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Rover 100 P4 - the long-lasting British auntie

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Created on March 20, 2019

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

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Bruno von Rotz

39

Archiv

24

Bruno von Rotz

39

Archiv

24

Rover 100 P4 (1959) - the rear-view mirrors mounted far forward are typical of the time

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - the four-door model is just over 1.6 meters high

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - the Rolls-Royce for well-off wage earners

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - the rear section was modified in 1954 to provide more luggage space

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - high waistline

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - counter-opening doors

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - stately saloon with a good appearance

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - the radiator grille was redesigned several times in the course of production between 1949 and 1964

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - cost more than an Opel Kapitän at the time

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - stocky and a little leggy

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - looks more compact than it is because of its height

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - the wheelbase is 2.62 meters

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - good access to the front and rear

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - right-hand drive

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - Seats almost like a front bench seat

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - typical English cockpit

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - Driver's perspective

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - no rev counter, but otherwise generously instrumented

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - with cane handbrake

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - even the gearshift is an engineering achievement

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - the Rover badge on the steering wheel

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - Speedometer up to 160 km/h

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - Displays for water temperature, amperage and tank level

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - everything well labeled

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - Radio from Motorola

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - patinated leather

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - in-line six-cylinder longitudinally mounted

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - a very special engine design - overhead intake valves, vertical exhaust valves

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - there are more attractive engine compartments

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - Chassis number

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - the overhead indicators were added in 1956

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - characteristic light arrangement

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - the Rover trademark

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - completely labeled on the bow

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - lettering on the flank

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - clearly labeled

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - chrome-plated wheel covers

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - Door locks

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Rover 100 P4 (1959) - narrow rear lights

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Rover P4 (1950) - contemporary advertising

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Rover (1950) - Advertising from the year 1950 -

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Rover 75 (1952) - new face and detailed improvements to the bodywork, with the gas turbine to the left

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Rover 60 Saloon (1956) - with four-cylinder engine

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Rover 75 (1953) - Front now without central headlights

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Rover 75 (1953) - now with stick shift instead of steering wheel shift

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Rover 75 (1953) - Dashboard

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Rover 60 (1953) - robust P4 chassis

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Rover 90 Saloon (1956) - one of the faster six-cylinder models

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Rover 75 (1954) - for the new model year with modified rear end

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Rover 90 Saloon (1956) - the body remained almost unchanged for many years

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Rover 90 Saloon (1954) - still up to date

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Rover 90 Saloon (1955) - the more powerful models had a six-cylinder engine

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Rover 105 (1956) - View into the engine compartment

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Rover 105 S (1957) - Advertisement from 1957

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Rover 90 Saloon (1956) - the different models were difficult to distinguish visually

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Rover 75 (1959) - perfect for the Landlord - Illustration from a sales brochure

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Rover 75 (1959) - stately and elegant - illustration from a sales brochure

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Rover 90 (1959) - Illustration from a sales brochure

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Rover 105 (1959) - equipped with high-speed gear - Illustration from a sales brochure

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Rover 75 (1959) - Interior of the Rover P4 - Illustration from a sales brochure

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Rover 75 (1950) - View of the chassis of the P4

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Rover P4 (1959) - the Rover model range

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Rover 100 (1959) - modernized version at the London Motor Show 1959

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Summary

The Rover P4 was called "Auntie" at the time, not because it was slow and talkative, but because it was reliable and likeable. Carefully designed, it was built for 15 years and became one of the most successful post-war cars in Europe. To this day, the Rover P4 has not lost its appeal as a vehicle, as this driving report with a Rover 100 proves. Many pictures, a sales brochure and a sound sample complete the article.

This article contains the following chapters

Almost a new design
Modern pontoon shape
Balanced
Gradual improvement
Nickname "Auntie"
The Rover 100
Almost like an SUV?
Another five years
Further information

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Development began shortly after the war; the Rover P4 was presented at the end of 1949 and built until 1964, laying the foundations for the post-war success of the traditional Rover brand. The words could hardly have been more apt than those used by the Automobil Revue on the occasion of the launch at the end of 1949: "The new Rover "75" is currently only being produced in a single version as a 5/6-seater saloon in the interests of rationalizing production as far as possible. With its modern pontoon shape, but not in the care taken in production and the use of selected raw materials, this represents a complete departure from the previous tradition of the Rover factories. The Rover "75", like the earlier models of this brand, is aimed at lovers of high-quality, medium-sized cars with the highest level of driving comfort and above-average finish."

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