Rover P4 timeline

1949

P4 debuts as the Rover 75, with 2.1-litre six-cylinder engine carried over from outgoing P3.

1952

Restyle sees 75’s ‘Cyclops’ headlamp go, replaced by rectangular grille.

1953

Rover 75 is joined by larger displacement 2.6-litre 90 (relating to brake horse power). In addition, a budget P4 is released in the form of the Rover 60, its four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine derived from the Land Rover Series 1.

1954

Five years into production, a facelift includes a wraparound threepiece rear window, vertical rear lights and raised bootline. 75 engine also expands to 2.2 litres the next year.

1956

Based on the 90, twin-carb Rover 105 debuts, available in ‘S’ (overdrive, twin fog lamps, servo brakes) and ‘R’ (complex twospeed automatic gearbox) guises.

1959

Big changes. 75, 90 and 105 (badged without associated letter – the ‘R’ was dropped in ’58) are collectively replaced by singlecarb seven-bearing engined 100, while the 60 is replaced by the 80 – the car featured here.

1962

In its twilight years there are still changes; 80 and 100 replaced by 95 and 110 – both sixcylinder cars (latter with overdrive, former without).

1963

Celebrated Rover 2000 P6, recipient of inaugural Car of the Year Award, arrives. The remaining cars in the P4 range (95 and 110) bow out the following year.