The Rover P4 Is Post War Luxury With Dignity (1964 P4 95 Road Test)

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For most, Rover's peak was the muscular P5B or trailblazing P6, but the P4 was the true genesis of Rover's post-war, pre-Leyland phase of dignified, upmarket saloon cars and Joe reckons it's a hidden gem!
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[@logotrikes]

My wife's uncle had a succession of these, and "wafting along" is entirely apropos. They used to glide along, soaking up bumps, potholes and the like as if not there. Wonderful machines....

[@willwelch5700]

There is something extremely charming about these old rovers. This is proper classic territory and I think if you have one of these parked up in your driveway or garage, you're doing pretty well. Just had a quick peek at a few for sale and they are a lot cheaper than I thought. File that under "tempted" 😂

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Agreed, I was similarly tempted! -Joe

[@matty6848]

Yes and considering it’s a Austin car it has that very Regal almost Jaguar/ Bentley look too it. Shame that everyone is for the P5 and P6, especially the V8s which seems are the only ones you can find today…

[@welshlyn9097]

Go for it boy 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@nygelmiller5293]

@@matty6848 but it's NOT in any way an AUSTIN. Not until the first Austin METRO, and then the Rover Metro version!

[@Robert-ts2ef]

Love them but they are a rot box unfortunately.

[@swsfrancais7289]

My father had one when I was about 3-4 yo. I can still remember the joy I got when my father showed me the built-in tool tray under the passenger-side dashboard. So cool!!

[@UncaDave]

Yes, that was the coolest! And all the tools in their foam pockets! Mine was the 105s. I originally wasn’t interested in the car when it was offered for sale. My aging old aunt who had traveled the world talked me into it. Told me it was motor history on wheels. I did really enjoy it while I had it!

[@robblair3703]

The P4 is a lovely old thing. My mate has a lovely six cylinder one, and it's wonderful to drive. So smooth and refined.

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

We agree!

[@matty6848]

Six cylinder, I bet it some poke as well.

[@stephenluke2347]

A mate of mine had a P4 Rover 75 when we were both stationed in Kenya and I fell in love with it, but have never owned one.

[@mrfixit100]

In 1977 I learnt to drive in my dads 1954 P4 90 which he still owns although he no longer drives it as his eyesight isn't good, it's in immaculate original condition and is a joy to drive.

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

What a story!

[@1953childstar]

I believe my father had that model as well.. Did It have the "turn-signal" flip-ups ? I don't know what the proper term is. My father had 5 Rovers, the last being a 1960 #100...

[@markmiwurdz202]

My dad loved these Rovers. He told me that the Rover P4 was called "the poor man's Rolls Royce", and was usually driven by professional people of the day - doctors, lawyers, architects etc. Dad told me that the engine and manual gearbox combination was so well built (the flywheel was finely balanced), you could come down to a road speed of 15 mph while still in top gear! He also mentioned that there was a "souped - up" version called the SR105 that could really tear up the miles. Back in the late 1960's/early 1970's I remember reading about a guy from South London/Kent borders who resto' - modded a P4. I remember that he changed the single headlights to a set of Rolls - Royce paired headlamps, lowered the suspension plus various other upgrades all over the car.

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

I knew an accountant that owned one.

[@numbersix1908]

I like to call the Rolls Royce "the extravagant man's Rover P4"

[@andrewwheeldon3027]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching this video, takes me back to the late 90s when I restored a 1959 Rover 90 and used it as my daily driver beyond 2000. I converted it to LPG (autogas) which made it more cost effective per mile to run than my wife's Metro! I wish I had never got rid of it. One thing to add is that you can't join an owners club for the Rover, you have to join the Rover P4 drivers Guild....

[@michaelhalsall5684]

When the "cyclops" Rover were sold in the USA the central fog lamp was replaced by an aluminium blanking plate. A centre mounted fog lamp didn't conform to US roadworthiness rules. It seems Wilks brothers were Americophiles, first with the Willys Jeep inspired Land-Rover and then the Studebaker inspired P4 Rover!

[@paulscountrygarage9180]

I ran a P4 100 and P5B saloon (here in Australia) at the same time, in the 1990’s, and I found the P4 a far better drivers car. Great cars all.

