Can I Get This Abandoned 1970 Rover P6 Running And Drive It Out Of This Hedge? 

I hope you enjoy the episode I'm in love with the car! Spitfire episode is well underway too coming to your screens soon 💪🏼

Ah, this is my Friday evening sorted !! Feet up, couple of beers 🍻 couple of nice whiskys, and over two hours of Tasty Classics whilst my other half watches 'Married at first sight' or some other total SHITE.! Happy days 😊👍

PLEASE don't ignore this. At time 1:31:04 you can see the rear suspension trailing arm bolt which secures the de dion tube and elbow to the rear trailing arm. These cars rust badly here, and if the metal around that bolt fails, there is nothing holding the rear trailing arm off the road, the suspension will collapse explosively, and the rear axle, which is not fixed in place can swing and potentially steer the car into oncoming traffic. Meanwhile the spring tension is explosively unloaded, and the trailing arm will hit the road. This does not lead to a good outcome. This rusts from the inside our, so needs dismantling to check, as it doesn't always show up on mot tests. Also take the sill covers off as these are only decorative. The sill is hidden underneath, and can hide a multitude of sins (rust). Not trying to be a doom monger, but the rear suspension failure in particular can lead to a head on collision. Please check it carefully by dismantling it..

Hi Ben, that looks good to say it's spent 10 years exposed to the UK weather. All P6s are notorious for hidden rot, they can seriously rot out just about everywhere once water finds a route in ! The rusty key and signs of mildew inside suggest water and damp have already been getting in, so give the base unit a very thorough inspection as the 19 bolt on outer panels can hide a seriously corroded base unit. I've owned dozens, of them, and worked on even more since the 70s. That "grenade pin" is the release to allow the badge to twist off the boot lid. That car has the valuable Continental Touring Kit. It allows the spare wheel to be carried on the boot lid. There will be a round alloy spacer and a long fixing bolt with a big gear cog like shape to turn. They hold the wheel clear of the boot lid paint when fitted, with the outer wheel face to the boot. You should also have a fitted vinyl tonneau cover for the wheel, to stop chemicals washing off it and marking the paint. Make sure the rubber gaskets are intact between the badge / wheel mount and body or water will leak in. All the bits fit onto the wheel bracket in the boot when the wheel is kept in there. That mount can be loosened with the wheelbrace and folded behind the boot side trim when not in use. It should be fitted with a prop rod and an early P6 type outer door handle above the boot lock to aid lifting with the wheel mounted on it. That spring-loaded pin also locates in a slot in the mounting bolt when fully tightened, to stop the wheel from being stolen. Best to keep the badge safe in the car as they just twist into the cog like mounting bolt. They are rare to find now if it goes missing.

Ben , you MUST get that engine sorted out , the lack of rust on the underbody is astounding , you have a beautiful unmolested example there , it's just beautiful , you lucky boy

New to channel, its the English version of Vice Grip Garage!

If you can get hold of that silver MG, bite his hand off, it's a MGB GT LE. It's one of the run out models when Abingdon was closed (worth a fortune)

Alright who summoned me my Rover friends have been telling me to watch this all day! If you need any parts for the P6 give me a bell I have far to much LOL As for needing leaded petrol this is totally untrue the head is ally on the P6 and is not effected like an iron head engine I have ran many for years with no problems.

P6 so many memories Gladly spent 2 and a quarter hours watching a rescue legend You sir are brilliant 👏

I had exactly the same problem with low compression on one cylinder on a 1970 Toyota Crown. 75PSI. Was at the stage you are now. I then checked the cylinder at TDC with Compressed Air. I could hear the air coming from the sump. As a last chance, I purchased a reputable stuck ring additive. Poured some down the cylinder and let it sit overnight soaking. Rest in the Oil. Immediate improvement next day of 10 PSI. Drove it around for a week. Cylinder is now 120PSI similar to the other 5.

That car is like Christine, and has a mind of its own. From fixing itself, starting for you when you ask it to, to closing its own bonnet, all the signs are there!

Love the P6. The bracket under the boot lid is to enable the support of the spare wheel on top of the boot lid when you remove the Rover badge on the centre of the boot lid.

TC stands for Tasty Classics!

