1953 Rover P4 75 "Ivory"
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This was the second 1953 Rover P4 LHD export model that I had acquired in 2020 from Kent's collection in San Antonio, Texas. This P4 happens to be about 200 serial numbers earlier than my first 1953 and it still had the original drivetrain! I really appreciated being able to finally see a P4 in the States that was mostly original and it was located 3 hours away from me of all places!
Unlike the first P4, I was able to determine the complete ownership history of this car. There is a now-vintage Blue Cross sticker on the front windshield inscribed with "K.B. Phelps" of "609 Garin Ave" that turned up to be located in Hayward, CA as part the San Francisco Bay Area. A British Museum Heritage certificate confirms this Rover was manufactured on February 13, 1953 and imported to San Francisco. My guess is the first owner, Mr. Phelps, saw a local Rover dealer in San Francisco and bought the P4 there. Also working backwards from the title information, I was able to contact Tony who was the second owner and the owner prior to Kent who I bought the car from. I learned that Tony lives in Scottsdale, AZ and was the insurance agent and good friend of the first owner Mr. Phelps. Tony recalled that Mr. Phelps owned the car since new and moved to Dewey, AZ near Scottsdale. He stopped driving this Rover due to a brake leak. My guess is the leak occurred during the 1980s to 90s before the Internet and parts were hard to locate to maintain the car so it was laid up ever since. Mr. Phelps passed away in 1999 and Tony had bought the car from his widow in inoperative condition. Tony parked the car and did nothing to it since 1999 until its sale to Kent in 2014 basically in identical condition as when he bought it.
After completing the 1940 Buick 51 project at the end of 2023, I was able to move full speed ahead on a partial restoration of this P4 including reviving the engine, repainting the exterior and reupholstering the seats. I opted not to do a frame off restoration on this P4 because the frame and undercarriage was in decent original condition with the black frame paint still largely intact! I worked on this car on and off in 2 years with the total effort adding up to a span of a few months.
2019 09 - Initial condition2022 08 - Gethins shifter removal
2022 09 to 2024 09 - Mechanical repairs and test drive
2024 10 - Body repaint
2024 12 - Upholstery