Announced by Managing Director Spencer Wilks on 23 September 1949 the new Rover 75 was first displayed at the opening day of the Earls Court Motor Show on 28 September 1949.

It featured unusual modern styling in stark contrast with the outdated Rover 75 (P3) it replaced.

Gone were the traditional radiator, separate headlights and external running boards.

In their place were a chromium plated grille, recessed headlights and a streamlined body the whole width of the chassis.

The car's styling was derived from the then controversial 1947 Studebakers.

The cars had a separate chassis with independent suspension using coil springs at the front and a live axle with half-elliptical leaf springs at the rear.

The brakes on early cars were operated by a hybrid hydro-mechanical system but became fully hydraulic in 1950.

Girling disc brakes replaced drums at the front from October 1959.

Power came from a more powerful version of the previous model's 210 cc Rover IOE straight-6 engine now wi...