[@nickwebb9290]

I loved the P4 and it was nearly my first car, so impressive and sophisticated. My father talked me out of it, he was worried about running costs and it being an older vehicle. Ended up with a Triumph Herald 12/50 which didn’t have the same classy drive but was at least fun.

[@philtucker1224]

Excellent road test (my Uncle was an hotelier and had one back in the late 1960s) and he had a particularly heavy right foot! My cousin and I remember it well! 😁

[@MickE4033]

A very interesting video. It was good to see some praise for the Rover P4. My father had owned a P4 75 and a P4 90. In turn, I owned a 1960 P4 100 then a 1957 P4 90. Incidentally, my 100 had disc brakes on the front wheels whereas my 90 had drum brakes with trailing shoes (yes, trailing rather than leading shoes) on the assisted by a Clayton Dewandre servo. I have very happy memories from both working on and driving these cars.

[@JohnDavis-ed5sg]

I loved my P4s, had several when they were everyday cars, so comfortable and reliable. Just opening the door and getting in feels special. I think the 1957/8 105s was the best of all, but there isn't a dud in the range. I'd still have one but my dogs would wreck that lovely interior.

[@UncaDave]

Had a 105s in college, loved it, like an economy RR. Loved the pull out tool kit too. That shift linkage was definitely designed by Rube Goldberg though. Yes a fine old car when driving was just to be driving!

[@carltwidle3287]

Back in the 1970s a friend of mine owned one of these Rovers. It was a 1950s model. It wasn't in good condition. But it was fun getting around in it. My father had a Rover 2000 which was nice. It was a plum red color. Funny thing was he sold it as it was gas guzzling. And he bought a Hillman Avenger Estate for his next car. What a come down in style.

[@matrixsenior]

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this. Thank you for posting.

[@andrewmartin8180]

My Dad had one in the sixties, it was the best drive-in car as the huge front seat could fit mum and dad and my sister and I in so much comfort. It just had the most comfortable seats, it's what I would want in a Rolls Royce seating wise. We were all sad when it went as my dad needed a more reliable car, but we often saw and a bit jealous when that old car kept turning up to the drive-in years later.

[@brunobandiera2062]

When I was a lad in 50's Montreal, British cars were rarely seen and mostly owned by UK ex-pats. Our family doctor, very Scottish, drove a Cyclops P4. My best chum's parents were English and drove one of those fastback Vanguards, and a well-off family a few blocks away had a Morris Minor as a second car. The only 'Canadian' family that had an import in the garage was an MG TD driven by their dental student son..

[@andyt48]

My dad had a 75 and a 100, I love these Rovers.

[@MorristheMinor]

My late father ran a 1952 or 53 P4 75, with the bustle back but without the cyclops headlamp, in tandem with his Hillman Minx 1600. He loved that car and kept it in my Grandmother's garage after he got married and changed the Minx for a Volvo 144 delux on a J plated. He only sold the Rover after my Grandmother's death, as our then home only had room for a single garage. He loved the two tone horn on the 75, a dog ran out in front of him, he tooted and the dog shot over the road and tried to climb a fence! Driving my Morris 1000 must have been a great come down. Auntie, as the P4 is nicknamed, is a hell of a good motor.

[@brianhambleton9309]

My late father had a left hand drive, blue one of these (bought used of course) in Montreal Canada in the late 50's early 60's. As just a child at the time, it is the earliest family car in my memory. I don't remember which model variant it was or its exact year but I will always have a soft spot for the redoubtable Rover P4 shape and form, iconic of all my earliest memories. As a new immigrant to Canada, taking up a well deserved engineering job here, I can only imagine dad's satisfaction and pleasure at finding himself able to afford such status, luxury and comfort, especially considering his previous car in the UK had been a well worn Austin 7 Ruby saloon. Godspeed dad, where ever you are.

[@R-bobo]

Our training ship on the Medway had a P4 in grey 2 tone, very luxurious in the 70s , great car.

[@kenstevens5065]

Dad had a 105R in the sixties, the automatic version, it was a good job he ran a petrol station as like the iconic EE Lightning jet of the time you could almost see the fuel gauge go down when driving. A very comfortable and reliable car though and you could get a ton out of it on the level on the then new M1.

[@michaeld5888]

My Father had one of these in the 50's in East Africa. I remember it as a gloriously comfortable luxury car. It did gobble the fuel and it had something like a freewheel mode he used to save fuel.

