French registration
Delivered new to Lanvin Perfumes
Same ownership until 1980
French-market model

In the 1950s Rover was respected as a producer of staid high-quality cars, as represented by the P4, nick-named in later years the ‘Auntie’ Rover. But a wind of change was blowing, and Rover decided with its 3-litre P5 to aim higher up the market and offer a model to rival the Jaguars of the time. Influenced by a P4 coupé commissioned from Pinin Farina, young stylist David Bache drew up an elegant body with more modern but still dignified lines. It featured the traditional Rover radiator grille and the front wings were given definition by the high-set sidelights. Sound-deadening received particular attention and the interior was everything expected of a vehicle in this class, with memorably comfortable leather seats and a wood-trimmed dashboard. Under the bonnet of the French-market P5 MkII of 1962–65 was a reduced-capacity 2.6-litre version of the torquey and refined inlet-over-exhaust Rover engine; equipped, as all MkII and MkIII P5s, with a cylinder head designed with input from Weslake, it developed a claimed 123bhp (gross), against the 134bhp (gross) of the regular 3-litre MkII/III engine.
This original French-market manual-transmission car is interesting on more than one account. Delivered new by Franco-Britannic on 12 February 1964, it was registered three days later to Lanvin Perfumes at its prestigious address of 3 rue de Tilsitt in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. Carrying the registration 2029 PR 75, the Rover was used by senior management and to transport certain special customers. On its regularly stamped service booklet it can be seen that the car covered about 5000km (3000 miles) a year, for a total of 45,325km (28,164 miles) on 7 November 1977. Two further services are recorded, by Jacques Savoye in the 17th arrondissement, in 1998 and then, at 70,000km (43,500 miles), in the year 2000. Passing to its second owner on 9 June 1980, the car was used in the Rambouillet region where the new custodian spent his weekends. With 83,481km (51,875 miles) on the clock today, the P5 has been regularly maintained, as proved by the bills we hold. Most recently the brakes and clutch have been overhauled and all fluids changed. Wonderfully patinated, this is a car in fine original condition, offering the promise of refined velvety motoring.
Always garaged with all due care, this is a good occasion to acquire an excellent example of this luxurious, comfortable and powerful British saloon, one of the last ‘real’ Rovers and the very acme of quiet high-quality elegance.

This car will be sold during an auction sale organized by AGUTTES Auction House.
It will take place in Paris, at the Espace Champerret, France, on March the 17th, 2019.
The digital catalog is available on our website
https://www.aguttes.com/html/infos.jsp?id=96052&&setLng=en
Please contact us for any further details.
Phones numbers:
+ 33 616 914 228
+33 147 459 301