Rover P4 and P5: books - history, models and technology

Rover P4 - The Complete Story

Introduced in 1949, the Rover P4 represented comfortable, refined motoring for the professional classes of the 1950s. Production ceased in 1964, by which time the P4 had become something of an anachronism. However, it had given Rover an enviable reputation for quality engineering, and had paved the way for the successful P5 and P6 models.

Topics covered include:
- design and development,
- panel features on key personalities and features;
- specifications for each model;
- chassis numbers, production figures and paint and trim options.

Rover P4

NEW

When it was launched in 1949, the new Rover 75 was considered revolutionary for its time, its sleek integrated styling being very much a break with the designs of the past.
In this book, Rover expert James Taylor covers the development of all of the various P4 models, from the 75 to the 110 of the early 1960s, providing a unique insight into a car still affectionately known as 'Auntie'.

Despite its somewhat ponderous appearance, the solid build with wood and leather interiors matched by good driving dynamics made the Rover P4 a pleasure to drive and own. Complemented by the Rover P5 and eventually replaced by the Rover P6, the Rover P4 held sway for over a decade during which it became a favourite of the professional classes and an emblem of the conservative British lifestyle and values.
After the end of production, it continued to remain a favourite among classic car enthusiasts.

The various models and developments of the Rover P4 are all covered in this concise but comprehensive book, providing an endless source of interest for Rover P4 and classic car enthusiasts alike.

Rover P4

Nowadays affectionately known as the 'Aunty' Rover, the dignified P4 series of cars was launched in 1949 to carry Britain's Rover company into the postwar era. Rover's well-deserved reputation for building high-quality cars, and the marque's upmarket image, ensured that the P4 series appealed to the company's traditional clientele - doctors, solicitors, bank managers and others of similar social rank.

Despite the rather staid image of the P4 series, over the years the cars had many interesting features, like the original 'Cyclops' central headlight, disc brakes, a freewheel device and overdrive. The larger-engined versions were also rather nifty and could whoosh their occupants along at a very unauntie-like pace!

Production continued through several model variations - but always with four or six-cylinder engines - until 1964. In the meantime, Rover experimented with gas turbine power units in P4 bodies, and created the famous JET 1.
The Marauder sports car was also P4-based. An amazing number of the sturdy P4s have survived to the present day and most are now enjoyed and cherished by enthusiasts.

Reprinted after a long absence, this Veloce Classic is the definitive history of the dignified Rover P4 from 1949 until 1964, which includes Marauder and jet-powered, experimental cars.

Rover P5 and P5B - The Complete Story

The Rover P5 was the last great representative of traditional British luxury saloon building, with the emphasis firmly on quality rather than sportiness. Its spaciousness, refinement and wood and leather charm still command a considerable classic car following today.

In this book James Taylor charts the history of these stately cars, looking at their design and development from the original 3-litre Mk 1 announced in 1968 to the last 3.5-litre P5B model built for the Queen.
Topics covered include the full history of the development of all P5 and P5B models, complete specifications for each model and details of the cars' competition fortunes. Also advice on buying and owning a P5 today.