Rover SD1 V8
Remember which car your father drove in the mid-’70s? It was probably a boxy sedan with an underpowered engine or a station wagon with wood inserts on the sides. Or maybe a small, front-wheel drive import car? Whatever he had in those days is pale and outdated compared to the interesting Rover SD1 (via Auto Express).
Imagined as a family sedan of the future, Rover presented the SD1 in 1976. It was modern with aerodynamic styling, a hatchback rear end, and a futuristic interior. A 2.6 liter 136 hp engine powered base versions, but a 3.5 liter V8 was also available. The V8 version interests us since it turned the comfy family sedan into a proper four-door muscle car. The Buick-derived 3.5-liter V8 produced 190 hp, which is not much by today’s standards but a pretty lofty number for the ’70s. Unfortunately, due to strikes at the factory and the lousy quality of the components, the SD1 didn’t have the dependability or reputation German cars had to offer, and it was a sales flop in America.