Under 70k miles from new; few owners; never restored, just impeccably maintained and always garaged; advisory-free MOT; simply magnificent, the best we have seenFamously ‘The car that ran the country’, the Rover P5B was designed under the direction of the great David Bache and immediately became the establishment’s motor of choice when it was launched in September 1967.

With all the dignity of a Rolls-Royce but none of the ostentation, the P5B radiated sober authority in a uniquely British way.

The Queen was extremely fond of her own personal Arden Green Saloon, JGY 280, while Harold Wilson had a pipe rack specially installed in his ministerial car.Although production ended in June 1973, the Government Car Service were so wedded to the unique qualities of the P5B that they stockpiled a batch of the last Saloons made and ensured they remained in service with ministers and top brass army officers well into the 1980s.

In 1979 Margaret Thatcher became the last Prime Minister to be whisk...