The B in Rover's P5B stands for Buick — the quintessentially British luxury saloon's V8 was a design Rover bought wholesale from General Motors' Buick division.
Median 108 hp across 326 similar cars
Lead trim: 3.5-Litre (3,528 cc Rover V8, 158 hp)
Rover P5B "3.5-Litre"1967–1973
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Rover P5B "3.5-Litre" yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactThe B in Rover's P5B stands for Buick — the quintessentially British luxury saloon's V8 was a design Rover bought wholesale from General Motors' Buick division.
The final iteration of the P5 appeared in September 1967, powered by the 3,528 cc Rover V8 engine also used in the 3500 and badged the "3.5 Litre", commonly known as the 3½ Litre. The final letter in the "P5B" model name came from Buick, the engine's originator: Rover did not have the budget to develop a new engine, so it developed the lightweight aluminium Buick engine, making it considerably stronger. The Borg Warner Type-35 automatic transmission, hydrosteer variable ratio power steering and front Lucas fog lights were now standard, and when introduced the V8 produced 160 PS (158 hp) at 5,200 rpm and 210 lb-ft of torque at 2,600 rpm. Production ended in 1973, by when 9,099 coupés and 11,501 saloons had been built; the 3½ Litre saloon was a favourite of high-ranking government ministers and served as Prime Ministerial transport for Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher.
Collectors Spotted in the Rover P5 Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Rover P5 yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5-Litre (3,528 cc Rover V8, 158 hp) | 1967–1973 | 3.5 L V8 | 158 hp | 210 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
Owning one
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Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
The B in Rover's P5B stands for Buick — the quintessentially British luxury saloon's V8 was a design Rover bought wholesale from General Motors' Buick division.
This 3-Litre Rover became the unofficial Downing Street car — British Prime Ministers from Harold Wilson to Margaret Thatcher were chauffeured in one.
The Mark II's coupe didn't sacrifice its rear doors for style like most coupes do — it kept all four, just with a roofline cut 2.5 inches lower for a faux-hardtop look.
This P5's straight-six ran an oddball valve layout — intake valves overhead, exhaust valves down the side — a quirk Rover simply carried over from the older P4.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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