The day Trigger turned into Junkman - P6 Content

[trigger]

I'll begin from the start, after selling the Mk3 Cortina a few months ago I've been looking our for a new toy, after viewing a few bits of crap and posting about a 100 "what do you think" status on Facebook i came across this Rover 2000 at a local hot rod show. After a bit of bartering we agreed a price and this afternoon i collected it.

 

It was in Halstead which is about 30 miles away and with my wife in the sick bay after having the veins removed from her leg and unable to drive i had to rough it on a train to Marks Tey so that i could get a lift with my dad.

 

 

Manningtree looked very muddy

 

 

£8 and 25 mins later i arrived in Marks Tey where my dad was waiting with a trailer to take me to the car.

 

We arrived at the owners house who was a bloody lovely chap, his wife made us a cup of tea and he spent nearly a hour chatting to my dad about vintage tractors and stationary engines and show me his motorbikes which means nothing to me.

 

 

 

We pulled the Rover out of the garage, as inposted in the News 24 thread it was originally a 2000 SC but its now running a 2200 SC.

 

 

And then loaded up dads trailer with the original 2.0 SC engine and a spare 2.2 engine as well as a gearbox, radiator, some trim bits and rear glass.

 

 

And then it was the drive back, my god, why have i never bought one of these before?! Its the coolest, nicest car I've ever owned!

 

 

I stopped at the petrol station when a customer complimented my car and the young girl behind the till kept asking me about it and telling me how cool it was!

 

 

 

£30 later i was back at the old mans and humping these bloody engines into a back of a barn, probably never to see the light again.

 

 

 

 

Whilst there i took some more photos before it got dark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Felly Magic]

Nice buy Triggs, good reg plate on it too, you really need a scruffy white one though

[purplebargeken]

Seriously lovely.

 

The offer re: seats is genuine!

[barrett]

That's good. I reckon it's the car you needed to buy, not any more of that Ford rubbish. Proper modernist, rationalist design and engineering. It's like a French car but with a British badge.

 

I reckon my next car might be a P6. Do they drive as nicely as I hope they do?

[Ghosty]

 

The day Trigger turned into Junkman

 

No you didn't, it's not a V8!

[danthecapriman]

That is just lovely, looks really nice in red.

I've only ever driven one of these once before, it was an auto V8 estate version and it was very comfortable, like driving around in a huge comfortable arm chair. One of those cars you could easily drive all day and get out feeling fresh and ache free.

 

Bonnet ornament needs dumping though!

[eddyramrod]

That does look nice.   A proper companion for your Triumph!

[trigger]

The first job once home was to bin off that Zodiac bonnet badge, holes!

 

 

There is a list of jobs but nothing major, namely an annoying exhaust manifold blow, the brake squeel as you stop, remove the rear window stop light and fit the new rear belts i've just ordered.

 

I've also made a start going though the folder of history! Back in the 00's it looked like this.

 

 

 

Before this in 2008.

 

 

It lived in the same village of East Bergholt for almost all it's life, first it was the butchers, then his wife when he died, then the village hairdresser bought it and restored it before he died and his wife then took over ownership and then the last owner bought it 18 months ago.

 

The first owner paid £1700 for it.

 

 

 

All the tax discs.

 

 

 

Big bill in 1982!

 

 

All mots back to 1976

 

 

 

This unused Williams tyres sticker must be late 70s, they are still there. I'm tempted to use it.

 

 

And lastly Angry Dicky would like this, the Little Chef map from 1984.

 

 

 

So there you have it, i bloody love this car already, i drove it home along the A12 at 70mph and it was smoother than cars 1/4 it's age, I'll probably be asking all kinds of stupid questions about it but i love it so far!

[Ghosty]

An address from 2014 might still be correct, might want to censor that sir!

[trigger]

I can't do that on my phone, Theres no number or bank details so its probably ok I'd thought?

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

CLASS. Early S2 2000SC, very nice. Very nice. 

 

That steering wheel is rare and desirable, btw. 

