The #Rover 3500 #SD1 premièred June 30th, 1976. Its astonishing fastback design by David Ernest #Bache, also lacking a radiator grille, formed a hard contrast compared to its conservative P6-predeccessor. Other than the bodywork the aluminium 3.5-liter-#V8 only received a major overhaul: bigger valves, electronic ignition, double manifold - good for 155 hp. Other novelties were the rack and pinion steering or the five speed manual, a Borg-Warner auto came optional. On the one hand the SD1 was a very modern car, on the other hand the technically sophisticated de Dion tube of the P6 fell victim to a cheaper solid axle. In 1977 the SD1 line-up was complemented by two fresh carbureted #inlinesix engines with displacements of 2.6 respectively 2.3 liters (136/123 hp). Another distinction besides the engines was the slightly reduced trim level of those six cylinder versions. Two years later British Leyland launched the top of the line version 3500 S. It came with a Butec A/C, sunroof, better seats and fabrics and also gold colored wheels. A version with Lucas-Bosch injection and sealed beam headlights for the US-market only went in production in 1980. One year later, 1981, Rover upped the trim game once more: 2300 S, 2600 S, 3500 SE and the luxo barge 3500 #VandenPlas. The Rover SD1 2000 with a two-liter inline-four was introduced in 1982, the same year that saw the diesel version 2400 SD Turbo (90 hp, KKK-turbo) and a major facelift for the SD-1. Changes for example were a neater dashboard, longer bumpers, bigger rear window, power mirrors and two Zenith-Stromberg carburetors for the V8. In October of this year – rich on changes – the SD1 3500 Vitesse was presented: tweaked aerodynamics and higher compression. The power went up to 190 hp, zero to sixty took eight seconds. Three years later they dominated the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC, 1963-1988).

In 1977 the SD1 won the Car-Of-The-Year-Award. The abbreviation SD1 stands for Special Division One - it's project name. The assembly of the SD1 took place in Leyland Cars’ Solihull plant, Europe’s most modern car factory of its time. In 1982 production moved to Cowley because of the shutdown of the Solihull plant. The lines where shut down in 1986, after 303.345 cars.
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