My brother had one these about 30 years ago and we had the same problem same cylinder. We dropped the exhaust off the manifold, took the engine mount bolts off. Then er jacked the engine up, removed the sump and conrod cap then pulled the piston out changed the rings and reassembled it all. We were skint back then but our uncl bought the car off him eventually and he still has it running today!! Just a thought

Oh you hero, thats the car that got me into cars......the first car my Dad had that i really remember was a blue 3500s with black leather and full lengh webasto roof. I still miss that car.

I've just watched this whole video with a smile on my face. My dad loved his P6s, we had the 2200. I can still remember the smell, they were so different to our usual Volvos (144 and 244). He sold his second P6 to a local mechanic who parked it down the side of his workshop along with other cars. I can still see it parked there 30 years later when I pass through my home town on the train as the workshop is just beside the station, looks good from a distance...though I doubt it looks so good close up.

Getting hold of the MG Maestro would be amazing, especially if its an early 1.6 version, very rare

Bloody brilliant. My mum's second marriage in the 70's and her wedding car was a p6 with a green tinted glass roof. Then my mate restored two 3500 p6's to use as his wedding cars in circa 1990. I've always been so fond of the p6. But my dream car is the p5b coupe.

I fell in love with these many many years ago. I was on a petrol station forecourt filling my Super Sports bike, and I heard a loud burbling noise. Suddenly this stunning concourse condition Rover V8 comes growling along the side of me, I fell in love with that sound.

If you want spares for a old rover P6 , Try getting in contact with Sheldon from his RU-vid channel Classic Britain. He knows lot’s about rovers and knows people that stock rare Rover parts. Enjoyed the video, do hope you solve the problems . It looks a very tidy car . 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

The colour is BMC Luna Grey 👍 great episode Ben, i love rovers and the P6 is beautiful 👌 maybe an SD1 soon eh 👍

This rover is a car with character. I like it. Starting almost immediately, fixing itself, just a bit stubborn. Unleaded petrol really is a valve killer. My old Datsun 1400 also had leaky valves because the unleaded petrol eats away at the valve's then it doesn't seal anymore. Mines problem was the valves leak while the car is turned off and then the moment it starts it smokes and fouls up the spark plugs then it runs like garbage. For stuck piston rings the best solution I had was to throw a bit of Automatic transmission oil in the cylinder and let it sit. Then you just drive it. Usually that unstucks a piston ring.

Hi Ben, I was brought up in Nantwich, and had a Rover 2000 SC in 1979- 1981. I was managing The Studio night club and this was the slowest car I have ever driven . All the best, love your stuff .

I had a 1974 P6 3500, white with vinyl roof. loved that car, just wish I still had it. very good and relaxing to drive, engine run so good and the exhaust note was to die for,

JR Wadams are Rover p6 speciasts for parts. I restored a 2200 sc 1975 and I love it. Hope you save this and get it running as it should do. Cheers Rob

Discovered this channel recently, absolutely love it! You have a great personality and it’s so relatable and interesting. Well done.

Love a bit of Tasty Classics digging on a Friday, becoming a bit of a trend 😂

2000 TC sticker under the bonnet is because it's the Tasty Classics version! 😅

If you struggle to get that pipe just use some 15mm copper plumbing pipe does just as well and much cheaper, looks a well cared for example worth saving . Looking forward to seeing engine being rebuilt keep them coming .

OMG, those rotating quarter lights - a blast from my childhood. My dad had a 1950s Ford Zephyr, then a 1962 Ford Zodiac, followed by a Cresta PB estate. All had quarter lights with awesome rotating engineering - a lost art form

Just LOVE these feature length episodes. Absolute treasure of a find, so clean and solid, and those quarter lights 😮 mind blown!

What a great collection of Rover/MGs and also: Love the P6, one of my all time favourites - can't wait to see what happens next. If/when it goes up for sale; please let us all know I suspect you'll have a lot of takers :)

I love the dash on these, I sat in a neighbours one in the 1970's and it seemed like a spaceship.

"It wants to live.... We will get you out the hedge". Loved this bit, just beautiful.

The hero of this one is clearly the P6's engine; it knew it was dying but gave it's all anyway so the rest of it can live.

They are a great car i have two of them 😄👍👍. 2000 single carburettor i think the colour is Luna grey.

For a minute, I didn't think we'd get back to the workshop 😂 glad she did though!

