Rover P4

rover
Rover P4 80 (1960)
P4
Sales designation:	Rover 60, Rover 75, Rover 80, Rover 90, Rover 95, Rover 100, Rover 105, Rover 110
Production period:	1949-1964
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Petrol engines : 2.0-2.6 liters (45-90 kW)
Length:	4528 mm
Width:	1666 mm
Height:	1607 mm
Wheelbase :	2819 mm
Empty weight :
Previous model	Rover P3
successor	Rover P6

The Rover P4 was a sedan that was manufactured from 1949 to 1964. Then it was replaced by the much more modern Rover P6 . All P4 models had 4 doors and 4 seats. The designation P4 was a manufacturer code that designated the model group, but was not used colloquially by customers. These called their cars z. B. "Rover 90" etc.

Nickname

The models were known, especially towards the end of the construction period and afterwards, also under the nickname "Auntie" (Auntie). This nickname originally comes from three English motor journalists (Dennis Jenkinson, Ted Eves, Jesse Alexander) who returned to Solihull in 1958 with a Rover 90 from the factory press service from England via Gibraltar and Algiers to Casablanca (Morocco) and via Turin (Italy) went back to England. The rover did not have a single technical problem during the long journey and had hardly used any oil or water. Dennis Jenkinson was deeply impressed and said that traveling with the rover through half of Europe and Africa was "as comfortable and safe as visiting my aunt for tea". The similarity in the pronunciation of "Rover Ninety" and "Rover Auntie" probably also contributed to the origin of the nickname.

P4 75

The first P4, the Rover 75 , was released in 1949. In contrast to its predecessor, the Rover P3 , it had a modern styling, which was particularly controversial among conservative Rover customers, and which was heavily based on the post-war models of the US car manufacturer Studebaker , which appeared in 1947 . These Studebakers, largely designed by industrial designer Raymond Loewy , were already considered revolutionary and groundbreaking when they were published, both in the professional community and in the press. That's why Rover's styling team chose their body shape as the starting point for the new Rover, after all, the new shape was to remain current for some time.

The “ugly detail” was the individual headlight in the radiator grille, a styling feature that was quite popular at the time and that was also used by manufacturers such as Fiat , Tucker , Ford and Studebaker in a modified form . It became known as "Cyclop's Eye" and was abandoned in March 1952. All P4s had aluminum body panels, with the exception of the last model series 95 and 110.

Rover 75

A six-cylinder in - line engine with 2103 cm³ displacement and 76 bhp (57 kW) with alternating control (English oise-overhead inlet, side exhaust , inlet over exhaust ) served as the drive . This machine - taken over from the Rover P3 from 1948 - had hanging inlet valves and side outlet valves. Both were not parallel to the cylinder axis, the standing exhaust valves were more inclined, the piston crown was roof-shaped and the parting line between the cylinder head and the block was also inclined to the cylinder axis. The 4-speed gearbox was first shifted with a lever on the steering column and later with a center shift. Production of this first model ended in 1954 after 43,241 units.

The P4 was also the basis of the short-lived Marauder model .

P4 60

A four-cylinder was introduced with the Rover 60 in 1953 . Its 4-cylinder in-line engine with 1997 cc had an output of 61 bhp (45 kW) and was also used by Rover in the Land Rover ; the rough-running machine didn't quite fit the luxurious P4. The vehicle was replaced in 1959 by the Rover 80 with a revised version of the Land Rover four-cylinder engine.

P4 90

Rover 90

Rover 90

At the same time as the four-cylinder version, the top-of-the-range Rover 90 was introduced, which had a more powerful 6-cylinder in-line engine with a displacement of 2639 cc and 90 bhp (67 kW). He accelerated the car to 144 km / h. When it was replaced by the Rover 100 in 1959, 9,666 had been made.

P4 75 Mark II

The revised Rover 75 Mark II came in 1954 with some changes. It had a 3-part panoramic rear window, the alternately controlled motor was still used with 2103 cm³ displacement. This model was revised again in 1955 and got an engine enlarged to 2230 cc. In 1957 the body was modernized, as with all P4s, and got a new radiator grille and new fenders. With the introduction of the Rover 100 in 1959, production was stopped.

P4 105R / 105S

The 90 was not the top model in the P4 series. In 1956 the Rover 105 R and Rover 105 S were introduced. They had a high-performance version of the engine used in the 90 with a displacement of 2639 cm³. The double carburetors provided 108 bhp (80 kW) power. Both 105 models had redesigned bodies and more luxurious interiors.

The 105 R had a "Roverdrive" automatic transmission. This susceptible construction emerged from a 2-speed automatic with overdrive , which resulted in a total of 4 forward gears. The car reached 146 km / h. The 105 S was satisfied with a manual gearbox with overdrive, but reached a top speed of 162 km / h.

When production of the Rover 105 (1958 the R model, 1959 the S model) was discontinued, 10,781 units had been produced, 2/3 of the production was delivered with a manual transmission.

P4 80

The four-cylinder version of the P4 was replaced by the Rover 80 in 1959 . It also had a 4-cylinder in-line engine derived from the Land Rover , but with a displacement of 2286 cc. With its 80 bhp (60 kW), the car could reach 137 km / h. The front disc brakes, wider tires and a modified styling were new. But the four-cylinder versions of the P4 were never particularly popular, and only 5900 units were sold by the time the series was discontinued in 1962.

P4 100

The 90 model was replaced by the more powerful Rover 100 in 1960 . Its alternately controlled ("oise") six-cylinder engine also had a displacement of 2625 cc and was actually a version of the 3.0 liter engine of the Rover P5 with a shorter stroke. As a result, the car reached 160 km / h (100 mph). The interior was luxurious with wood and leather applications on the traditional English controls, such as the curved "Shepherd's Crook", the so-called (shepherd's stick) handbrake lever. 16521 pieces of this model were produced until 1962, which was then replaced by the Rover 110.

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  Rover P4 100 (1961)

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  Rover P4 100 (1961)

P4 95/110

The last models of the P4 family were the Rover 95 and the Rover 110 . When they were introduced in 1962, they looked a bit old-fashioned. Later they got door leaves made of sheet steel (instead of aluminum) and electric windscreen washers. An overdrive was part of the basic equipment; the “Roverdrive” automatic was no longer available.

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  Rover P4 95 (1963)

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  Rover P4 95 (1963)

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  Rover P4 95 (1963)

Both models had the same variable-speed engine with a displacement of 2625 cm³. The old engine delivered 123 bhp (92 kW), with the type 110 with Weslake cylinder head and 102 bhp (76 kW) with the type 95. Both models were replaced after 1964 by the much more modern Rover P6 .

Web links

• Rover P4 cars enthusiast site

Individual evidence

1. ^ Rover P4 The Complete Story, James Taylor, Crowood 1998. ISBN 1861261217
2. ^ Rover P4 The Complete Story, James Taylor, Crowood 1998. ISBN 1861261217
3. ↑ Archived copy ( Memento of the original from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.