[@blackpool321]

Always loved the P4

[@dieselfan7406]

Happy days. I learned to drive in my Dad's 95 when he was home. He travelled on the continent extensively and he reckoned 90 mph was the best optimum speed to get him from place to place! (210,000 on the clock when he changed it and yes he bought another one). Yours appears to have overdrive and 110 wheel trims - has it been modified? Because the gearbox in the 110 had shortened gear ratios to accommodate the overdrive I thought that you might have gearbox problems? Lovely video and thanks for the memory!

[@tonyharding1961]

Learnt to drive in my Rover 95, 40 years ago. Owned a P5 and P5B afterwards, all cheap cars back in the 80's.

[@RVarrun]

So enjoyable to watch. Nice video 👍

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@thomasshepard6030]

Me and a couple of pals saved up and bought a rover 90 in black had great times running about Glasgow 1968 fantastic old car kept it for about 3 years

[@robertp.wainman4094]

Learnt a lot about a car I've always liked - thank you!

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Thanks Robert, glad you enjoyed!

[@badbusdriver7160]

Forgotten?, overlooked?, speak for yourself, the P4 has always been my favourite classic Rover!. Lovely old thing, though surely those chrome headlamp visors are a bit too flash for the Rover's image? 🤔 😉

[@timelwell7002]

My late friend David had a Rover P4 manual transmission - sadly, I don't know which model. I could have bought it off him back in the mid 1980s - and now I wish I had. I always liked it, and David looked after it very well indeed. I think the only reason I didn't buy it was for practical reasons - I always needed an estate or a hatchback for my work. Lovely old cars, and IMO very underrated.

[@UncaDave]

In college I owned a Rover 105s. Wonderful piece of British motoring. F-head engine and interior decked out like an economy Rolls Royce. A friend of mine borrowed it and broke the complicated gear shift linkage. He never fixed it, I never drove it again. I gave it to his Dad for some nominal fee but don’t think much came of it. Was fun to drive while I had it.

[@nygelmiller5293]

The wing mirrors suit this model perfectly!

[@chriskappert1365]

It not only looks solid , it is solid , it's a classic Rover . I am the happy owner of a 22 year old 75 Connoseur that is rustfree , does not rattle the slightest bit , done 220000 km and runs like a dream . Its interior looks and feels factory fresh . So , I think the Rover people got their experience with building a decent car way back in the days of the P3 and P4 , whitch quality's were inherrited later by the 75 . Building sutch good cars doesn't come overnight . Shame the world lost a great car brand .

[@martinreed5964]

Im looking out for a 75 CDTI

[@darrenwilson8042]

My uncle had one in the 60's - bloody lovely motor - they had quite a following then but as you say newer models gained traction and way to many P4's ended up destroyed in banger racing

[@jeffmoore1286]

Thanks for a great video

[@groover5524]

Used to see lots of these around when I was a kid in the 1960s . I really liked them . Always known as a Doctors car . You know , professional people .

[@normanmcleod7169]

Some interesting points:- 1) My father had a Cyclops in Nigeria and it never overheated 2) Birmabrite, once ignited, very quickly burns to a powder giving off enough heat to frazzle concrete ... due to the magnesium content of up to 7%. 3) the roll on corners can be corrected by a heavy duty anti roll bar and neoprene bushes (from J.R. Wadham) 4) the fitment of a rear anti roll bar will reduce the understeer 5) If the steering box is original equipment and has never been replaced or overhauled then it is well past its sell-by date (again can be sourced from Wadhams) but carefully examine the the kingpins at the same time. 6) Electric power steering is available for the P4. I never found the steering heavy on cross ply tyres, but hardly any owners fit them. Radials make the steering heavy. 7) the cars tend to sag at the rear after many years making replacement of the rear springs a good move. These should always be gaitered and packed with grease. Interleaved rubber springs don't work so well and the rubber doesn't last 8) Finally, purely a subjective opinion, alterations to the suspension seem to deleteriously affect the harmonics between the car springing and the seat springing, so adjustable dampers are probably a good idea . I had 7 P4s being 60, 75 (2.1, 2.2 and 2.6) 95, 105s and finally a 110 with a Rover V8 and Jaguar box shoehorned into it. The cars were a delight to work on.

