1973 Rover P6 2000TC

Very reluctant sale of my 1973 Rover 2000TC. I bought it three years ago as a non-running "barn find". This summer however. I was offered a Series One 2000SC. which I prefer a little better. I thought I could keep both on the road but the truth is. I haven't driven the TC for a few weeks now. so it deserves a new home before it deteriorates.  

It's a rare "crossover model" from 1973 when the 2200 had been launched but Rover had a surplus of 2000TC engines. To encourage people to buy the older engine. these cross over cars were fitted with many extra from the factory. in the case of my car. it has orange Sundym glass. 3500S wheel trims. 3500 front arm rests (they're longer than the 2000 ones). the 3500S steering wheel (very rare and sought after) and the large HS8 carbs. It's a 2000 chassis and body with a 2200 interior. officially tan box pleat leather seats.  

It's on the road. got an MOT until next May. tax exempt. Runs beautifully and absolutely goes like the clappers. I dread to think how much I've spent on this car over the past three years as I've bought it back from the dead. I've not even bothered counting as it was never my intention to sell. It's had all new brakes front and back over the past two years (the rear ones rebuilt in May by Clive Annable). carbs stripped and rebuilt. new alternator. new speedo cable. new clutch. gearbox rebuild (with new bushes and seals). new headgasket. top end engine rebuild. towbar fitted and the mounting plates strengthened. under sealed. new sill covers. halogen headlights. the list goes on. It had a full service 800 miles ago. It's got every MOT back until 1976. some history (original handbook with notes written by the previous owners) and a lot of receipts for the parts that I've bought for it. The V5 is in my name.  It was sold to a businessman on the Mall in London in 1973. subsequently sold when it was five years old and ended up in Blyth in Northumberland with an old couple. The guy died and his wife registered it in her name. Then the couple across the street made her an offer and in 1994 it became theirs. It was laid up in 2002. but driven ran occasionally until 2008 approx. Sadly the previous owner died and it was his wife who I bought the car from. It's an exceptionally original car and was maintained regardless of cost until the lay up. We know this because the engine was so clean when Clive Annable did the top end re-build that he questioned whether it had an engine change! It hasn't. all the numbers with the chassis. engine and gearbox all add up.  

The worst part about the car is the paint is flaking off the bonnet and the boot. It's the original paint. We mostly go to shows and it is a bit "rat look" for my liking! Of course. it's a 43 year old car so it's not perfect but it's incredibly original and could quite easily be a show winner with a repaint. The original seats and carpets are very good for their age.

Known faults are that the rear springs want replacing ideally as they've gone soft and the gear selector plate has worn. It changes gear okay but could be better. There's a rattle on the gearbox somewhere that you get at certain speeds depending on the revs. not sure what it is. but it doesn't really affect anything. The temperature gauge doesn't work but it's never overheated and I've got a new sender to fit somewhere. Everything else works - including the heater and heated rear windscreen! These rarely work on P6's. The original Radiomobile radio will be fitted for when it goes.  Also. the brake light sometimes comes on as the switch for the light is sticking on the handbrake. Given the 'special tap'. it soon goes off! 

All the original bits are there. even the rare bakelite battery cover and the attachments in the boot. spare wheel cover. jack. the only original item missing is the tool roll. Everything else is there otherwise.  

The base unit is absolutely solid. The only rust is on the very bottom corner of the front offside wing. which is a very common spot and it's purely cosmetic. There's a small crack in the edge of the corner of the bonnet too. I have a spare bonnet if you want it. Tyres are good. plenty of tread left on them. It doesn't use any oil. I've done a few long motorway journeys with it. The oil pressure is good and consistent. One of the green switches on the centre console has broken. which is common as they go brittle over time. I'm sure that's everything.  

I'm not here to mess around. I'll describe the car exactly as it is. It's breaking my heart to sell it but I just can't afford to keep two P6s on the road at the moment and this deserves to be driven and loved. Ask as many questions as you like. I'm sure there's something I've probably missed. Nothing to hide with this car. I think I've described it fairly. It would make a great winter project. ready to show again next summer.  

A £500 non-refundable deposit holds the car. I've not driven it now properly for a few weeks and it needs a good run to charge the battery. Sold as seen. no returns. The car is near Ilkeston. Derbyshire. I can't seem to change the location on eBay.  

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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