I burnt number 3 exhaust valve seat out on my MK1 1600 transit campervan, running it on unleaded petrol many years ago. Luckily I found a scrap mk2 escort 1300 at the scrappy and used the head off it. Ford fitted the 1300 head on the 1600 transit. I assume to stop builders from blowing the engine up with 5 tons of sand loaded and running it flat out. It sounded and ran very much like your Rover. It did have a broken top ring on cylinder 3, when I first purchased it, and it ran well, underpowered and blew/burnt oil. So on that basis, I diagnose your Rover as suspect valve seat or damaged valve/ tight valve gap. Keep up the good work

Brings back so many memories working on my dads p6 in the 70’s,remember holding onto a rope underneath car while rear wheels were on ramps and having to pull rope when my dad told me💭🚘🧓😊 so nostalgic,thanks for the video.Perfect Sunday morning viewing👍🏻

I love the way she closed her bonnet for you automatically. She wanted to get going 😁

What a collection in that garden 2 MG,s 2 golf and a Rover P6 ❤

My dad had one of these in a chocolate brown colour. Gorgeous car!. I would do the simple stuff first to see if it helps. Valve clearances, what my dad called "tappets" and ignition timing. Can't hurt to make sure those are right as they will help it run as best as it can. Also that back box that isn't a box any more... All engines need the right amount of back pressure so it being completely open like that may not be helping either. These things may not be the total answer, but every incremental change helps.

I thought that camera showed a broken piston, as you could see the top ring. It needs the head taking off, and changing for one with an intact cam bearing cap. If you just replaced the cap, it would need to be line bored, as they are all different. Hope you can get a donor engine.

The 'grenade thing' on the boot lid is a mounting point for the spare wheel!

Enjoyed the video! Rover nut myself! Just a note on the compression test video, the cylinder head is flat, and the compression chamber is in the piston itself, so by putting oil down the bores could simply fill the piston bowls up without even touching the sides, which would still raise the compression. It would be worth checking the valve gaps - these engines are known for burning the odd valve but if you catch it in time you might *just* have to re gap the valves... I say 'just', they're bucket and shim, an absolute pain to change, the camshaft has to come out to change them while keeping the head torqued, and you can't then recheck the gaps until the cam is back in and torqued.

I truly wish we had got these cars here in Canada, there's just something about this one that I absolutely love. And to answer your question, we have no brambles here lol. At least in my part of the country anyway.

Could you let it " Chew on some Barium " ? As Derek says . 😂

Hubnut has his wipers, tasty classics has his quarter lights

Just stumbled across your video. Omg, I was amazed that you got it out.well done. As a P6 owner since 1985, my first car and my great grandfather before me, he had it from new. Mine still sits under its cover in front drive. Awaiting sometime to get it back on the road. The fuel pump has a lever under it to self prime it to save battery life. And it sounds like it needs all the ignition system changing. They eat points and condensers so much I always keep a box of spares in boot. The 4 holes in boot lid I would say is from a metal AA badge as my grandad had one on the grill . And I also bought a full set of every rubber hose after one let go on a run once. JUST DONT JACK IT UP ON THE DE-DEON TUBE UNDER REAR, IT WILL BREAK. Also carb WILL be gunked up with varnish and crap , I used to clean it with brake fluid and leave slight lube on it. And put ATF fluid in the damper in carb damper. If you need any tech INFO, get in touch, as I have an original 3in thick workshop manual. Next to my Saab 95 aero, it has to be the most comfortable car to drive, but not park in a tight space. Cheers for some motivation now summer is hopefully on its way 😊

Sweet Jesus. When that engine fired up instantly. P6s have a very strong will to live. I was lucky enough to run a 2000TC in the eighties. I absolutely adored it, one of the best cars I ever owned. Massively underrated and brilliantly engineered. Thoroughly enjoying this. By the way, I always thought the single carb model had the strip speedometer, not the gorgeous dash this one has.

Thanks

First omg it's over 2 hours now I'm in heaven 2nd it's a p6. 3rd it's Ben the legend so I'm gonna sit.back feet up and.Have a great night of tv omg it's a starter

Well gel Ben, two magnificent Rovers you have there , even though they are great! the P5B Coupe is my fave!.

