In the early 1950s, Rover explored the concept of a new model to be positioned between its cars and Land Rovers. It was to be more car like in image but retaining the cross-country abilities of the Land Rover. Rover chose the name 'Road Rover' for the project, which began in 1952.

The austere and simple body was nicknamed 'Greenhouse'. Like the Land Rover, the first Road Rover made use of aluminium body panels. The Road Rover project was finally abandoned in 1959, although a few years later the work would begin on the Range Rover, to span car and 4x4, as identified nearly two decades earlier.

SNX 36 is the last and only survivor of the 12 series I prototypes.