Another one? Really?

K

KiwiRover

Active Member
I can't seem to stay out of trouble. I sold the turquoise V8 a couple of weeks ago and was determined to enjoy the space in the driveway and the cash in the bank for a bit and maybe catch up on some other jobs around the place when some bastard made me an offer. I was visiting a chap for unrelated reasons but I made the mistake of turning up in the Rangie. He used to own a CSK and when he found out I was a Rover man he took me around the side of his house and pointed at a car cover. It was a decent looking thing so I offered to shop it around the Rover club for him. Of course I couldn't stop thinking about it and managed to figure out a reason and justification to buy it so I did. The V8 left yesterday and I picked up the newby tonight.
So, it's a bit off my usual and I know very little about them yet but I think we're going to get along nicely. It's a 1964 Rover 95. One of the last and one of the rarest variations, especially as an export model. Just 168 made that year! :shock: Very original but a bit neglected. Still has the complete tool tray and handbooks. :D


Apologies for the terrible pics but it was dark by the time I got home. I'll do better tomorrow I promise. Hopefully some of you good people know a thing or two about these.
 
Oh My Gee Al
Are you still married , and whats happening with that petition the neighbours are circulating to have you removed from the street ?
Looks nice by the way . Blends in with the night !!
Knowing how your score lovely Rovers , I'm looking forward to seeing this one .
You have the time of your life Al !!
 
Woohoo, daylight! I finally got to give it a proper checkover. I must admit that I'm shocking when buying cars. I will often go on instinct, rather than checking them over thoroughly first. Luckily I have quite good instincts. :D
So, front end. All pretty straight. chrome is really good, hardly any pitting to be seen. Paint is fairly patina'd but ok.

Rear end. You can see where the paint has worn through in a few places and someone has had an abortive attempt at bogging the petrol flap.

Engine bay is pretty clean and tidy. Engine has had some work done in the past and it starts and runs beautifully. Still has the funky glass washer bottle.

Interior is the worst feature unfortunately. Carpets are threadbare, seats are well torn and the hoodlining is torn quite badly at the back. Woodwork is ok but a bit faded in places and the speakers in the kick panels have got to go.

Boot is pretty good too. More tools and the rubber mat is fine.

Came with the glovebox wallet with handbooks and original ownership papers.

And the all important too tray is in good shape too.

So far I have only found 3 bits of rust: both front ends of the sills inside the wheelarches have a 2" x 1" hole in them, and there is a bolted panel in the boot that surrounds the fuel filler pipe which is a bit holey. Most of the issues seem to be electrical: a non working headlight and reversing light, no indicators, no fuel gauge, that sort of thing. Should be easy. I imagine it will need some suspension bushes before I can make it legal too but I will need to get under it to be sure.
 
Even the screwdriver's in the tool tray, nice. I had to replace mine. Those tyres look a bit small for the arches, an annoying aspect of modern rubber. My interior is generally very nice but a couple of years of everyday use did for the individual front seats. I might be wrong but P4 interiors do seem to me to fare worse than P5's.
They are a very nice drive though & have that genuine vintage feel to them while being able to hold their own in modern traffic pretty well. Especially the 110 with the Weslake head & overdrive which your car lacks, though a fair few 95's have been retro-fitted with them.

My 110 has the holey petrol pipe area too.
 
I'm very happy with the price I paid. :)
Yes, I doubt the toolkit has seen much use. The tyres are 165/80x15 which is about the right width but they are a bit low profile unfortunately. I think they're actually a bit skinny for my liking though. I might see how it looks on 185/80s when I get around to it.
The interior is a shame and I don't know what my odds are of finding a decent second-hand set, but I suspect retrimming everything could get mighty expensive. Not the first priority though.
I was surprised how un-vintage they are to drive really. I always expected them to feel slow, ponderous and heavy but I'm pleasantly surprised at how well they go, stop and handle. There is an overdrive 'box on Trade me at the moment so I might grab that for a future addition.
 
When I said vintage, I really meant the ambience rather than the ride which as you've found out, is more than adequate for regular use. One of those 'Practical Classics' comparison tests once said the P4 was entirely unsuitable for everyday use due to the barge-like cornering of the cars. I thought that would be patent rubbish long before I bought ours & I was completely right.

The odds of finding decent secondhand interiors is hard enough here in the UK. Down there, I would think you'd have to be very lucky indeed but you never know. If the O/D box is a good price then I'd go for it.
 
There does seem to be a good deal of "Aunties" here in NZ not so uncommon as you may think. I would like a 1964 110 to own one day with all those highly refined bits that a mature end of series car get when all the bugs are ironed out.

Graeme
 
P3120102_zpsff023e8b.jpg


When you first see the gearlever with its Heath Robinson set-up you're inclined to think the shift will be awful, but (if they're in good condition) all that disappears when you drive one 'cos it's lovely to use.
 
Very nice, but how old is that rego sticker in the windscreen?! :)
Click to expand...

It's 1991 Chris. Same with the last wof, and according to the sticker the service is due in 2000mls. In 1990.

Gearshift is quite nice, It could probably use a wee bit of grease but it works well.
 
ghce said:
There does seem to be a good deal of "Aunties" here in NZ not so uncommon as you may think. I would like a 1964 110 to own one day with all those highly refined bits that a mature end of series car get when all the bugs are ironed out.

Graeme
Click to expand...

Lots of cars, yes but if it's the same situation as here, not many decent used interiors. A lot have been re-trimmed with stunning results but as you said, very expensive. Although as with other car types, a few people with no previous upholstery experience have transformed their interiors.

The 110 is a very capable automobile. First time out, I was up to 80mph before I knew it.
 
Well done, Al. I'd love an Aunty, but I haven't the money, the room or the understanding other half.
 
Is that fitted with the world's fastest window winder?

ISTR some had a lever that moved a couple of inches to drop/raise the dropglass the full travel.
 
To me these cars always looked they were designed around 5 people sitting in armchairs .
The perfect car to get in and out of.
That includes the P5
Then the cool look came in and everything practical went out the window .
Yeah that includes the P6
Lucky for me they invented Almond
Gerald
 
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