[@senakafernandoamazing9499]

The P4 Rover 60 with the 2 litre engine is the one I love.

[@kimholland9316]

My favourite all time car

[@Lot76CARS]

Excellent video, fascinating to learn about about the Studebaker link.. that was news to me!

[@martinreed5964]

YES,as a big fan of studebakers, I like both, though my silver hawk bears no resemblance to the model Rover used

[@markonmotoring]

The highpoint for me is definitely the luxurious P5B but I also love the forward thinking, engineering led P6 and the stunning SD1 built with no money, I think the availability of that Buick V8 has lifted these models above other Rovers. The R8 of 1989 seemed to encompass much of the above in a compact package. The P4 had fallen under my radar but last year I saw a gorgeous two tone blue P4 and I could definitely picture myself driving the family on a Sunday outing in one while feeling exceedingly middle class. If bank robbers drive Jags the bank manager surely must have driven a P4.

[@nygelmiller5293]

To Mark On Motoring. For Your definitions, regarding WHO drives WHAT, they should give you your own motoring column!

[@markonmotoring]

@@nygelmiller5293 Thank you. Must admit I've never thought of myself as a writer. I do love cars though.

[@gustennant5469]

Fantastic video. My dad rebuilt one 165 UPH he drove it from Scotland to southern Ireland and back. Sold it on ebay about 10 years ago the guy drove it to the south of England. I would love to know where the car is now.....

[@peregrinemccauley5010]

I'll have to keep my eye out for one . Nice automobile .

[@theondebray]

I had a P60 (4 cyl), luxury on wheels, leather seats (of course), Radiomobile valve radio (crystal clear), a button by the fuel gauge so when engine stopped, you could press it & see the oil level, 36 mpg, but no power steering. Two ton Tessie it was called.

[@lawrieflowers8314]

Very interesting! That Rover 75 and the Riley look very good - would be interesting to know more about them...

[@bs7157]

a lovely old car. we almost bought one once. but the body was a bit ropey. so left it.. solid heavy looking cars. that one would look great with a machine polish.

[@performancedownunder5773]

Just for the record, back in the day, I owned a 1953 Rover 60 with a push button HMV radio, aerial on the roof, bench seat. Over a stretch of road called the Old Taunton Road which ran between the A303 and the main road to Axminster. At the 303 junction I waived to people I knew as they turned left and I was indicating right. The driver didn't acknowledge and sped off in the Jaguar 3.4. Of course I gave chase, and yes I caught them at the other end. The Jag could do well on the straight but I had edge on the corners, I was either mad or simply the better driver, with my mate yahooing that he'd never been this fast in a car before. They were a couple out together without their respective partners, and she was ducked down on the seat when I caught up. I might add to their relief. So don't underestimate the P4, I've even put one in a ditch reversed out and carried on my way. Incredible car.

[@martinreed5964]

great cars and definitely close to the top of my wish list

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Good choice!

[@kensherwood4866]

I love my two tone 1960 100.

[@northstar1950]

I think it's because they were sometimes referred to as 'Auntie Rovers' or an old mans car, basically it's down to image. I drove one once only for a short distance and I was impressed with the gear change and it's solid feel. They look like they would stand up to a nuclear explosion and rather nice in fact. Birmabright was developed by a company within the Smethwick based Birmid Industries Group, I think it was Birmidal Developments at Clapgate Lane near Quinton, the groups main output was Iron castings for the motor industry and later merged with Qualcast.

[@nicnak4475]

I bought a P4 110 (Auntie) for £15 when I was 19, They were built like a tank and still quite a few survive to this day.

[@doubledee9675]

I had a P4 75 as my first car, column change, synchro on only 3rd and top, but quality that these days is hard to imagine. Just look at the intake - outstanding aluminium manifolds that polish up beautifully to a deep and gentle gleam. No performance at all, but then again, the police will never be able to pull you over for exceeding the speed limit.

[@martinreed5964]

the 75 may have had poor performance but the 110 was a flying machine

[@davecooper3238]

I remember working on the Rover 90 in the early 1970s. The handbrake & front suspension were a nightmare.

[@Celicarz11]

Bloody lovely!

[@Rust_in_Time]

Hmm, I think you've given me an idea for what I could do with that Rover V8 engine I've got lying around....

