The styling department's first ideas on the Rover P6BS...
The sublime P9 was to have taken Leyland into the 1970s in style. When Leyland became BLMC and Jaguar entered the fold, it didn't stand a chance against the E-Type and forthcoming XJS...
The supercar that never was...
The styling department's first ideas on the Rover P6BS...
Rover P6BS: Was engineered and designed by Spen King, who prided himself on
how this mid-engined design managed to still be easy to see out out, unlike
many of its contemporaries. (Picture: "The Cars That Time
Forgot", by Giles Chapman).
Rover P9: Styled by David Bache's team, the P9 shows what could be achieved
when facelifting the P6BS. Many people within The Rover Company bitterly mourned
its loss; a direct consequence of Rover's integration into the Leyland fold.
Alongside Bache's other Coupe, "Gladys", this would probably have been badged
an Alvis, despite this clay model wearing the Rover Longship. (Picture:
“A Collector’s Guide – Classic Rovers – 1945 – 1986”, by James Taylor), supplied
by Ian Robertson.
P9 Interior styling schemes
In case you were in any doubt as to whether the P9 was investigated fully and readied for production, here's the full-size interior mock-up for the promising mid-engined supercar. As can be seen by the detailing, it would have been a bang-up-to-date effort, and possessed plenty of interior space...
