My new project. P4? Also seeking help identifying her.

Cut Snake

New Member
So I've picked up this old girl, will be a long term project for sure as I have no garage or shed as yet.

All I know for sure is that it's a Rover.

Here's some pics.













Missing guard and bonnet/grille due to an accident that happened maybe 50 years ago.... ;)

She's got alloy doors and trafficators. Also the turned down boot, and horizontal tail-lights. Surely that's enough info to figure out which year it is? None of the pictures I've seen online seem to match what I've got.

If anybody with some knowledge can help me get a better identification on it I'd be quite grateful.

Regards, Daz
 
Hi, Firstly I'm no expert on these but with some brief research, the horizontal lights indicates it's early and the twin carbed six pot means it could be a 75 1950 - 1954. A chassis number may pin it down more closely by an expert.

Oh and a nice find, I didn't think there were still early ones to be found.

Colin
 
I admire your courage (& optimism) taking this on!
Our GP had one in the early 50's when I was a kid.
Wikipedia will give you some basic info about the company & development.
Front wing shape is the later post '53 shape.
Good luck
John
 
If that ever sees the road again, I'll be very impressed. Any info on when and why the paint was stripped?
 
Thanks for the responses everybody.

I'll check out the chassis number and see what that tells me.

The paint is most likely gone due to it sitting in the Queensland sun for God knows how many years. The tires are corroded if that's any indication.

Thanks for the link to the Auction Mike, I'll definitely give it a look.

Daz
 
So it seems the auction will be off-limits for me as I don't have a credit card. Good to know there's still plenty of parts around though.

Delicate question: how do you guys feel about modding Rovers? Are you all purists or don't mind things a little different?
 
Hi, No objections from me at all. Generally the forum is very open about it. Have a look through the 'Members projects' section.

What have you got in mind or planned?

Colin
 
Thanks for the reply Colin. OK, here goes.

Be aware that the car was days away from being scrapped after sitting for many years.

I realise that the cost to restore the car to factory spec would be much more than the car would be worth.

I rarely do anything considered 'normal' ;)

So here's a photoshopped concept pic.



I would keep the suicide doors and most likely replace the motor with a Rover V8.

I'm considering making a new boot lid out of timber (as seen on boats in Venice). I would make as much of the interior out of wood as I can without going overboard.

I will need new guards, bonnet and grill and all things to connect them. If I cannot source I would be fine with going open hot-rod style.

I would like to flare the rear guards to accommodate big fat tires.

I'm sure there's more but I've had a long day. :)

Would like to hear members thoughts.

Daz
 
Sounds like fun and it's pretty much a blank canvas to start with.
Might sound bonkers but you could even bolt a modern turbo diesel engine out of a Land Rover straight onto the existing gearbox. It wouldn't have the noise of a V8 but would probably be just as quick for a fraction of the running costs.
 
That's very interesting to know, Willy Eckerslyke, my brother just happens to be a diesel mechanic too :)

I remembered what it was I was trying to add to my list:

I would prefer to swap my aluminium doors for a set of steel ones so long as they're the same size. Steel would be easier to work with (combining 2 doors to one) and it seems wasteful to ruin the ones I've got.

That said, here's a better pic (without my poor attempt at recolouring it)



Daz
 
Hi, Looks good. A couple of pointers, although the Rover 80 had the land rover 4 pot engine the gearbox bellhousing bolt patterns are different between it and the 'inlet over exhaust' engines. I'm not saying it can't be done but you need a bit of a 'mix and match' of different parts to get it in. The RV8 route might be easier with either auto or manual. As far as steel doors are concerned, they changed over to steel doors in the last few years.

Colin
 
It's a 1952 -54 model (that back window and spare under boot floor introduced in 52), replaced by bigger 3-piece window for 1955 model year)( ie built from approx Sept '54 ). If the handbrake is immediately to the right of driver's seat its a '54 model, as it was only there for that model year, before reverting to original place to right handside of driver's footwell, ahead of the door.

A twin carb 6-cylinder would make it the 2.1 litre 75. A 4-cylinder would be a 60. If it is a single carb 6-cylinder it's a 90 from 1953 (the 75 became single carb in '55. A 90 would (when new) have a 'Rover 90 ' script on each side of the bonnet.

Looking at the engine I would say a 75.

1952 model chassis numbers start 24......, 1953 start 34....., 1954 start 44.... etc

If it's an export RHD, 2436, 3436 etc., if it's UK home model RHD it's 2430, 3430, 4430.

Knocked down kits chassis numbers 2463, 3463, 4463 for relevant years

The above numbers relate to the 75.

The mods look good to me, I haven't seen a modded P4 for many years
 
Tonys,

That's a wealth of information. thanks heaps!

As soon as time permits I'll get in and try to find the body number.

Glad you like the mod, I understand a lot of people prefer to keep things standard, but I'm not one of them :D
 
If it was a complete and original car, i wouldn't really like to see it modified.
But at that state, the only way that someone would manage to bring it back to life as an original car, would be by sacrificing another complete car.
So it is much more better being creative with it, given the "as found" state of this car.
 
Having put my 'nerd' hat on, I'm going to narrow it down to a 1954 model. Having looked closer at the photos it would seem to have the remnants of the centrally mounted gear lever under the fascia. Prior to 1954 the cars had a column gearchange.

Also, freewheel 'wheel' was moved to left of car when a new centrally mounted gear change lever was introduced.

I also can't see any handbrake lever to the right hand side under the dash. If the lever is still to the right of the driver's seat, you can narrow down the date further.

There were 3 types fitted during the model year:
The second, introduced Jan '54, was 1.5" higher (at handle end) than the first, to make it easier to reach, although difficult to tell which version without seeing them side by side; they were black.

The final version, introduced in April 1954, was chromed.

As the handbrakes were retro-fit possible, it's not a definititive guide to age, but will narrow it down.
I'm not sure about the steering wheel, I thought that they all had 'spokes' that tapered, rather than being parallel.

So, my bid for the prize (you did offer one, didn't you? ) is a 1954 75
 
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