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Do it, then let us drive it! 👀

[@willwelch5700]

You know it makes sense 👌🏻👌🏻

[@andrewwheeldon3027]

Rover experimented with a V8 in the P4 back in the day, but abandoned the project because it outperformed the much heavier P5. It is a conversion which has been done many times and is quite straight forward.

[@paulniggel]

I had one in the sixties before my p5b fabulous

[@barnbersonol]

1949 Earls Ct Motor Show. Held in October. MORE than four years after the end of WW2.

[@madcarew5168]

You're going to lynch me...used to be able to pick these mot failures up for about £25 for banger racing in the 70s! Like a tank,good for quite a few battles!!!

[@alanmcdonald4423]

Very surprised that the 105S did not receive a mention. It was my first car (1957 registered) - I was all of 21 years old at the time I bought it in 1965, but it was an extremely comfortable car to be in, all leather and walnut. Fantastic acceleration too when needed via its twin carb 2600cc engine and it just glided along at whatever speed you wanted. No limits in those days and it would top 100 if needs must, although I preferred sedate speeds. Being only 21 and single, with any competitors driving snotty little sporty type cars, I found it was appreciated more by the type of young lady that I appreciated. It eventually met its death in stockcar racing, where it seems it was quite successful to the end.

[@davidbrear8642]

The 105R and the 105S were actually the same car, except the R had an auto box and the S had a manual box with overdrive. My father ran a green 105S throughout the 1960s.

[@alanmcdonald4423]

@@davidbrear8642 Thanks for the reply. I bought an R for spares - driving out of the farmyard one day the back door of the S had swung open just before I reached the gate. The post was stronger than the door. A few other body parts were used and/or removed then it went for scrap. I do not remember the R being automatic, but I do believe you. I never drove it. It was not taxed when I bought it and had not been driven fo a while before that.

[@davidbrear8642]

@@alanmcdonald4423 According to Wikipedia : "Production of the 105 line ended in 1958 for the 105R and 1959 for the manual transmission 105S, 10,781 had been produced, two-thirds with the manual transmission option." I knew about the R and S difference, because my father was very proud of the fact that his manual S was faster than the automatic R. The manual was tested at just over 100mph, but the automatic only got you into the 90s. As I recall, my father's car was one of the last 105S made. My father stopped driving due to ill health so his Rover got traded for an estate car somewhere around 1970. It was probably scrapped.

[@alanmcdonald4423]

@@davidbrear8642 Thanks for the further info. I have never been particularly interested in cars - I am a McDonald not a McAnic. I like comfort in all things and the luxury of the Rover was most important to me. I knew it was fast because occasionally some other youngster would pull up alongside me at traffic lights "knowing" he could beat me easily if I decided to try to outgun him. I did not often rise to the bait, but sometimes they would hurl insults and I decided to show them - particularly if they had some smart young thing in with them. As for top speed, I know it could top 100mph, but I have never been a fast driver; except on rare occasions I would open it up to give its innards a bit of a clean out. I would do the same with my own system, occasionally do a fast run for as long as I could. No idea if it did either of us any good.

[@robertsmith9810]

I bought a new GLS Avenger my brother in law run it of the road damerging the underside while the car was in for repair i bought a Rover 75 of his boss farther in law who had it from new i loved the free wheel devise it let you change gear without the clutch , made stopping a bit dicey i remember , i had started with my first tipper truck and i found the Rover very handy with its rear suicide doors handy as i could roll a truck wheel the back of the rover , it was a nice car and i should have respected the car the only excuse i was a young man did not relies its value this was in early 1973/4 , in later years i owned 2 Rover SDI 3500 wich i took greater care of both were 5 speed manuals brilliant engine the v8 with the 5speed gearbox nice to drive

[@markwarne893]

Nice looking car, would be great if you also looked and reviewed the Riley RM range

[@pmjbacon]

ROVER; the greatest innovators in road safety. It began with the safety bicycle, a version of which we all ride today and only Volvo have come close!

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

Not much safety in that cabin with the unpadded steering wheel, sharp dash switches and lack of head rests. Volvos were miles further ahead in safety features.

[@jimmyquinn9639]

Lovely cars 🚗🚙🚘👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Yes they are!

[@Captain_Scarlet_SIG]

An underrated motor car in the classic world but I love em and at the very reasonable prices I may jut get one.

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Do it, you won't regret it!