[plasticvandan]

Best car you've had Trigger! Keep it perlease,I want to read about it!

I was actually brought home from hospital in 1988 after being born in my dads BROWN 3500

 

Here's a pic from 2004 of my dads 76 2200TC, which cost £250 and was bought because no one could say no to a tax and tested p6 for £250!

Note my £120 Rialto in the background

[Spottedlaurel]

Excellent stuff, look forward to seeing it myself at some point soon.

 

Pleasing to see the local Botwoods history with it too.

[Lankytim]

That looks brill, such a nice colour too!

 

Feet off seats PLZ, the ticket collector should have an extendable baton to dissuade that sort of behavior.

[Timewaster]

Love it. Radio is a modern abomination though.

Like the Mona Lisa wearing headphones.

[Junkman]

 

That steering wheel is rare and desirable, btw. 

 

Indeed. Hence it's also a staple of Junkmanish P6es.

[HMC]

You've stumbled on a right gem there, the history, the colour combo, the number plate.

 

I agree with the girl at the petrol station- looks the biz! How does it compaire to drive against the mk3 cortina?

[Junkman]

Let me know if there is anything you need, Trigger, we are currently breaking the Haunted® Rover.

 

This goes for all P6 owners on this forum!

[trigger]

 

 

How does it compaire to drive against the mk3 cortina?

You just can't compare it, the Cortina is noisy, coarse, uncomfortable and quite cheap feeling, the Rover on the other hand is quiet, torquey, comfortable and has a air of quality about it, the Rover will sit at 70mph on the motorway and still feel composed and elegant, the Cortina isn't so much...!.

 

I'm honestly really impressed with the car, i can't believe how cheap they are compaired to the Cortina, this cost exactly half the amount that i sold for the Mk3 for yet it feels twice the car.

[dollywobbler]

That's a cracking buy. They are marvellous machines. You can properly chuck them around too. They just stick (tyres depending!) and gently roll a fair bit. I would love another, though both the ones I owned cost me a sodding fortune (a poor one is bad news!).

[RobT]

Flippin' lovely. Good choice too after all the searching you've done. No more Fords then?!

[trigger]

Never say never but my eyes have been opened now!

[wuvvum]

That's a cracking buy. They are marvellous machines. You can properly chuck them around too. They just stick (tyres depending!) and gently roll a fair bit. I would love another, though both the ones I owned cost me a sodding fortune (a poor one is bad news!).

This.  I pissed off some fairly serious kit on the local back roads when I had my 3500.

 

Superb buy Trig - you've made me want another one now.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

I love the P6. They are beautiful cars.

[Noel Tidybeard]

you need a series 2 xj6 now to pull off being the posh end of a BL dealer from the 70's/80's

[Jon]

It's funny how tastes change as you age, isn't it? I always liked these P6s but never wanted to own one - I'd have chosen your Cortina any day of the week. Now? I reckon I agree with you. A slightly ratty looking but solid one would suit me fine for bimbling about and I don't think that'd be too hard to find in NZ. Plus they're usually quite affordable too, like Triumph 2000/2500s. I'll add it to the imaginary list, then.

 

Since you're now officially an old fart, owning a Rover with a tow bar, I suppose you'll be getting a period caravan? 

[mercrocker]

What a lovely thing......I grew up in the back of P6s, really should get one I suppose.   All that paperwork, the short plate and the colour is bang on, too.

[RoadworkUK]

Wow, I turn my back for five minutes and Trigger buys a Rover.

 

An infeasibly lush one at that. Well bought old Son. I look forward to carrying out an inspection at Shotley.

[BorniteIdentity]

Get that on Felixstowe prom next year and my father will be licking it like a rabid dog.

 

Well done man.  Jealousy is an ugly trait, but I'm green at the moment.  Enjoy!

[alf892]

Lovely car......look right in that colour too. A proper gents car.

 

When I was at college these were scrap money and a few of the lads bought them as bangers - so pretty buggered but still impressive and capable of giving the posh kid's MGB a run for its money.