Hi all, hoping to get a classic again. I'm always drawn to
Morris Minors as just like em. The other thing I like is rovers but Mrs doesn't like the p6 and the P5s are out of my budget. I like the p4 and could probably get an ok one but don't know what they are like to own drive and fix. I also like triumph 2000 but not many with good bodywork for my budget. Even Morris Minors at 5k are only just ok now. So any insight into rover P4s would be good or anything else. Needs to be four seats tax exempt and not need paint ideally. Not asking for much am I ?☺️
Rover P4 - 110
This one in the video may be in here.
Certainly for sale in Milton Keynes, whether price, condition etc are in your missus’ range, only you would know.
At your budget, there would certainly be money to spend and make it the £5k car you seek.
Over to you.
I bought my VW Caddy from him and found him to be meticulous about detail and fixing things.
He also keeps good records.
forum.retro-rides.org/thread/207975/model-invacar-visitors-occasional-distractionsThe for sale ad…… TEXT COPIED.
Hadn't planned on moving this on quite so soon, but something else that's been on my bucket list since well before I could even drive has very unexpectedly popped up on the radar even though I wasn't looking, so if it is as described I'd be looking to grab that. However it's very much a one-in-one out situation here at the moment, so it's time for someone else to have a crack at enjoying this car.
I'd describe it as "Reasonably solid but tatty" I think. Yes there is rot here and there which if you're planning to keep the car, especially outside, that will want attention. However it definitely isn't *rotten* - especially compared to some I've seen (including several which on the surface look a good deal shinier).
Here's some recent photos. I'll grab some more detailed shots shortly as time permits.
Work done:[]Changed all rubber coolant lines.
[] Changed inlet manifold gasket (was leaking water).
[] Changed inlet rocker cover gasket.
[] Changed exhaust rocker cover gasket (checked valve clearances on both of these while doing that, they were spot on).
[] Sorted non-functional handbrake/brake fluid level warning light.
[] Sorted non-functional boot lid latch - though it's still a bit finnicky.
[] Dismantled and thoroughly cleaned the carb and reassembled with new gaskets. New needle etc is still in the packet as the one on the car still looked perfect.
[] Replaced perished brake servo vacuum line.
[] Tidied up some wiring in the engine bay.
[] Replaced distributor cap.
[] Replaced decomposed door seals.
[] Replaced rear shock absorbers.
Shortly before I got the car it had:
[] 4x new tyres.
[] Brand new Lockheed remote brake servo & a check over of the braking system in general. I believe the master cylinder was also replaced at this time.
Among other stuff. The previous keeper's thread on the car is over here.
Probably a half dozen other little tasks I've forgotten. However it's a running, driving car that's in regular use (having done somewhere around 1300 miles over the last month or two). Issues I know of:
[] Few areas of rust. Down by the handbrake, bottom of the B pillars, one spot of the boot floor, and forward of the nearside rear wheel that will want attention sooner than later if you're planning on keeping the car. I'll get more photos of these areas shortly. Nothing I'm worried about imminently falling apart or anything like that though - or I wouldn't be using the car.
[] Cold start lever sticks somewhere, though this has had me scratching my head a bit as all of the component parts move freely on their own. It will be something daft. Though it seems not really to be needed when the weather is warmer like this anyway.
[] There's a lot of slop in the windscreen wiper linkage, and the washer pump is dead (it makes noise, but doesn't move any fluid). Edit: Washers now sorted.
[] Rear springs are really quite tired so the ride is pretty abysmal.
[] There is a very small weep of coolant from the offside of the engine where I believe that there's either a crack or porosity issue in the block. The staining suggests it's been like that for probably decades though, so I've been filing it under "keep an eye on but don't worry about." This is a wet liner engine, so even if it is a crack it's not going to compromise the combustion chambers, and the rate of loss from there is miniscule, I'm talking just enough to make the area a bit damp to the touch if left overnight.
[] It does seem to like to push some coolant out of the overflow when the engine is stopped after a higher speed run, current going theory is that the radiator could probably do with flushing out. Temperature is absolutely fine when driving, but it's a sign to me that something isn't quite spot on. It's also possible that the new pressure cap is just a piece of rubbish as well given the average quality of modern parts...I don't have a good old one to try by substitution or I would.
EDIT: I've had the car out a few times in the last couple of days and it's not done this again...so it may simply be that muggins here had indeed over-filled it and it's now found the correct level. There's no expansion/overflow bottle on this - it just dumps any excess overboard. Or indeed straight into the cooling fan before I replaced the missing overflow pipe!
[] Radio doesn't work. Currently isn't connected to power. It will want thoroughly servicing before power being applied given the age.
[] Clock doesn't work. It has power, so obviously needs either servicing or replacement.
[] Speedometer wobbles. This can be cured by dismantling and replacing the dried up grease on the mileometer worm drive. It's on my to do list, just haven't got to it yet.
[] Heater control cable for the windscreen demister flap has come adrift at one end. Haven't investigated that yet. Heater (and blower) do work, but there doesn't seem to be any air getting to the screen vents and the slider doesn't feel like it's doing anything.
It is what it is really...Which is a fairly tired but entirely usable old Rover. I've been using the car regularly and so far aside from one loss of spark incident about two days into ownership which was fairly quickly traced to a complete lack of any gap at the points, I've not run into anything I'd not expect on older cars. The more it's been used the happier it's seemed. Having the overdrive fitted means that it's far happier keeping pace with modern traffic even on the motorway than you'd think given the age of the design. As said, I've been using the car both for local bumbling around, but have also been using it for runs of up to a couple of hours afield without issue.
Car is located in Milton Keynes, and viewings are welcome by arrangement.
Obviously if the other car being looked into doesn't work out, I reserve the right to pull this ad as I'm quite enjoying the car to be honest!
EDIT: Have some more photos.
The red oxide primer on the nearside is from when work was done to repair rust damage to the bottom of the front wing and a small hole near to the fuel filler flap by the previous keeper. Correctly matched paint was supplied to me with the car, I've just not got as far as doing anything with it yet
It's really not a bad thing to work on, it really is like a
Morris Minor's big, far more sturdily engineered brother. I pulled the intake manifold to replace the gasket on it to cure a water leak on one of the hottest days of the year, and it can't have taken me more than a couple of hours - and that was me not having read a manual before hand and knowing me probably half that time was looking for tools. Aside from a couple of moderately awkward to get to bolts it was a really simple job and if it hadn't been in the mid 30s that afternoon I'd have enjoyed it to be honest. If you're used to keeping on top of maintaining something like a 2CV in daily use, there's absolutely nothing here to scare you.
Pretty much everything on it is serviceable/adjustable etc, they really are impressively engineered cars. Aside from the steering being on the heavy side, they drive far, far better and definitely handle high speed roads like motorways way better than you'd expect for something that looks this old fashioned.
If I'd not had the P6 turn up unexpectedly I probably would have been holding on to it for a while longer to be honest - but I've only got room for one, and the P6 has been on my wish list for far longer! I certainly think it's likely I'll own another P4 in the future though as this one has definitely left an impression
