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Rover's advanced 'P6' 2000 saloon was always a little short on luggage space, so the Panelcraft-converted estates were a sensible enough idea. Around 160 were built between 1969 and 1975, mostly based on the more powerful V8-engined 3500 model and sold exclusively by two London-based Rover dealers who could carry out the £700 conversion on either a new P6 or your existing car. The Panelcraft estates were approved by Rover who agreed to honour original warranties.
The roof of the car - badged the Estoura - was made of aluminium to save weight, while the rear door utilised part of the original saloon boot-lid. The rear seats were thinner-backed than the originals, so that they could be folded to provide a flat loading space, and the fuel tank was moved under the floor for the same reason.
There was talk of a factory-built SD1-based estate and, in fact, two prototypes were produced: one for evaluation and one for BL chairman Michael Edwardes to use as his personal transport. The car never went into production, but both prototypes survive in museum collections.
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