Performance Review: Rover P5 MkII/III - [1962]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Rover P5 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Rover P5 MkII/III is the 4 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1962. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1962 Chevrolet Corvette C1 327 V8 and the 1963 Ferrari 275 GTB 3.3 V12.This particular Rover P5 has a 2994cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 6 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St6's includes the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965

The P5 shares its Petrol St6 engine configuration with the likes of the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965 and the . If you're looking for other fast cars which share the P5's Rear Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1651 kgs (3639 lbs) this makes the Rover P5 MkII/III in the same weight category as the 2022 BMW Z4 M40i 3.0 Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Rover P5 shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp)

In terms of power the 2994cc 12V St6 engine produces 134 bhp (99 kW) @ 5000 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp) or the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (148 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St6 throws out 169 lb-ft (229.1 Nm) @ 1750 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (162 lb-ft) or the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (184 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Rover P5 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 1967 Triumph Spitfire Mk 3 (105.4 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Rover P5.

The Rover P5 has a Power to weight ratio of 81.1 bhp per ton and 102.3 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1962 P5 competing with the 1967 Triumph Spitfire Mk 3 (105.4 bhp per ton) or the 1972 Ford Thunderbird 460 7.5 V8 6th Gen (105.3 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Rover P5 generating around 102.3 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1976 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTi MK1 (127.1 lb-ft per ton) or the 1989 Audi 80 2.3 20v Quattro (127.0 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 15.00 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 15.5 secs, this made the Rover P5 MkII/III as fast as the 1979 Jeep CJ-5 Renegade 4.2L (15.00 secs) the 1978 Mercury Zephyr Z-7 Sports Coupe (15.10 secs) the 1977 Austin Allegro 2 Super De Luxe 1500 (15.20 secs) the or the 1958 Rover P5 Mk1/1A (16.00 secs). This Rover P5 MkII/III is also faster than the 1978 Mercury Zephyr Z-7 Sports Coupe (15.10 secs) the 1977 Austin Allegro 2 Super De Luxe 1500 (15.20 secs) the 1958 Rover P5 Mk1/1A (16.00 secs) the and the 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser 3.0 TD (16.40 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the P5 and the 1984 Saab 900 2.0 Turbo 16v S

When talking about the performance of the Rover P5 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 18.84 secs @ 72.6 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1984 Saab 900 2.0 Turbo 16v S (18.76 secs), the 1988 Toyota Supra 3.0 Turbo (18.77 secs), and the 2011 Skoda Octavia RS 2.0 Turbo (18.79 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1962 version of the Rover P5 MkII/III has a maximum speed of 111mph.

Top Speed of the 1962 P5 equals the 2005 Mazda MX5 1.8i (122 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1962 Rover P5 MkII/III then how about the 2005 Mazda MX5 1.8i (122 mph), the 1997 Ford Puma 1.7 16V (122 mph), or the 1985 Ford Escort Mk4 RS Turbo (122 mph).

Related Links:

1962 P5 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Rover

Car Comparison