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Details
ex-Sobieslaw Zasada, ex-Anne Hall,
1965 ROVER P6 RALLY CAR
Registration No. JXC 8C
Chassis No. 40025095
Engine No. TBA
White with black bonnet and red interior.
Engine: four cylinders in line, overhead cam, 1,978cc, 90bhp; Gearbox: four speed manual, all sychromesh; Brakes: Dunlop discs all round; Suspension: de Dion axle to rear, independent coil springs to front. Right hand drive.
In October 1963 Rover introduced the successor to the long-running P4. Cloaked in futuristic (and slightly Gallic) aesthetics, the new model was voted Car of the Year, and was lauded for being one of the safest cars ever produced. It used an innovative unitary base unit to which unstressed body panels were bolted, and was propelled by a 90bhp two litre engine to give quite reasonable performance.
From 1964 through to 1966, Rover ran a team of P6s in various groups on the international rally circuit. For this latter year they decided to enter Group 1, where cars were raced in "showroom" technical specification, in order to publicise the standard cars' abilities. For drivers Anne Hall, Logan Morrion, Geoff Mabbs and future European Rally Champion Sobieslaw Zasadahe, first event of the season was the Monte Carlo Rally. The race would become infamous for the disqualification upon a technicality of the first four cars (three Minis and a Lotus Cortina) and the dubious handing of the crown to the Citroën team. Several teams including Rover boycotted the rest of the season in protest.
Before this furore JXC 8C was running well but then suffered frontal damage on collision with a rock face; a further crash on the final Mountain Circuit reduced the final placing to 22nd. The rest of the season having been called off, the car returned to the factory and was subsequently used for the development of the 2200TC drive train, as well as other developments such as the Hollandia electric sunroof.
In 1978 it was bought by former works driver Anne Hall who ran the car for six years. By the time it passed to the vendor in 1988, however, much of the original shell had "decayed to rusty red lace in places" and was beyond repair. A new corrosion-free shell was sourced from the U.S., and the various rally-orientated body modifications cut from the old shell and welded into the new. These included the reinforcements to the rear suspension, the reinforcement and rounding of the leading boot edge, and the skid plate on the rear jacking point. Front and rear suspension, back axle, drivetrain and gearbox were all transferred, and original-style seats sourced and fitted. Another restoration project gave up its rally-spec heated windscreen.
With thorough research, the vendor has sought to replicate as closely as possible the original specification in which the Rover competed, even to the extent of deciding not to fit a roll cage since these were not used at the time. This was a difficult decision to take, since it prevented the car from entering the Historic Rally Series for which it had originally been intended.
Though an obvious disappointment, non-competition has meant that the car has been very well kept since the restoration was completed, and has covered a mere 3,000-or-so miles. It has been kept in a dry barn during this time, and has been run regularly. We are informed that it will be driven to the sale with a new MoT, and will be accompanied by a full log of the restoration along with bills and photos of the work.
JXC 8C is a rare part of Rover and rally history, and an inexpensive yet genuine basis for entry into many historic events.
1965 ROVER P6 RALLY CAR
Registration No. JXC 8C
Chassis No. 40025095
Engine No. TBA
White with black bonnet and red interior.
Engine: four cylinders in line, overhead cam, 1,978cc, 90bhp; Gearbox: four speed manual, all sychromesh; Brakes: Dunlop discs all round; Suspension: de Dion axle to rear, independent coil springs to front. Right hand drive.
In October 1963 Rover introduced the successor to the long-running P4. Cloaked in futuristic (and slightly Gallic) aesthetics, the new model was voted Car of the Year, and was lauded for being one of the safest cars ever produced. It used an innovative unitary base unit to which unstressed body panels were bolted, and was propelled by a 90bhp two litre engine to give quite reasonable performance.
From 1964 through to 1966, Rover ran a team of P6s in various groups on the international rally circuit. For this latter year they decided to enter Group 1, where cars were raced in "showroom" technical specification, in order to publicise the standard cars' abilities. For drivers Anne Hall, Logan Morrion, Geoff Mabbs and future European Rally Champion Sobieslaw Zasadahe, first event of the season was the Monte Carlo Rally. The race would become infamous for the disqualification upon a technicality of the first four cars (three Minis and a Lotus Cortina) and the dubious handing of the crown to the Citroën team. Several teams including Rover boycotted the rest of the season in protest.
Before this furore JXC 8C was running well but then suffered frontal damage on collision with a rock face; a further crash on the final Mountain Circuit reduced the final placing to 22nd. The rest of the season having been called off, the car returned to the factory and was subsequently used for the development of the 2200TC drive train, as well as other developments such as the Hollandia electric sunroof.
In 1978 it was bought by former works driver Anne Hall who ran the car for six years. By the time it passed to the vendor in 1988, however, much of the original shell had "decayed to rusty red lace in places" and was beyond repair. A new corrosion-free shell was sourced from the U.S., and the various rally-orientated body modifications cut from the old shell and welded into the new. These included the reinforcements to the rear suspension, the reinforcement and rounding of the leading boot edge, and the skid plate on the rear jacking point. Front and rear suspension, back axle, drivetrain and gearbox were all transferred, and original-style seats sourced and fitted. Another restoration project gave up its rally-spec heated windscreen.
With thorough research, the vendor has sought to replicate as closely as possible the original specification in which the Rover competed, even to the extent of deciding not to fit a roll cage since these were not used at the time. This was a difficult decision to take, since it prevented the car from entering the Historic Rally Series for which it had originally been intended.
Though an obvious disappointment, non-competition has meant that the car has been very well kept since the restoration was completed, and has covered a mere 3,000-or-so miles. It has been kept in a dry barn during this time, and has been run regularly. We are informed that it will be driven to the sale with a new MoT, and will be accompanied by a full log of the restoration along with bills and photos of the work.
JXC 8C is a rare part of Rover and rally history, and an inexpensive yet genuine basis for entry into many historic events.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.