[@paulsutton5896]

I agree with everything said about these wonderful cars, except a couple of details of the model history. In 1957, the top-end of the range was EITHER the 105R, with the two speed "Roverdrive" "automatic" transmission. Actually this made 0-60 well over twenty seconds. Alternatively you could buy a 105S with the "normal" gearbox, and which was no slouch. The engines on both 105 variants came with twin SU carburettors. The 105R sold slowly. In 1959, the two models were rationalised into the 105. The automatic transmission was discontinued. When automatic transmission again became available (on the P5), it came from Borg Warner. The P4 was modernised, with chrome trim strips along the side, promoting the use of two-tone colour schemes. Inside, the dash was modernised with a "soft" padded black cushion along the top. Models 60 (four cylinder), 75, and 90 were also available. The models were rationalised again in 1960, with slight improvements to the engines, derived from the three-litre P5. For that year the six cylinder was designated: 100, and a new four cylinder engine was used to power the 80. These persisted until 1962, and were then replaced by the two six cylinder 95 and 110 models. These were eventually discontinued in 1964. Steel doors did indeed replace the aluminium doors in the final months. Only the 110, carried the stainless steel wheel trims of the car in the video. I presume a very singular-minded owner could have bought 110 wheel-trims for his 95, but back in the day, I never saw any Rover afflicted by such effrontery. Both models ceased in 1964, and the factory space given over to the production of the revolutionary P6. The Germans should not have stood a chance against Rover. But on this election day (04MAY2023) let us remember the damage done to our motor industry by socialist trade unions - leaving the field open to foreign imports.

[@1mikefrost]

Nice old Pembrokeshire registration number. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@kenjohnson6338]

Had a 110.... Great car..

[@royfearn4345]

I had a 110 for a while. Sadly it had been driven on 4 continents and it was very shabby. It ran like a deer, however, and I was smitten. The restoration bill would have been prohibitive but I would have another 110 like a shot, but after my s type jag has cashed in its chips.

[@carolramsey6287]

I had both a 95 and a 110 (the one with the Weslake head). Lovely cars but the 110 although much more powerful than the others was really thirsty. A good wheeze was to use a 3.54 diff from the Range Rover. Oh yeah. The metalastik bushes in the front suspension needed replacing regularly. The engine was basically a smaller version if the Rolls Royce straight sixes

[@raymondwestley332]

Hello Carol, hope you’re good 😌👋

[@jourwalis-8875]

Already in 1955 the Citroen DS had servo-assisted (or rather: full power) disc brakes at the front. And front wheel drive........

[@CortinasAndClassics]

Alex's Assets KZbin channel has one called Jessie. Lovely car

[@sandyneedham6499]

My uncle had one, and my father thought about buying one, but.... the handling which is referred to in the video was the let down. The Autocar review of the time said that the handling was "inherently safe" - father's comment was that that meant that it scared the living daylights out of you, before it was actually dangerous. In less tactful moments, he likened the handling to a drunken cow. He actually bought a Mercedes 190b (Ponton) which was a solid good handling car, but without some of the refinements of the Rover!

[@raymondwestley332]

Hello Sandy, hope you’re good 😌👋

[@foxmaine3921]

OMG it makes a Pinto look beautiful!

[@olivermundy4220]

A small point: - It is not quite correct to say that the 105R came in both automatic and manual versions. The R was specifically the automatic (two forward speeds and reverse), while the manual variant of 1957-58 was called the 105S. These cars had twin spotlights, twin carburettors, separate front seats and a cigar-lighter, features not found on the other models. For 1959 the 105S lost these extras and was called simply the 105, while the automatic was deleted. (I have owned three examples of the 1959 105. They were noticeably more economical than the single-carburettor 90 - 16 m.p.g. in town rather than 14! - and were so flexible that one of them at least would pull slightly uphill from 10 m.p.h. in overdrive fifth, with the engine turning so slowly that the ignition light came on! Several times I drove that car, which had covered over 200,000 miles, between north-west London and Cornwall [315 miles] in just over five hours, including once putting 78 miles into one hour.) Unfortunately the separate chassis of the P4 was a false friend, since the makers stuffed it with a substance like cotton-wool to reduce transmitted noise and this collected condensation and rotted the side-members from within; it is not unknown for the handbrake assembly, which was mounted to the driver's right, to drop through the floor because the outrigger which carried it has disintegrated, while one of my cars had a two-inch gap above the rear axle where the side-member had simply ceased to exist. I think the galvanised petrol-tank was the only thing that held the back end of that car together. Probably all the bad examples like that one have been either scrapped or restored by now.

