STILL ON TREND
The P4 might have been familiar to Sixties motorists but being the subject of continuous development, it’s easy to see why it remained a competent, consummate favourite for so long
This year marks the 70th anniversary of Rover’s P4, the significance of which is clear when you consider that scant few of its contemporaries were quite as long-lived.
One of the first all-new cars produced after World War Two, it was still being manufactured when the Ford Mustang and Porsche 911 found themselves creating motor show column inches. There was even a period when it shared showroom space with the saloon intended to replace it – the P6.
That sort of longevity isn’t achieved by chance. The P4 enjoyed a production life of 14 years because Rover treated its luxurious medium-sized saloon to an annual programme of improvements, such as larger, more efficient engines, hydraulic and then servo-assisted disc front brakes, freewheel transmission giving way to overdrive gearboxes, the list goes on.
It’s easy to be fooled by looks that remained largely unchanged, but the timeless P4 is a far more forward-thinking saloon under the skin than its conservative image suggests.
While 1949 is important from an anniversary perspective, 1959 was arguably the P4’s biggest year; one that saw unprecedented rationalisation. The range had ballooned to include four distinct models – the 60, 75, 90 and 105 – by 1956 and overseas agents in particular were increasingly struggling to stock sufficient spares for each. Thus options were reduced to the six-cylinder 100, and four-pot 80 – the car here.
Visually similar to the Rover 60, the 80 breaks convention as the only P4 with pushrodoperated overhead valves. Other P4s (in addition to the P5; the 100’s engine being a short-stroke version of the 3-Litre) have an overhead-inlet, side-exhaust valve layout.
With a 0-60mph time appreciably over 20 seconds, it’s fair to say that acceleration isn’t sparkling, although that’s not to say that it’s disappointing. Indeed, the driver can delight in a power delivery with smoothness mirroring that of any six-cylinder engine.
Take-off is accompanied by plenty of first gear axle whine, as expected, though the Rover 80 is far more flexible than anticipated. The engine is capable of pulling from low revs, though attempting to do so with large dollops of throttle causes mechanical harshness to creep in. To get the most from this engine, you need to move between ratios regularly.
The ornate, multi-jointed gear lever isn’t just to be admired – its primary purpose is to allow a third person to sit up front (although this car was specified with optional individual seats). The distance between the driver’s hand and the gearbox, in addition to multiple flexible mountings in between, means that there’s a sponginess to the action. It’s light, easy to use, and positions for each ratio are nicely spaced, but changes cannot be hurried.
The Laycock de Normanville overdrive is worthy of praise; working on top, it essentially serves as a fifth gear and allows for effortless cruising up to 70mph, the engine spinning at just over 3000rpm. What’s more, there’s a clever ‘ kickdown’ switch; engaged by fully depressing the throttle pedal, it momentarily disengages overdrive. Lift off and overdrive re- engages. For overtakes in particular, it’s quite an invaluable feature.
Steering, courtesy of a Burman recirculating ball system, exhibits a degree of play at deadcentre, but is exemplary in all other regards, being both positive and precise. Although light in operation, the play doesn’t translate into a sawing at the wheel to maintain a course. In fact, this P4 feels very stable on the straights.
While the earliest P4s are known for being softly sprung, the 80 is firmer by comparison, though this can very much be appreciated as an improvement. There’s minimal roll when asked to corner hard, nor does the axle lift or hop over poor surfaces. It all feels remarkably planted.
Our car, then, being one of the last fourcylinder P4s built, serves to demonstrate just what an accomplished feat of design this Rover represents, seven decades on from when the first examples began to roll off the production lines at Solihull – while simultaneously displaying the dedication of its manufacturer to ensure that it remained relevant in an everchanging world.