In 1974 British Leyland and the Transport and Road Research Laboratory undertook a joint project which resulted in the production of five experimental safety cars based on existing saloon models, each intended to concentrate on a specific safety feature.

All had several features in common, such as strengthened passenger cell, impact resistant low-mounted bumpers, completely padded interiors and smooth, sloping bonnets designed to minimise injury to pedestrians.

The third SRV was based on the 1800 (ADO17) and its main innovations related to research into side impact resistance. It featured 'dove-tail' catches along the door-bottoms to prevent intrusion into the passenger compartment, and anti-collapse struts and 'proximity pads' to reinforce the location of the doors within their apertures