[3] Its design was contributed to by American engine genius Delmar "Barney" Roos who left a successful career at Studebaker to join Rootes in 1936.

It was relatively low-priced for its large size and performance, and was similar to American cars in appearance and concept, and in providing value for money.

Now a full six-seater with a bench-type front seat it was given a wider track and a variable ratio steering unit.

Overall the finish reflected the excellent taste that distinguished Rootes Group products[8] 125 drophead coupés were made by Tickford in 1949 and 1950.

The 1950 car can be readily distinguished from the previous model by the simpler dome-shaped bumpers and the rectangular stainless-steel foot-treads on the running-boards.

[10] The all-new Mark IV Super Snipe announced mid-October 1952, Earls Court Motor Show time,[12] used a Hawk Mk IV body shell lengthened by 6 in (152 mm) but with a 4138 cc 113 bhp (84 kW) overhead-valve engine, also used in a Rootes Group Commer truck.

Chassis and suspension components were uprated to take the greater weight and power of the Super Snipe, those parts ceasing to be interchangeable with those of the Hawk.

Shortly after the car's announcement, Leslie Johnson, Stirling Moss, and two Rootes Group staff, drove a new silver-grey Super Snipe from Oslo to Lisbon, travelling through fifteen European countries in 3 days, 17 hours and 59 minutes.

[15] In October 1958, a new Super Snipe was introduced and first presented to the public at the opening of the Paris Salon de l'Automobile.

The new car was smaller on the outside, but larger on the inside, with improved performance and the appearance of a reduced size 1955 Chevrolet 4-door sedan.

In October 1959 the Series II entered production[19] with its engine enlarged to 3 litres, 2,965 cc, by increasing the bore to 87.2 mm (3.4 in).

[16] The styling of the Series III which the Rootes Group announced in October 1960 was distinguishable by its four headlights and revised full-width grille.

The nose of the car was also lengthened by 3.25 inches (83 mm) to accommodate an additional pulley, mounted on the front of the crankshaft, that enabled air conditioning to be included as an option, principally for the North American market.

The rear window was changed to give the roof line an improved appearance and now more nearly match the original 1955 Chevrolet shape.

Manual gearbox cars received a new type of diaphragm clutch made by Borg and Beck and the petrol tank was enlarged from 12.5 to 16 gallons capacity.

[23] It can be distinguished by its revised rear-window treatment (doesn't wrap around quite as much as earlier models), Snipe bird badge on grille, opening quarter-light windows in the rear doors, and other trim differences.

In October 1964 the final Series V version of the Saloon saw an upper body restyle, (also applied to the Hawk Saloon and the Rootes Group's smaller Hillman Super Minx and its derivatives) with a flat roofline and rear window, six-light side windows and a larger, taller windscreen.

[24] Hydrosteer power steering was available as an optional extra, as was an automatic transmission (Borg Warner Type 35 on Series Va), and metallic paint finishes.

[25] Intended to match BMC's Rolls-Royce engined Vanden Plas Princess 4-litre R the Imperial shared the basic specification and performance of the Super Snipe with the addition of a vinyl roof, fully reclining front seats, automatic transmission and hydrosteer power steering as standard.