Rover 12 Tourer

Click Here for Full Screen Image - Click Here to Download Image

The Rover 12 was one of the first cars with which the Wilks brothers established 'the Rover tradition', transforming the firm from a maker of cyclecars into the brand of choice for the aspirational middle classes in the post-Depression era.

Introduced in 1934, the Rover 12 (P1) was a top quality semi-handbuilt car that was good for an easy 70mph from its 1496cc 4-cylinder OHV engine. An updated version, the P2 arrived in 1937, with a longer wheelbase and Girling brakes, this model spanning the war years. As with so many car companies during the period, they were so preoccupied with war work that they simply carried on where they left off after hostilities ceased.

Rover rather rashly decided to expand their choice of bodywork when production resumed in 1946, offering a full four-seater tourer alongside the traditional saloon models. Initial cars were made in-house, although the factory soon realised that they couldn’t cope and farmed the job out to a local firm APA Ltd of Coventry who presumably had time and materials on their hands.

It is believed that about 200 of these attractive open tourers were made, mostly for export, although this example seems to have escaped and remained in its native Britain, being registered for the road in February 1948. There are believed to be around 40 left which represents an astonishing survival rate.

They came with excellent weather equipment and a clever aluminium fold out hood cover which must have been one of the first of its type. The Rover 12 continued until 1948 by which time well over 16,000 had left the factory, Rover subsequently choosing to go further upmarket with larger engined models.

This 1947 example was acquired by the vendor in 2007 through Malcolm Elder. Used sparingly, an issue with the head gasket soon came to light. On investigation, it was found that the engine block had been badly helicoiled so a good replacement was sourced through the club and given to Brian Taylor of Hopton Heath (best known for his work on ACs and ERAs) to sort out. It was pressure tested and comprehensively overhauled with new pistons and liners, the rebuilt engine subsequently being refitted to the car earlier this year. The bills on file amount to around £6,800 for the work done and primarily come from Brian Taylor, Viking Engineering and Meteor Spares Services.

A pillar of the local VSCC movement, the vendor has chosen to focus on his pre-war machinery and has decided that his rare and attractive, open, early post-war Rover needs to go. His loss is your gain, as these top quality cars are delightful to drive, offering space for all the family while still leaving enough room for the cucumber sandwiches and elderflower cordial in the boot.