What Classic ?

[panhard65]

Yeap the rear brakes are a pain in the bum to do without a ramp and the special tool. The rest is pretty straight forward. I had loads of P6's about 20 years ago. I had at least one of every model. My personal preference was for a series one 2000TC. The earlier cars were pre BL and much better built, you would think that at over 30 years since they were built you wouldn't be able to tell but it was still noticeable. Avoid the auto's especially on the 2000 as the BW35 is not great. The later BW65 isn't much better and most common on the V8's. The 3500S is supposed to be the pick of the bunch but being a BL era car means they weren't very well put together new so god knows what they are like now. Parts were begining to become a problem back then as most things are P6 only on the steering and suspension. There was also problems getting the mild steel water jacket plates for the 4 cylinder cars. My memory of them was they drove really well with very good ride but I haven't driven one in nearly twenty years so that could be rose tinted specs. Driving this P5 now it isn't as good as the P6 which could just be this P5 is fucked.

[Steveb]

I had a 3500S-would wheelspin in 2nd on a dry road. Multi coloured as I swapped over rusty panels for good ones-all bolt on. Mine was a 1973 with PAS-think I bought it in about 1990-replaced it with a manual 3500 SD1-not as fast.
Brakes on P6 were no problem-I used to drop the rear driveshafts off the discs-easy and quick.

Heres the only photo I have of it-hidden behind my Interceptor.

[xtriple]

We had a P6 V8 (ex Madame Tousard no less, complete with correspondence) and it was a fantastic car. My wife (the petite blonde) loved driving it even though she had a brand spanking new Matiz that was an okay drive and easy to park etc. I swapped it for a sodding BMW 2800CS which was a pile of (very pretty) shite!

I had a 2500PI Triumph back in the late 70's as one of my first cars. I adored that car, when it started. It was a 'K' reg and so the earlier, more powerful engine which did suffer a bit from a reluctance to start when it was cold outside. It would bump in about ten feet with just me pushing it even though it wouldn't start from a fully charged battery. I never did get that sorted out, got bored and swapped it for something else...

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Chatting to a man earlier who has a customer with a 3500S he’s thinking about getting rid of, wasn’t sure how much he wants but will find out tomorrow. Apparently this bloke drives a Maestro van every day and he’s had the P6 “for years” I’m not going to hold my breath as it’s shiny and red with an SD1 5 speed and spare on the bootlid- all the things that make it potentially out of budget. But you never know.
The guy that told me about it, Tony, builds Yank engines for drag racers and is going to ask around to find out any classics or old heaps that might suit me.

[angrydicky]

I don't like the gearbox in the 3500S. Not a very nice change, feels older than it is and desperately needs a fifth gear or overdrive. Also they always seem to jump out of reverse unless you hold it in. A 5 speed conversion would probably transform it. Never driven an auto one.
The 3500S is not a quick car by modern standards. It goes ok and has a nice exhaust note but it's not quick.

[panhard65]

I was talking to a bloke today who has got one with the perkins diesel out of a LDV in it with manual gearbox. It has been sitting quite a while though as he lost interest in it once he got it on the road.

[Warren t claim]

My vote goes for the Triumph 2000/2500S. Just look out for rot and get one with overdrive.

[Warren t claim]

An outside choice could be something a little more modern like a 24v Senator?

[Eddie Honda]

/puts Panhard's beret on

How about some French tat like a Peugeot 604?

/takes Panhard's beret off

[NorfolkNWeigh]

An outside choice could be something a little more modern like a 24v Senator?

That’s a new car ! Also they all seem to have rotted like F Series Victors, but nobody noticed. I’d like a Carlton GSi , but even a rotted out 12v is almost £10k.

If I was to buy something from the 80s/90s it would probably be a W124,like that 300e on AS. Although there’s a couple of Mk3 Granada saloons about for 3 Grand which appeal.