That's the first time I've seen those video clips of 9 BLR. This car is P6 Prototype - or "Talago" - P6/9 registered on 1st April 1961. Externally it has pretty well finalised detail, with the expected cows horn bumpers and air extract louvre in the rear 1/4 panel. The bumpers were quite a late change for production, and once you've seen the style on 9 BLR, it becmes obvious that the under-riders each side of the number plate on SC's are actually the vestigal remains of the cow's horn style. I've not seen the grille design before - although something very similar resurfaced as a proposal for the 3500.
What is really interesting about these clips, though, is the interrior. 9 BLR has the original P6 interrior, which can still be seeen today at Gaydon, inside T4. In particular there is no top shroud across the top of the dashboard, the panel below the dash rail that carries the switchgear is brushed stainless steel and the instruments are in attractive round pods. I'm very tempted to replicate that arrangement sometime, as I think it looks much better than the strip speedo production version. It would be extremely easy to reverse engineer as well. All you need to do is to take the top shroud off and source some Alfa Romeo instrumnets!
And then there's the seats. 9 BLR is wearing a set of the original "lightweight" seats. Most notably the backrest of the drivers seat is much thinner that any of the production versions. And so, of course, these Talago's had decent legroom in the back!
Excellent enjoyment!
9 BLR is sadly no longer with us. It went to meet its maker in spring 1963!
Chris
youtube wild rovers pt 1 wild rovers pt 2
