A TREASURED icon of Solihull history made a pit stop in the borough to celebrate its 55th anniversary.
‘The Old Lady’ – a Rover P5B Coupe – rolled off the Lode Lane production line in April 1970 and was bought by local businessman Henry Plester.
From the Solihull dealership RH Collier in August of the same year, complete with a Solihull numberplate.
And to mark the occasion she paid a visit to Solihull Council where the Mayor, Councillor Annette Mackenzie, found out more about her history.
The P5B Coupe was designed by David Bache who was from Solihull and lived in Lady Byron Lane.
The 3.5litre saloon was the car of choice of high-ranking Government ministers and four Prime Ministers, including Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher.
Among the houses The Old Lady has been to are Chequers and Manor House in Castle Coombe where Lady Thatcher wrote her memoirs.
Over the years The Old Lady has enjoyed a much loved and cossetted life, winning over the people who have owned her, eventually coming into the possession of Rover car enthusiast Martin Robins who has also written a booklet to mark the 55th annversary.
