That Rover Tourer

Sir,

Mr. Cameron’s Rover 14 4 seater sports (Letters, November) was a standard model in the early 1930’s probably 1934-35-36. Only the chassis number would ascertain its exact year. During this period Rovers also produced a Speed 14 model with a different chassis series and featuring a triple SU cylinder head. Two other features of this model were the special headlight bars as depicted (though I thought these were only on the streamline coupe models) and knock-on-wire wheels. However there are many standard models with such extras so the only true deciding point is the actual chassis number. I,00king once more at the picture the “elbow dip” in the doors rules out 1934 models and the vertical bonnet louvres (which I think I can see) indicate 1935, as 1936 models had horizontal louvres.

There was nothing in the chassis number before 1938 to indicate the type of body fitted. However the following chassis numbers may help to identify the car.

1934 – 14 h.p. chassis nos. 42100t-423000, 2,000 produced. Speed 14 chassis no. 431001-43115o, 150 produced.

1935 -14 h.p. chassis nos. 521001-524556, 3,556 produced. Speed 14 chassis nos. 531001-531130, 130 produced.

1936 14 h.p. chassis nos. 621001-624908, 3,908 produced. Speed 14 chassis nos. 631001-631100, 100 produced.

Exactly how many tourers survive is unknown. There are a few around. The 14 and Speed 14 tourer was much the same as the 12 h.p. tourer of the same year, of which many more survive so restoration to original is not that difficult.

Wellington, Somerset R. M. STENNING