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Description
In 1976, Rover, whose reputation was starting to falter under the unrelenting industrial disputes of parent company British Leyland, struck back with the sublimely styled and fantastically powered Rover SD1, only the 5th new model Rover had built since the end of World War II. Designed by David Bache and built to emulate the succulent lines of the Ferrari Daytona, the car was simple and sublime at the same time, and won European Car of the Year Award for 1977.

In order to compliment the fleet though, British Leyland considered an estate version to appeal to the family market, so as to make this model compete with the likes of the Volvo 900 and the Ford Cortina. Carbodies was commissioned by British Leyland to create two running prototypes at the Rover factory in Solihull. The two cars were built in differing ways, the first being a simple conversion of an early saloon, whilst the other was built from scratch. The cars were differentiated by way of their rear design, with one using a recessed tailgate, and the other using a clamshell split-tailgate.

The estate cars were used for a while by British Leyland chairman Sir Michael Edwardes for commuting around London, and although he was very interested in the idea of an estate version of the SD1, the project was scrapped upon British Leyland's bankruptcy in the late 1970's.

In all honesty, it's a real shame these cars never were put into production as they probably could have been a valuable extra string to the SD1's bow.

Description
In 1976, Rover, whose reputation was starting to falter under the unrelenting industrial disputes of parent company British Leyland, struck back with the sublimely styled and fantastically powered Rover SD1, only the 5th new model Rover had built since the end of World War II. Designed by David Bache and built to emulate the succulent lines of the Ferrari Daytona, the car was simple and sublime at the same time, and won European Car of the Year Award for 1977.

In order to compliment the fleet though, British Leyland considered an estate version to appeal to the family market, so as to make this model compete with the likes of the Volvo 900 and the Ford Cortina. Carbodies was commissioned by British Leyland to create two running prototypes at the Rover factory in Solihull. The two cars were built in differing ways, the first being a simple conversion of an early saloon, whilst the other was built from scratch. The cars were differentiated by way of their rear design, with one using a recessed tailgate, and the other using a clamshell split-tailgate.

The estate cars were used for a while by British Leyland chairman Sir Michael Edwardes for commuting around London, and although he was very interested in the idea of an estate version of the SD1, the project was scrapped upon British Leyland's bankruptcy in the late 1970's.

In all honesty, it's a real shame these cars never were put into production as they probably could have been a valuable extra string to the SD1's bow.