1948 Rover P3 Saloon

Description

Rover's first all-new post-war model was the P3, introduced at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1948 and sold in two versions - the four-cylinder '60' and six-cylinder '75'. Although externally similar to the outgoing 12 and 16 models, some significant changes lay under the traditional exterior and the bodywork itself was now of all steel construction, doing away with the ash frames of previous years. A new box section frame had independent front suspension and semi-elliptic springs at the rear and the engines were all new, up to date overhead valve designs, although the gearbox was carried over. Braking was via a combination of hydraulic system at the front, mechanical on the rear wheels. The P3 Rovers were beautifully finished and aimed squarely at a middle-class motorist, something Rover became renowned for in the post-war period. Two different body styles were offered, the four light "Sports Saloon" and a six light saloon, but problems sourcing materials and high prices meant the Rover P3 never sold in large numbers - just 1274 '60' and 7837 '75' versions were built before the P4 replaced them in 1949.