Good Evening Ben. I hope that you are well. What a Great barn find this was. I was so pleased to see You and your new Friend, tackle the Huge Job of getting her out of the Muddy Quogmire and while it was raining rather hard. You never gave up, You kept going and your very well earnt Reward was this Beautiful British Classic Rover P6 2000. I really Enjoy this Amasing video. Not much needed to be done to her. Engine sorting out, and a Thoroughly Good and all through Service to get up Fully Road Worthy. When is Finished and looking absolutely Stunning. She will a Superb vehicle to own and really Enjoy her Beauty. Very, very Well Done to You Ben.

It's herbie p6 style can't think of a different specific name for her as I'm sitting watching this having a couple of whiskeys 😂

I’ve got a tip for you don’t bend down anywhere near the front side lights. I did once to pick up something I had dropped and misjudged how far I was away from the side light I ended up with hole in my trousers and a hole in my arse cheek

Just to say that was the best 2 hours tv ever. What a video I thought have we another Christine the headlight fixed itself, the bonnet closed itself and it sounded just like Christine when it would drive back to the storage place all beat up. I'd call it Christine dare ya, know it's not the last we see of Christine cant wait for next update, she keeps on knocking but she can't come in. Cracking song

I aways loved the P6, my dad had the 2000 like yours, later he got the 3500 V8. Lovely cars! Bought back some happy childhood memories watch you video 👍

I think you’re much better than VGG!

If I had £1 for every mistake, bad idea and self defeating action in this video, I'd 'be a rich man!

My absolutely ancient aunt had a P6. Gorgeous big things, from when Rover was good

It has all the sympoms of a tight tappet on that no3 cyl. Common problem on car not equipt for unleaded. Happens to vehicles on lpg. Worth check the clearances. Love your content.

Ben id love to come polish the rover for you let me know if interested I am a detailer for the record all free of charge of course as a thanks for great content

Stop using Ethanol, Problem solve + more MPG..

Sorry for being happy about all the work on the engine, but this was so much fun to watch and educational ❤🎉

Brilliant episode mate, love the way you show everything, and the videos are long. So many channels edit, edit and edit and miss much out, but keep them as they are mate, looking forward to see what happens. Thank you.

*sigh* guess ill be on the toilet for 2 hours straight then..

I had a 1974 P6 V8 in 1976 tobacco brown with contnetal kit it was my favourite car ever, although boot mounting the spare makes for problems, so watch your fingers, i made the mistake a few yrs later and got the V8 SDI and totaly regretted it, going from leather and wood to plastic kinda took the class out of it. I miss the P6 so much.

Ben, I'm so glad to see you doing another Rover. Those awesome English beasts deserve your care. I'd love a P6..... Especially one put back together by you

We need a tasty classics/furious driving P6 collaboration before this series is finished

Ex autoglazier here, opening "Quarter lights" as you call them are called "Vents" in the trade. Quarter lights are fixed closed glass such as the fixed glass on estates and hatchbacks beyond the C pillar. Any small glass that opens on the door is a vent.

Ben thanks mate. What a stunning car and I love the colour. The P6 was our British ,Citroën DS wasn't it. So advanced for the time. Just a cut above. Really looking forward to the next episode. Cheers

Yes best car content on the tubes. It gets so boring seeing a big engine stuffed into a rotten deathtrap. Great to see a p6. Now your the gaffer(80s tv refrence)

A brill video of another excellent British classic :0) look forward to its completion.

Another brilliant video, cheered when it finally made it onto that concrete plinth under the car port ! 😂 On the subject of the boot lid, the heavy bracing on the under side with the central fixing is probably there to strengthen the panel because there was an option to fit a spare wheel mount in place of the badge so your spare wheel would fit on top of the outside of the bootlid (like an old series land rover in reverse!), this was to give extra space in the boot. The holes on the bootlid on the right are probably for an SC badge. The holes on the left were possibly for big chrome GB letters. Don't know whether these were an option when new but have seen a few P6 rovers with GB badges there. What a cracking collection of cars though, nice MGBGT LE too. Looking forward to updates on the P6 progress. All the best.

The single most impressive thing I saw here 'was indeed' that astonishing quarterlite action, i fully intend to have a bloody good dream about it later...thanks for sharing this roverglory truly...😏

What a joy to see you get it past the post without hitting either of the MG's, absolute magic. But,wait a minute, what's that Sunbeam Talbot doing there, are you teasing me ? One of those, was nearly my first ever car.

