Description
Rover 90 was the performance model P4 Rover in the mid Fifties based on the 2 litre Rover 75.
The 90 announced in 1954 featured a larger engine of 2638cc delivering 90 bhp and 90 mph performance and maintaining Rover levels of refinement, quietness and smoothness, as noted by The Motor magazine.
Visually the 90 was distinguished from lesser Rovers by badging and most significantly by a Lucas high performance driving lamp mounted to the left corner of the radiator grille.
The 90 was uprated for 1956 with more power through increased compression. Stopping was improved with vacuum assisted high performance brakes, and Laycock de Normanville overdrive was not listed as an option.
The interior trim was made more luxurious with deeply pleated leather upholstery replacing the previous one piece hide.
Externally, the 90's frontal aspect remained the same with the aerodynamic low wing front, sidelights mounted on top of the wings, the flame thrower spot lamp and flasher lenses updated to the legally specified amber.
188 KMY is a 56 Model Rover 90 first registered by Middlesex Country Council on 1st January 1956. Its early history is not clear but from 1990 onward it has been treated as a classic car being repainted about that time in Rover Ivory to complement the Sage Green interior. The mileage at that time was 51, 004 miles, the mileage now is 65, 718, so averaging about 400 miles a year since 1990.
From 2001 the car was owned by a noted Rover enthusiast who maintained and improved the car as required including a gearbox rebuild by a P4 specialist, replacing the brake booster and fitting new rear springs with many other running replacements, files of invoices are witness.
The car is now in outstanding condition.
