This rear three quarter view shows an uncanny similarity between the two designs. Only the grooved belt-line of the SD-1 differentiates the designs - and those side swage lines were used on another Pininfarina design: the Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona.
BMC 1800/Rover SD1: separated at birth?
David Bache is today considered to be one of the finest post-war British car designers - and I certainly back that opinion. His SD1 was certainly inspired by the creations of Pininfarina, though - and although the SD1 was a finely balanced, beautiful design, I present some pictures that will show that his most British of creations had Italian genes. See what you think.
With special thanks to site correspondent, Guillaume Stutter
This rear three quarter view shows an uncanny similarity between the two designs. Only the grooved belt-line of the SD-1 differentiates the designs - and those side swage lines were used on another Pininfarina design: the Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona.
The rear lights are also frighteningly similar - The Pininfarina design even featured "ribbed" lenses...
Front three quarter view shows the similarities between the two cars into great relief. Not only was the SD-1 a car influenced by this Pininfarina creation, but also the Citroën CX (which appeared before the Rover in 1974) and also smaller Citroën GS. Pininfarina did actually act as consultants on the GS design, which appeared in 1970 - I wonder what might have been had BLMC taken their option on the 1800 and smaller 1100 and produced them instead of the Allegro and Princess?
The Ferrari connection
This Kevin Spindler sketch for the Rover SD1 shows a clear Ferrari
365 GTB/4 Daytona influence. Note the side swage lines and indicator lenses:
details which were followed through to the production model.
Those indicators in close-up. Pure Ferrari Daytona!
And in case anyone is wondering, I actually think that the SD1 is better looking than both the Pininfarina prototype and the Ferrari Daytona, because the proportioning of the car is utterly perfect yet at the same time, it remains a practical and roomy executive saloon. When BL put the car to customer clinics in 1974 and 1975, they actually brought along a couple of Maseratis as well as the usual executive car rivals - and the new big Rover compared well compared with those!