Are you older than your P5,and is it in better knick?

[Deleted]

Just thinking.
My Rover is well over forty years old and as I have spent a lot of time on it its it pretty good order.As I've got older I've gone down the pan a bit,as 'Humphrey' my P5b has aged its got better. I'm now over the biblical three score years and ten,that as a kid seemed a million years away,and grovelling about under a car,like some other activities,takes longer or is harder,or both.
Are there any other owners out there in a similar position,or even any a bit longer in the tooth?. Do P5s attract older owners? If so,why do we push ourselves to perform gymnastics under an old rover yet resist other more sedentary activities around the house etc?.
As we get older we get wiser (so we are told) so has anyone found any devices or tricks that help ease the difficulties that our old joints cause when replacing the cars old joints etc?. I have found two lengths torn off a reel of brown wrapping paper laid under the car one on top of the other work far better than a crawler,you can pull your self along underneath sliding with ease and pulling the top sheet out afterwards you find all the nuts and washers that you forgot to put back on.

[enigmas]

Well I'm not quite 3 score and ten yet...but am heading there. I've owned my 1966 P5 MK3 Coupe for 26 years. I bought it as a very run down fixer-upper. And yes, it's actually improving in all respects as it ages...unlike me! But then I haven't had as much TLC as the coupe has had lavished upon it. Well looked after inanimate objects do win out in the longevity stakes!

[lagain]

I was 22 when I bought my lovely coupe, but that was 44 years ago
Years ago I would do things that probably did not need doing, such as changing shock absorbers when they did not need doing, but now I am not quite so enthusiastic about that sort of thing, but still spend hours cleaning the underside and keeping the car looking good.
Have in the past few years paid special attention to rattles and squeeks and have now got rid of most of them.

[nz]

My '64 P5 coupe is 13 years younger than me.  It's in not bad shape compared to me.  16 operations. Wounds that've required stitching...30.
But I still get under the car. I need to, as fettling 11 cars requires it.  All this talk of electric cars has made people a bit hesitant to buy some of my fleet.  Paul. NZ.

[Ken Nelson]

I have also passed the 3-score and 10 mark on the age-o-dometer and have owned my 1966 Rover P5 MkIIC Coupe for over 15 years now, restoring it from a rusted out hulk with a seized engine, parked in a farmer's field with raccoons living in it, up to a very presentable usable but non-concours car. Budget constraints have been a factor, along with the desire to perform most of the repairs myself, so I know it will never be absolutely perfect. I've welded in new inner and outer sill assemblies, patched the rust holes with new metal, replaced all 4 fenders with later rust-free ones, and rebuilt engine and transmission and most of the rotted interior. I have also slowed down on doing items that are "good enough" as is, but keep up regular maintenance. I rebuilt the speedometer, replaced and rewired voyage regulator, brake light switch, turn signal assembly, rebuilt fuel pumps, replaced rear springs and rubber mounts in back, rebuilt power steering box (yep, it still leaks, but I only fill it twice a summer now), and a few thousand other miscellaneous things. I finally was able to install a 4-post hydraulic lift in my garage to work on and store this car (plus 1957 MGA, 1950 MG-TD, and 1954 RILEY RME) and it has made working much more manageable, although not pain and fatigue free. Here's a before and after picture. I won't tell you which one is which.

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[Warwick]

Just over 4 months to go.

[richardlamsdale]

I'm 2 months older than my car, and we were 'born' within a few miles of each other, so I feel a strange affinity with the thing. I'd say I'm still in slightly better shape than the car (that's not bragging - you should see the car), but the balance is definitely shifting as I age and do more work on the car

[Deleted]

Seems there are quite a few in the same position as I find myself.
I promise this is true.
In early 1969 as a teenager I was in a mini when the driver decided to throw it in the middle of a field colliding with a tree on the way. The driver and passenger stayed in the wreck,I went out through the windscreen collecting the rear view mirror with my head on the way.
It was raining and I was bleeding heavily,we stood by the side of the road trying to flag down cars.(remember this was way before mobile phones) I was the only injured and there was a 'cottage hospital about four miles away.
One car stopped,but said he was going in the opposite direction!
More went past,in fairness we must have looked a sight and the car couldn't be seen.
Finally a grey Rover coupe with two elderly occupants stopped.I was bundled in and off we went. A surreal experience,the driver was the passengers gardener,travelling at what must have been over 90 they were having a conversation about roses,I remember being amazed at the calm inside this almost new car.
We arrived at the hospital,me barely awake (I was later transferred to another hospital for emergency surgery and sent back again for a long convalescence). The white upholstery was covered in blood and mud,I asked the passenger to leave his name and address so I could arrange to have the seats cleaned.He said he'd leave a note,he did,I was given it by the Matron some time after I returned,it simply said "Good lucK"
I promised myself Id have one of those Rovers one day. I didn't realise it would take such a long time but when I saw one some years back,the same colours outside and in,for sale via David Green I bought it.
Maybe that's why I still mess about with the old thing,or do all P5s attract a strange loyalty?

[johnwp5bcoupe]

Yes and yes

[stirlingmg]

Well I will be if I get the one I'm currently chasing but not by much

Condition wise remains to be seen, but I suspect it's got the upper hand

[Phil Nottingham]

Yes I am older than our P5 and P5B and in fact all our classics except the P2. We are all in about the same condition and have been patched up a few times and have patina.