VA06521 Rover P6 3500 V8 Richlieu Red

The P6 modelled left the production line at Solihull on 6th January 1977, making it one of the last 20 3500S’s built. It featured black leather upholstery, an expensive option at the time. 

It was despatched the following day to BL dealers Rossleigh Limited, Edinburgh, Scotland but was road registered by nearby BL dealers Appleyard’s on 24th March 1977; the gap of over two months perhaps suggests that the leather was fitted to use up some of the factory’s optional parts stock, rather than for a specific customer’s order. The first owners, Ben Line Steamers Ltd, purchased it two days after it was registered and covered 36,850 miles in 20 months.

K Dunn Quality Cars sold it on 9th November 1978 to Mr David Smith-Davidson and it was still in good condition when he advertised it for sale in July 1993, showing 72,000 miles. It was purchased by its current owner, West Lothian-based George Beattie, a Rover P6 Owners Club Regional Organiser who’d always wanted a 3500S. 

George has maintained the car well and, in 2012, fitted two new rear wings and one new front wing, then had the rust in all the door’s lower areas repaired before it was resprayed. George, a retired train driver, has helped out in Bob and Gill Baird’s model shop, Harburn Hobbies, Edinburgh, since 1975, so is looking forward to displaying the model of his car.