Rover’s immediate post-war range was outdated; the P2 and P3 were carryovers from the pre-war range, and while the mechanicals were of use, the bodies were desperately antiquated. In contrast, inspiration for the P4 would come from Studebaker. Rover even used the body of an imported Champion to disguise a chassis on test, creating the well-known ‘Roverbaker’ mule.
The first Rover P4 was the 75 of 1949. Fitted with a single central fog lamp which gave it the nickname of ‘Cyclops’, the slender tail and sharper nose meant that it far more closely resembled the Studebakers from which it drew influence than later models. Proportionally, not only was it different to its predecessor, but to almost all other contemporary cars – a large boot, rear seats ahead of the back axle and a cab-forward layout were all new at the time, but became well established parts of the motoring landscape.
Just one engine was offered for the first four years, a 2.1-litre six-cylinder developing 75bhp and leading to the formal name Rover 75. All 75s were fitted with a freewheel clutch, enabling the disengagement of drive once at speed, or to maintain fuel when the propshaft was moving more slowly than the wheels. This would be a staple feature of the P4 range until 1959,