[@Pinzpilot101]

Don't forget the 80......with the Landrover petrol engine and overdrive......mine was RCT 309 it had all the alloy panels and a plaque that said the body was built at somewhere like Hull by some bodybuilder.

[@kidcowdy1231]

shame there was not much mention of the 80, i love my one, and they certainly dosent mind being pushed a little through the corners.

[@philmaguire5822]

I've just bought a 1961 P4 80....I hope I enjoy mine as much as it sounds you did!

[@nygelmiller5293]

You certainly know your stuff! Burmabrite panels, (I had heard of that - but now I know WHAT Burmabrite is!) And no-one else knew that the ( in my opinion) gorgeous third eye on the Cyclops, could restrict radiator airflow, and cause overheating, in hot climates!

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Thanks Nygel, we try to do our research! -Joe

[@davidboult4143]

@Nygel Miller It's spelt "Birmabright", from Birmingham. After the war there was a shortage of steel, but there was plenty of aluminium capacity, (Birmabright), because they had finished wartime production of aeroplanes, eg Spitfire. P4's can be overcooled, that is why you often used to see them in winter with their custom made "muffs" covering the radiator grille.

[@nygelmiller5293]

@@davidboult4143 thanks for your reply about the spelling of Birmabrite!

[@SimonNoina]

Wow - 1964.. one of the very last registered

[@raypurchase801]

LOVELY.

[@JUANKERR2000]

Mmmmm! I had a 1956 rover 90; the best British car I've ever owned, in fact the only good British car I've ever owned. Comfortable, quiet, powerful brakes and a nice torquey, flexible engine.

[@OutRAjious]

fab shape

[@zm321]

Is this the road between Bourne and Melton Mowbray?

[@grahamt33]

I might be mistaken but were you not posting as "Twin Cam" ? I was a great fan of your old channel and presume that, having now got your driving licence, I can expect more of these " Spec and Drive" videos which you do wonderfully. Subscribed, obviously !

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Thanks Graham, Joe also has his own channel, Miller Corner.

[@nygelmiller5293]

I ALSO thought this was Mr. Twincam! And, then I thought " no, he must have GROWN!"

[@nygelmiller5293]

Farina designed, alright! Very similar to the PEUGEOT 404. ALSO designed by FARINA! So Farina got away with selling the same shape to 2 different companues! Come to think of it - our family had the Farina Morris Oxford, and we went by car to visit our relatives in SWITZERLAND - and THEY did have the PEUGEOT. So we had rides in each other's cars, and could compare! The BMC models had those stupid quarter elliptic leaf springs the firm persisted with , which set up a bouncing rythmn as you went along. No-one else used them! And Morris got things back to normal, when they reverted to proper HALF elliptic springs, on the Morris Marina. The Peugeot 404 also had a quiet, free revving, more powerful engine.

[@notpoliticallycorrect1303]

There is a 100 and a 110 in a garden up our lane,they haven't moved since around 1986/7 and over the last 30 odd years and despite the attempts by myself and others to purchase them I have had to watched them disintegrate to literally just piles of rust,the more exposed of the two the shell has collapsed completely,the other the body has rotted and fallen giving it a slammed look,sad!

[@mikepxg6406]

My late father had a P4 100 it was glorious. He scrapped it because the engine developed an oil leak !!!!! I often think what would it be worth now.

[@21stcenturyozman20]

Oil leak? In a Rover? Mate, that was what was known in classic British car circles as *the 'running oil change'* - just keep topping it up.

[@kevinmcmahon7182]

My dad bought a rover 90 at the Newcastle auction in 1974 for 50 quid drove it for 6 months and sold it for the same

[@dieselfan7406]

I appreciate the bonnet badge says 95 but are you sure? The steering column switches are out of date and the 95 didn't have overdrive.

[@ciaranburke3243]

I never had any interest in these until now, nice history lesson 👍

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Thanks for watching!

