Rover's range in the immediate post-war years was much the same as it had been in 1939, the first all-new Rover - the 75 P4 - not appearing until the autumn of 1949.

One of the most readily recognised and fondly remembered cars of the era, the stately P4 with its slab sides, column gearshift and 'gentlemen's club' interior would prove an immense success for the Solihull firm, remaining in production until 1964.

Restyled with a wraparound rear window, the '105' version, built from 1956 to 1959, was powered by the 2,639cc, twin-carburettor, 108bhp, six-cylinder engine and was available in two versions: the 105R with automatic transmission, and the 105S with a four-speed manual/overdrive gearbox.

Automatic transmission had become the norm in North America by the mid-1950s and many European manufacturers began experimenting with it at around this time.

Instead of buying in a conventional automatic from an independent specialist manufacturer, Rover opted for a torque converter of its ow...