1964 Rover P4 - 95

1964 Rover P4 95

2.6-Litre Straight-Six | Extensive Documented Mechanical Restoration | Irish Registered

Pristine Classics is pleased to offer for sale on behalf of its owner this very attractive 1964 Rover P4 95, finished in dark grey with a beautifully contrasting deep red interior.

Affectionately known among enthusiasts as the “Auntie Rover”, the P4 belongs to a period when Rover had an enviable reputation for producing exceptionally well-engineered, comfortable and dignified motor cars. Solidly constructed, beautifully appointed and unmistakably British, the P4 was a car intended for the professional classes and has a character quite unlike almost anything built today.

This example is the later Rover 95, powered by Rover’s smooth 2,625 cc six-cylinder engine and a four-speed manual gearbox.

The 95 was introduced in 1962 and remained in production until the end of P4 production in 1964. Only around 3,680 Rover 95s were produced, making it one of the less commonly encountered members of the P4 family today.

A car with an interesting European history

This Rover has a particularly interesting documented history spanning Britain, Germany and Ireland.

The car carries chassis number 76001914A and is recorded on its Irish registration certificate as having been first registered on 1 January 1964. It is now fully Irish registered as:

Earlier documentation and photographs show the Rover carrying the British registration VKX 659J, before subsequently moving to Germany.

The present owner purchased the Rover in Germany in August 2016 for €9,500.

What makes the history particularly interesting is what happened next.

€13,524 of documented work

Following its purchase, the owner entrusted the Rover to Stevie’s Garage in Eutin, Germany, where it underwent an extensive program of mechanical, structural and recommissioning work between late 2016 and early 2017.

The final documented invoice came to €13,524.20 – considerably more than the purchase price of the car itself.

The work included extensive attention to the braking system, steering, gearbox, engine, cooling system, electrics and body structure.

Among the documented work carried out were:

Extensive overhaul of the braking system
New brake master cylinder
Replacement front brake components and rear wheel cylinders
New brake hoses and brake fluid
Brake servo replaced/upgraded
Handbrake mechanism overhauled and adjusted
Steering components removed and refurbished
New outer track-rod ends
Steering lubricated and adjusted
Engine serviced and tuned
Ignition system checked and adjusted
New spark plugs
Carburetor checked and adjusted
Cold-start mechanism repaired
Engine oil and filter changed
Gearbox investigated, dismantled as required, cleaned and serviced
Gear-selection/linkage components repaired or replaced
Gearbox and differential oils renewed
Cooling system pressure tested
Radiator professionally repaired
Cooling hoses and coolant renewed
Fuel filler/neck repaired
Windscreen washer system attended to
Electrical and lighting repairs
Speedometer professionally repaired
Exhaust mounting repaired
Structural repairs to the rear boot/floor area
Fabrication and welding of repair sections
Cavity and underbody protection
Extensive road testing and final adjustment

The owner recently got a 123Ignition system fitted, which improved the starting and running of the engine tremendously.

This history is important: rather than simply being a visually attractive old Rover with little information about what lies underneath, this car comes with documentation showing that considerable money and effort have been invested in its mechanical condition.

A wonderfully traditional interior

Opening the doors is perhaps where the charm of the P4 becomes most apparent.

The deep red interior contrasts beautifully with the dark grey bodywork and retains the atmosphere expected of a quality British saloon of this period.

The photographs show an interior that presents particularly well for its age, with attractive red seating front and rear, matching door trim and carpets, together with the extensive timberwork that is such an important part of the P4’s character.

There are large front and rear bench seats, both incorporating folding center armrests, while the rear-hinged rear doors provide wonderfully easy access to the exceptionally spacious rear compartment.

Ahead of the driver is the distinctive Rover dashboard, period instrumentation and large steering wheel. The timber dashboard and window surrounds give the cabin the warm, almost gentleman’s-club atmosphere for which these cars are remembered.

Importantly, it has not been modernised to the point where the original character has been lost. It still feels very much like a Rover P4.

Exterior

The dark grey paintwork suits the dignified lines of the Rover extremely well and presents attractively, as can be seen in the current photographs.

The car retains its substantial original-style chrome bumpers, overriders, brightwork, Rover hubcaps and characteristic P4 radiator grille.

There is some age-related patina to the brightwork, which is visible in the photographs and is entirely in keeping with a sixty-plus-year-old classic.

A collection of period badges fitted to the front grille and the historic rally/event stickers on the glass also hint at a car that has been used and enjoyed within the European classic-car scene, rather than simply stored away.

On the road

The Rover P4 was never intended to be a sports saloon. Its appeal lies elsewhere.

The smooth six-cylinder engine, substantial construction, comfortable seating and relaxed driving characteristics make the P4 particularly suited to touring and classic-car events.

These later P4s also benefit from front disc brakes, while the 2.6-litre six-cylinder engine provides approximately 102 bhp.

It is a car designed to cover distance in comfort rather than hurry from one corner to the next—and that remains a large part of its appeal today.

History file

The Rover comes with a useful collection of documentation, including its German purchase invoice, substantial workshop invoices, earlier German Classic Analytics valuation documentation and photographs, Irish registration documentation and other historic material.

The earlier documentation also records the presence of the Rover owner’s instruction manual and original-style tool kit.

Irish registered

The Rover was imported into Ireland and registered here in March 2022.

Registration: 64 KY 10005
Chassis: 76001914A
Engine: 2,625 cc six-cylinder petrol
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Steering: Right-hand drive
First Registration: 01/01/1964

For somebody looking for a Jaguar or sporting classic, this probably isn’t the car.

For somebody who appreciates traditional British engineering, craftsmanship, comfort and character, however, the Rover P4 is something quite special.

This particular example combines an attractive and wonderfully period color combination with a documented European history and evidence of substantial expenditure on its mechanical condition.

It is also refreshingly different. You are unlikely to park beside another one at every classic-car event.

Offered for sale by Pristine Classics on behalf of its owner.

Viewing and inspection welcome at Pristine Classics, Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry.

Nationwide and international transport can be arranged.