[@raymondwestley332]

Hello Ciaran, hope you’re good 😌👋

[@johnmarsh2078]

The P4 is a 1950s barge. A bit different from a Humber Hawk/Snipe, more "engineered". Certainly a cut above a Westie and several cuts above a Zodiac or Cresta. I say it's a barge because they are soft and squidgy with steering in the "10 points to starboard, Mr Christian." bracket. My friend's 110 was known affectionally as Lurch.

[@davidboult4143]

P4s do suffer from oversteer, although the 80 not so much, but often there is a lack of maintenance - poor shock absorbers, but mainly slack in the worn kingpins, which do need very frequent oiling, not grease, and care.

[@johnmarsh2078]

@@davidboult4143 Understeer of massive proportions in the dry and oversteer in the wet. The P4 was of its day. All big luxo-barges of the late1950s/ 1960s were tuned to be comfortable and had low geared steering boxes. Powered rack and pinion systems, independant rear suspension, radial tyres and wheel widths over 4 1/2 inches were all things of the future.

[@Malcolm701]

I loved the P4s- best Rovers overall in my opinion, although I owned all post war Rovers with exception of the SD1. The only slightly 'off' quality of the P4 was its noisy first gear which was slightly lorry like...otherwise the P4 was a better car than the P5, much quieter and with a more solid luxurious feeling. I never got the same feeling as the P4 in my 68 P5B although the P5 did move a bit quicker, but I still prefer the P4s 2.6 6cylinder engine.

[@reburdoc4647]

If its not handling right there is a Tyre or mismatched suspension damper setup problem. It should do a four wheel drift on a empty doughnut.

[@houstonceng]

The steering was not vague so long as the worn parts are replaced in the car you were driving.

[@John-bv2ft]

Yes great car

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

One of Rover's best!

[@jrbs]

Possibly the anti rollbar bushes need replacing

[@darwenrover8910]

Ah, good old Auntie Rover

[@benphilpott2508]

I love the p4, ive been using my 80 as a daily car since last October. Hasnt let me down the whole time i have been using it. Same colour and wheel trims as the one in the video, apart from blue interior. Shame about the MPG from it, but most cars of the time are the same :D

[@philmaguire5822]

I've just bought a 1961 P4 80. I hope mine will be as reliable as yours sounds!

[@shankarbalan3813]

The cars of the bygone days were most certainly much better and classier than those of today….

[@davidboult4143]

All P4 engines were test bed run, before installation. Rover had numerous labs to quality check all materials. When Leyland took over they said to one member of management: "the trouble with you Rover people is, quality is all you ever think about"!

[@nygelmiller5293]

To David Boult. At the time, Volkswagen made a big thing about running all THEIR engines in, so you didn't have to!

[@davidboult4143]

@@nygelmiller5293 Coventry Rileys also used to test bed run their engines.

[@maskedavenger2578]

@@nygelmiller5293 You can’t test bed an engine in properly as it needs to be worked properly through different revs & up down hill . Also the the gearbox & whole car chassis needs to be run & bedded in . A company selling as many vehicles as VW could not possibly run in all their engines in ,its absolute bullsh💩t ,as it would cost the company an absolute fortune taking up loads of fuel money & factory space & soon bankrupt the company . Why would they bother when they get their customers to run their own cars in ,while their customers are paying for the privilege & the fuel & oil costs .

[@nygelmiller5293]

@@maskedavenger2578 okay masked avenger! I do get your point, only that's what the rear engined Volkswagen brochures used to claim about being "run in at th factory, so you can collect your car from the dealer, and drive home at full speed". But for those of us old enough to remember, cars used (Volkswagens excepted), to have a sticker in the back window, when they were NEW. I t said : RUNNING IN. PLEASE PASS. So something must have changed, because cars don't have that sticker any more!

[@maskedavenger2578]

@@nygelmiller5293 These companies claim a lot of things & as we have found out in recent years they have been economical with the truth . I always find if something sounds too good to be true it usually is or only partially true at best . Common sense tells me ,I can’t realistically see any company going to the trouble & expense of building hundreds of engine test beds in an effort to recreate real world running in of engines for thousands of vehicles . The space cost & time would be prohibitive ,especially on what was at the time a basic budget peoples car . It not as if running a vehicle in for the first 1,000 miles is any great hardship for customers .

[@jourwalis-8875]

When filming the car in action, please drive with the headlights turned on! It looks much nicer! (and more professional!) Otherwise good!