The appearance of front engine cars over the years came about by making the metalwork fit around the engine. So that you had a hood and fenders to match. Putting the engine in the rear and yet maintaining the front as though the engine was in that position always seems a bit strange to me. VW was successful with the Beatle which was styled to suit the rear engine config. This car would never have been successful over time because it was 'basicly' wrong, no matter about the handling.
Anyway the numbers must have been a revelation at the time and disc brakes whitch I had always thought were first used in the UK. A nice looking car though and thanks for the insight.