The Rover SD5 was a prototype vehicle built by Rover's Special Division
During the early 1970s the British Leyland management investigated the possibility of replacing its long-lived Land Rover. They set about tasking the Specialist Division to come up with a low-cost and easy to produce alternative which would be rugged enough to carry the name into the 1980s and beyond.
The SD5 would have been very effective with its V8 powerhouse mounted under the bonnet. The engine teamed with a short wheelbase would have been a winning combination. However, the development was coming along at just the wrong time in British Leyland's history. There was issues with finding and Solihull still had a waiting list for the Land Rover and Range Rover.