Rover P6

Thirteen years after the launch of the revolutionary P6 came the ultra-stylish new SD1. Of these two classic Rovers, however, I feel the earlier car has the edge – both technically and in terms of ownership appeal.

- Paul Guinness

The unveiling of the exciting new Rover 3500 –codenamed SD1 – marked the start of another successful era for the Solihull-based marque. Here was a model that combined aerodynamic efficiency with all the versatility of a five-door hatchback layout, with an overall look that made rivals like the Ford Granada and Volvo 264 seem almost dated by comparison. But, of course, things were slightly different under the skin.

I’m not here to unfairly criticise the SD1. I’m certainly an admirer of its style, as well as the bravery shown by British Leyland via its decision to go the hatchback route. The fact that the SD1’s overall look was generated as early as the start of 1972 is further proof of the advanced thinking shown by stylist David Bache. It’s just a shame that various technical aspects of the SD1 represented something of a backward step from the old P6; and, of course, it’s even more of a shame that early build-quality and reliability issues managed to thwart some of the SD1’s obvious potential.