Rover, the forerunner to the Range Rover

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When people hear the word 'Rover', they immediately insert the prefix, 'Range' before it. Images of different luxury Range Rover SUVs immediately fill their mind. What many people do not realise is that before the likes of the Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Velar, there was the Rover sedan. More so, without the Rover we would probably not have the Range Rover to begin with.

Rover 75. Source: British GQ

I had always seen Rover cars, but I never gave it much thought. But sometime in the year, there was a Rover 620i sedan parked in front the male medical ward of my school clinic. Whenever I passed by the ward, I would notice the green coloured Rover sedan sitting pretty. I knew it had to be for a patient or a relative, but I never met the owner until the day it disappeared after a month. 

 

The Rover 620i sedan parked outside the Male Medical Ward in the video above. Do well to check it out.

Rover 620i Sedan in Nigeria

The Rover is a British automotive brand that was around for more than a century, from 1904 to 2005. The Rover brand initially produced bicycles from 1878 until 1904, before they began to make actual vehicles. The brand used the Viking longship as its logo which showcases the front view of a ship and its sail.. Over the years, the Rover brand has been owned by different companies including BMW at a point, but at the present moment, it is part of the Jaguar Land Rover conglomerate (JLR).

Rover Longship Logo. Source: Rover Torque

So how did Rover birth the Range Rover?

Rover and Land Rover existed as two separate car producing entities, operating under the same roof. Rover produced comfortable and slightly luxurious sedans, while Land Rover produced 4 X 4 (4 wheel drive) trucks for off-roading. So, in 1970 Rover and Land Rover decided to come together to make an SUV that would be luxurious and comfortable, while retaining the ruggedness of a 4 wheel drive off-roader. And  thus, the Range Rover was born. Simply put, Rover + Land Rover = Range Rover.


Rover Sedan + Land Rover Truck = Range Rover SUV

The Range Rover SUV immediately won the hearts of car lovers, especially in Europe. Range Rovers are like a status symbol today in Nigeria. I dare you to walk up to a random lady today and ask for her favourite car. She will most likely reply to you with the words, 'Range Rover Velar'. Personally, I also think the Range Rover Velar is a great car, but I would rather have the Range Rover Sport. Range Rover has ensured to solidify its place in the luxury auto market and they are giving other luxury car brands a good competition. Nonetheless, I think they are over priced.

Range Rover Velar Interior. Source: Motorpoint

The Rover company only produced sedans, with the Rover 75 being their most successful, as well as last model, which ended production in 2005. The Rover 75 was a great car that competed with other flagship sedans back in the day. Today, Rover sedans are still a very common sight on Nigerians roads, probably owing to the fact that are more reliable than their offspring, the Range Rover. 

Rover 75

In conclusion, I have an advice for Range Rover Velar lovers. If you want the experience of a Range Rover for a fraction of the price, you can get a fraction of the Range Rover in the form of a Rover sedan. Lol, you are welcome. If you enjoyed this read, then you will definitely enjoy this video on the Rover. Until next time, always remember to Turbo that engine!!!


Comments

Eniola said…
And now, I want to drive a sedan so bad😂😂
November 11, 2024 at 9:44 AM
EBUNMIDE ADENIRAN said…
😂😂😂 A sedan won’t be bad at all. We could split the bill and be co-owners 😅
November 17, 2024 at 6:03 PM
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