretty good, however it was a bit crumbly - it had been resprayed before and this wasn't fantastic.

My friend Rob Pinner checked the BMIHT records on the chassis number of the car (which, sadly, I no longer have - Rudiger might have it).

The car was built on 31st October 1975 but didn't leave Rover until January 26th 1976. The destination is down as Leyland Cars promotions department, Longbridge.

The next car down the list, a Richleiu Red 2200SC was actually annotated 'E/C Show'.

Seeing as the actual show was on 25/26th October there is obviously a quible with what the car actually is. There's also a possibility the James Taylor book is wrong here.

The car is presently shown as SORN'd....so hopefully still with us, somewhere.
 
A million thanks for that, I do hope that P6 is still lurking out there somewhere...! It's a shame Rover never offered the P6 in any metallic colours (apart from the VIP of course) as they'd have looked superb...
 
grifterkid said:
A million thanks for that, I do hope that P6 is still lurking out there somewhere...! It's a shame Rover never offered the P6 in any metallic colours (apart from the VIP of course) as they'd have looked superb...
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We think it's garaged up with the gent...I'd love to get my hands on it. It could well be a bit challenged corrosion-wise underneath, most P6's from that time generally are.

It was fairly standard apart from the paint scheme. Ebony cloth interior. Black vinyl roof.
It changed hands for under a grand before we saw it at the show.
 
NickDunning said:
It changed hands for under a grand before we saw it at the show.
Click to expand...

That's surprising, you would think any car who ever makes it that was a factory special and used for promotions would demand a higher price, even if it needed restoring.
 
i had a metallic puple/mauve p6 once.
it was a peugeot colour and it looked terrific!
i wasn't the only one to think so for when i sold it i had 4 or 5 people after it!
a friend has just sprayed his (2 years ago) b.r.g metallic which just doesn't do it for me.
i'm having one sprayed metallic i think??
always fancied metallic blue but!!
i like most p6 colours, especially paprika, arden green and avacado!
i do feel though certain colours need a black vinyl roof and alloys and most look better with sundym.
i have an electric spray gun so if you see a rough bungalow with different p6 coloured fence panels that'll be my place!
j
 
richarduk said:
NickDunning said:
It changed hands for under a grand before we saw it at the show.
Click to expand...

That's surprising, you would think any car who ever makes it that was a factory special and used for promotions would demand a higher price, even if it needed restoring.
Click to expand...

You'd have thought so...it was advertised on Auto Trader...I saw the advert, but was beaten to it. Back then there were still some interesting vehicles appearing on that channel.
 
Do we know if this car still exists...?! It'd be great to find it and get it back on the road seeing as it is something quite special...
 
grifterkid said:
Do we know if this car still exists...?! It'd be great to find it and get it back on the road seeing as it is something quite special...
Click to expand...

SORN Not Due, 01 January 2014

Would suggest that it's still around..
 
NickDunning said:
I suspect the 3500 car was one of the two initial VIP's, built in October 1975. Both cars were Platignum, a colour then used on SD1's.
Click to expand...

Are you sure?

P1010456.JPG


I thought it was


platinum.jpg




That extra "g" would come in handy elsewhere as we're coming up to Christmas....

:wink:
 
Just saw the last post. I can confirm LOK 538P is still around. In fact it’s in my garage and started first time yesterday. Always does. It’s in need of some work but superficial mainly. The paint finish is still excellent. I bought the car off a proffesional coach builder who had repainted it for his own wedding. He bought off maybe the Rover director who first owned it after the factory had finished showing it off at Jubilee celebrations at Earls Court. He had extensively waxoyled it then left it in his orchard where the paint deteriorated. It’s fitted with an original electric sunroof which was working when I bought it. It’s had ongoing attention since last used around 1996 and been kept in a dry garage.
 

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I’ve opened my log when bought nearly exactly 20 years ago from Autotrader for asking price of £995. It had 4 owners recorded then. The previous owner ( coach builder ) had it since 97. I used it for a year or 2 taking my 2 teenage sons, mates and parents to Goodwood then Woodstock Rover 100 yr festival in 2004 ( got the badge ) before declaring SORN. I’ve tinkered between busy work etc. The electric sunroof is by Hollandia. A previous owner (3rd ? ) was contacted in Parbold Lancashire (Leyland Trucks link ?) who was very informative. He was 80 in 2004 ! Apparently Hollandia approached Leyland before the motor show and were supplied with 2 bodies , (probably 3500 ones not 2200) which were perished and rusty in unusual places. Seems a man from Wigan went to a motor show who worked for an ancillary of the show and presumably bought it afterwards. As a dinghy enthusiast he couldn’t fit an outboard in the boot with mounting the spare outside. It then laid in a barn for 9 years. Then it towed a caravan and spent time in west of Scotland. Apparently the engine had always given trouble from the factory overheating. Traced to solder in the radiator which was remedied. The owner always carried eggs under his seat in case of leaks afterwards ! Apparently the paintwork had fared well but the rusting in odd places was fixed and was initially rustproofed with creosote ! which when I bought it had stained the carpets and was strong on hot days. Soon after it was waxoyled. I think the story has some truths but the plot went north afterwards with tales about a previous p6 with rust under drivers seat and box sections, a poker found and thrown in a well and piercing the bonnet due to thin gauge steel ...... I seen no evidence of all the horrors on my car, so conclude the previous owner was was a skilled coach builder fixing it or the old boy was getting crossed wire when giving the verbal history. Will photo the extensive transcript. History lesson or what
 
I’ll spare the confusion theme, having Re-read the eccentric 3rd owners here’s a more accurate history. Date of Manuf stated as 10/2/76, think it’s 10/2/75 though. First registered to B.L transport manager at Longbridge Power Train division at 10/2/76. During 76/7/78 owned by a chap in Wigan, then another nearby gent who owned it 19 years till 97 with 70k on the clock. There’s extensive bills etc of good maintenance, moving to Salisbury it was laid up in a barn for 7 years. The next owner fully restored the exterior for his wedding completing 7k over 6 years. It’s now done 79k. I’d forgotten how much work I’ve done over 21 years but the parts bills confirm it’s had plenty done. I think the more extreme tales relate to other cars owned by the old boy.
 
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