Ace that P6 also love the MG Maestro too looks like an early one

At a past job, I found a first aid handbook from the 70's. It said if you come across a lady in labour, find another lady to help, preferably a mother! Great advice!

Definitely Lunar Grey. Looks very solid in fairness. Well worth saving.

Oh my god when the P6 slowly edged away into the garage I was an emotional wreck 😭 then tapped the screen and realised I still had an hour and twenty minutes left! This is what I'm here for! Hours and hours of top quality tinkering

Great cars! I had a 1965 series 1, loved it. Not the most refined engines but lovely cars overall.

I'm sure you are one of the best in the car restoration RU-vid videos waiting for another Mercedes 👌

Great episode Ben! Love a P6. Unusual colour too, what a find! Looking forward to future updates on this old bus. Nice find.

Loving the old cars.❤ a road trip in all the motors would be great. Hopefully you'll get a hillman imp one day. Keep up the good work.

Hi Ben. Just a point on the compression check. The values are meaningless unless you hold the throttle wide open allowing air to fill the cylinders as you crank the engine over. This is especially the case on old engines like this with side-draught carbs (like the SU) where there's a piston within the carb which lifts based on the vacuum the engine is pulling in...obviously there's not a lot of vacuum in just turning the engine on the starter. If you want true values and an even test between cylinders in this particular case you're best off just removing the carb altogether. The ~110psi you're measuring is more likely ~170psi in reality; you're just choking the cylinders of air without removing the restriction of the carb's throttle and piston. Typically, on these SU-based engines you're just looking for the values to be roughly even, the absolute values don't matter...if you're doing it the quick way as you have here. Cheers...have fun with it.

Bliss, finish work at our shop on Saturday, home to whisky and spag bol and two hours of watching Ben get covered in mud and play with this lovely car. What's not to love. Sod of a collection though, all credit to you Ben.

So here in Australia i had a 67 model in the 90s. In Australia the single carb only came in auto. The manual version had the twin carb. I swaped my motor with a twin carb as my motor was too tired. Ahhh the memories...

I discovered Tasty Classics a in March and its brilliant - I subscribed straight away. I have been watching all the old episodes and they are great. Thanks for the awesome content. I don't know how you stay calm when things go wrong. Looking forward to watching ALL you forthcoming episodes.

Handy thing about those cars is that every panel just bolt on so easy to change.

Can’t believe the effort you went to to save this old car but glad you did. Like many of the other post you really ought to thoroughly check the skeleton of the car before doing any more trips, especially towing the P4! Get the rear seat base up and check all the rear suspension mounts Ben. Great entertainment as always, ignore the negative comments about the length of your vids, keep them coming!

Ben . It is Lunar Grey , in spite of the fact it's Green !!! The holes in the boot lid should not be there . However the badge in the middle of the boot lid is a cover for the spare wheel. So the spare bolts there which gives more boot space , fof holiday luggage . The engine bay should be satin black . Unfortunately that engine will need stripping . Finally , you should note the comments about the de dion rear axle and what lies behind those sills !!!!

Love these old Rovers with their smoking quarter lights

Top Tip .. A Jet Washer 'Patio cleaner' turned upsidedown under the car gets rid of our UK winter road salt ..

The Rover P6 is a lovely car. Well done for finding this.

Brillant video I knew you would get it out of that garden it deffo wanted to go home with you

That was the funniest thing. Your trainers by the end of the extraction were making my teeth itch. But your 'dirty' comment is still making me laugh, I've not heard that before. Won't spoil it for anyone that hasn't watched through yet. Just brilliant.

Hi Ben. I had several P6's back in the day and I can see that's not the original engine. TC's had the round dash gagues like yours and the SC's had the horizontal ribbon speedo. Also check the valve gaps before stripping the engine down as these can go tight. They adjust with shims which involves removing the cam shaft which is held in by the head bolts. Good luck 👍

My "running restoration" 2200 TC did about 500 miles this week. Yes it's Lunar Grey. August 1972 - October 1975

You are very fortunate to find a P6 with such good body work, normally they rot. It's a pity about the engine, hopefully you can work your magic.