UK Car Maker

The car that Margaret Thatcher rode in on the most important day of her of life will soon go up for grabs.

Later this month, Silverstone Auctions will sell the 1973 Rover P5 used to drive the Iron Lady to her first meeting with Queen Elizabeth back in 1976. Although it’s a gorgeous example of British engineering of the era, what really puts this commanding saloon over the top is its role in history.

The P5 made its debut in 1958 and basically looked the same for the entire 15 years it was in production. That’s not to say the car didn’t undergo some changes over that time. The 1973 edition, for example, was powered by a Buick-sourced 3.5-liter V-8, that was easily the most powerful in the nameplate’s history. This final version of the four-door was favored by high-ranking British government officials, and was used to ferry around four successive prime ministers—Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan and Thatcher. The P5 was so trusted, that the final batch to roll off the line in 1973 were bought by the UK government and put into storage so they could be released for use when needed. Before the late prime minister’s time in office was up, the executive car would be replaced by the Jaguar XJ as the government’s vehicle of choice.

Inside the Rover P5 

Silverstone Auctions

This particular example picked up Thatcher from Conservative Party headquarters on May 4, 1979, and drove her to Buckingham Palace where she accepted the queen’s invitation to form a new government. Like others of its kind, it was converted to government specification by Hoopers, and has an exterior finished in Ebony Black and a four-seat interior covered in Saddle Tan leather.
Thatcher’s P5 was retired shortly after its momentous drive to the palace and has been privately owned since 1980, according to the UK-based auction house. It has covered over 93,000 miles during its lifetime, but has been well maintained. Its paintwork was recently refreshed and its engine and gearbox rebuilt. The interior, though, is said to be in it its original “conservative” condition.

Silverstone Auctions

Silverstone expects the former government P5 to sell for between $43,000 and $55,000 when it goes up for bid on Saturday, August 27. That’s not bad for a vehicle bound to appeal to both car and history buffs alike.

TVR may have hoped that the T440R sports car would change the future of automotive design, but the company went out of business before that could happen.

Despite this unfortunate bit of timing, the British marque managed to build one example of the beautiful, futuristic sports car before going under. And now the one-of-a-kind coupé could be yours, via UK rare car dealer Auto Lounge.

The 2003 T440R was a homologated road car based on the British marque’s T400R race car which raced at Spa, Sebring and Le Mans in 2003, reports CarBuzz. The company built four cars in order to meet FIA homologation requirements. Three of those were Typhons, which were each fitted with a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter straight-six engine.

2003 TVR T440R 

Auto Lounge

Unlike those road cars, the T440R was powered by an even brawnier 4.2-liter straight-six, which featured a gas-flowed cylinder head, steel crankshaft, carbon-fiber airbox and bespoke exhaust headers. Mated to a five-speed manual transmission, it was so powerful that TVR felt the need to detune it. Even then, it was still capable of generating a very robust 440 hp, accelerating from zero to 60 in less than four seconds and hitting a top speed of 200 mph. Basically, it was a street-legal race car.

Inside the T440R 

Auto Lounge

Just as noteworthy, though, is the T440R’s flamboyant design. With a long extended nose, flowing lines and a sloping roofline, the vehicle looks similar to an Italian sports car from the 1970s rather than something built right after the turn of the millennium. Completing the retrofuturistic vibe are a handsome pair of inset headlights, mag-style wheels and integrated rear spoiler. This bold sensibility carries over to the interior, which has a space spaceship-style cockpit, two-tone leather seats and chrome accents everywhere the eye can see.

Auto Lounge

T440R remains one of the more interesting models from TVR’s long and winding history (the company was resurrected last decade, though we’re still waiting on a new vehicle). And one of the rarest, as well. Because of this, it’ll cost a fair amount to get your hands on the one-and-only example of the stylish speed machine. Despite having over 25,000 miles on the odometer, Auto Lounge currently has the car listed for £192,990, or about $264,000. True exclusivity comes at a price.