I was told today

rich17865 · 5th July 2012, 18:48

By an ex bentley employee that the 75 design was originally destined to be a baby rolls royce

blacknwhite · 5th July 2012, 19:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich17865

By an ex bentley employee that the 75 design was originally destined to be a baby rolls royce

I have absolutely no trouble believing that. In fact I'm sure I heard the same many years ago.

windrush · 5th July 2012, 19:31

I quite believe that as well they are great cars

Yella Fella · 5th July 2012, 19:49

I can see the Bentley/RR coming through in the front end of this image . . .

Banjo · 5th July 2012, 19:55

I can see why you may think this, however the 75 was designed at Longbridge and was always intended to be a Rover. There was a design that was intended to be a small Bentley many years ago that was designed by BMC. This was an adapted Westminster with a Rolls - Royce engine. However in the end RR withdrew concerned about cheapening the brand, and the car was produced as the Van den Plas 4 litre R.

chipsceola · 5th July 2012, 20:16

Grief, that Vanden Plas Westminster 4 litre R was long time ago, had the Farina body style common to Morris, Austin, MG, Riley and Wolseley, typical Doctors car and now very rare.
Chips

Bolin · 5th July 2012, 20:33

It may look bit a baby Rolls or Bentley pure it is a Rover, all Rover, and nothing but a Rover (in style).

It was styled by Richard Woolley, a Rover man through and through, who grew up near someone who owned a P5 (iirc). He also styled the Rover 600, and worked on the R8 (200 mk2/400 mk1) and HHR (4oo mk2).

Many of the styling cues can be visually linked back to earlier Rover's - headlights (P6), bonnet (P5), back end (P4), sill trim (P2,3,4).

Baby Rolls? If only there was a Rolls that looked as perfect as the Rover 75

simdel1 · 5th July 2012, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banjo

I can see why you may think this, however the 75 was designed at Longbridge and was always intended to be a Rover.

I agree 100%. My friend, who was a member of the design team for the 75 chassis, has confirmed that the platform was originally indended for the 75 and nothing else.

Bolin · 5th July 2012, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by simdel1

I agree 100%. My friend, who was a member of the design team for the 75 chassis, has confirmed that the platform was originally indended for the 75 and nothing else.

Yep, the often wrongly quoted myth of it being based on 5-series does have some truth in it, as it was suggested by BMW to Rover, but was rejected in favour of a bespoke platform. Even Haynes get it wrong!

There is tonnes of info about the development on Keith Adam's site.

trimani · 5th July 2012, 20:40

Mines the one they tried and made. Trades description act stopped them putting it's real name on.

5th July 2012, 18:48	#1
rich17865 This is my second home Transit Connect Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Crewe Posts: 9,532 Thanks: 868 Thanked 1,619 Times in 1,095 Posts	I was told today By an ex bentley employee that the 75 design was originally destined to be a baby rolls royce

5th July 2012, 19:31	#3
windrush This is my second home December 2004 Rover 75 2ltr CDTi Connoisseur SE HL Tourer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Aldershot Posts: 74,464 Thanks: 2,431 Thanked 3,015 Times in 2,347 Posts	I quite believe that as well they are great cars __________________ ][SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] My Pearl Black Beauty Best regards Lilian and Derek Club Member No. 96 / Forum User No. 111 REGISTRATION to the club as a member FREE, FULL MEMBERSHIP is £10 WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

5th July 2012, 19:49	#4
Yella Fella Nemo Me Impune Lacessit None at the moment Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Glasgow's HMP Barlinnie, 'A' Hall, 2nd Flat Posts: 5,192 Thanks: 493 Thanked 1,094 Times in 666 Posts	I can see the Bentley/RR coming through in the front end of this image . . . __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

5th July 2012, 19:55	#5
Banjo Posted a thing or two MG6 Magnette 1.8 Tci SE Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Shrewsbury Posts: 1,300 Thanks: 19 Thanked 27 Times in 27 Posts	I can see why you may think this, however the 75 was designed at Longbridge and was always intended to be a Rover. There was a design that was intended to be a small Bentley many years ago that was designed by BMC. This was an adapted Westminster with a Rolls - Royce engine. However in the end RR withdrew concerned about cheapening the brand, and the car was produced as the Van den Plas 4 litre R.

5th July 2012, 20:16	#6
chipsceola This is my second home Jaguar XF 3.0D Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Southampton Posts: 4,364 Thanks: 119 Thanked 509 Times in 426 Posts	Grief, that Vanden Plas Westminster 4 litre R was long time ago, had the Farina body style common to Morris, Austin, MG, Riley and Wolseley, typical Doctors car and now very rare. Chips

5th July 2012, 20:33	#7
Bolin This is my second home Rover 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur SE 4dr manual Wedgewood Blue 2 04-05/06/2001 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: N.E. Hampshire Posts: 4,617 Thanks: 289 Thanked 308 Times in 243 Posts	It may look bit a baby Rolls or Bentley pure it is a Rover, all Rover, and nothing but a Rover (in style). It was styled by Richard Woolley, a Rover man through and through, who grew up near someone who owned a P5 (iirc). He also styled the Rover 600, and worked on the R8 (200 mk2/400 mk1) and HHR (4oo mk2). Many of the styling cues can be visually linked back to earlier Rover's - headlights (P6), bonnet (P5), back end (P4), sill trim (P2,3,4). Baby Rolls? If only there was a Rolls that looked as perfect as the Rover 75

5th July 2012, 20:40	#10
trimani Passed Away ROVER 75 V6 2Ltr 2001 AUTO / EMERALD MOTORBILITY SCOOTER Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Poole Quay Posts: 3,180 Thanks: 2,051 Thanked 570 Times in 311 Posts	Mines the one they tried and made. Trades description act stopped them putting it's real name on.