Rover 12 Sports Tourer

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The Rover 12 was one of the range of cars with which the Wilks brothers established 'the Rover tradition', transforming the firm from an unremarkable maker of cyclecars into the brand of choice for the aspirational middle classes in the post-Depression era. Introduced in 1934, the 12 was a very high quality semi-handbuilt car that was good for an easy 70mph from its 1496cc 4-cylinder OHV engine. 

This remarkable and rare pre-war Sports Tourer was bought new by CH Curtis Esq of New Malden, Surrey in April 1935 and retained by him until 1973 . During his
38 years’ ownership the car was much cherished and meticulously maintained with the fascinating history files containing documentary evidence from 1935 onwards. Much of the correspondence is with Rover themselves and indeed in 1954 they carried out full reconditioning of the engine and gearbox for the princely sum of £79 4s 6d!

In 1955 the car was rammed from the rear whilst parked and the insurance repair was carried out by Messrs Pond and Sharman of Feltham (ex-Lagonda) to a high standard with considerable input from Rover. Indeed this incident led to a substantial refurbishment of the car with replating and retrimming done at the same time. It seems likely that the exceedingly rare Reutter front reclining seats were fitted at this time.

By 1957 the car was back to pristine condition but, due to a change of policy by his employers, Mr Curtis was compelled to put the car into storage. When sold in 1973 to a fellow Rover enthusiast, Howard Emes, it had covered a mere 300 miles since the Fifties refurbishment which had cost close to £1,000, a huge amount to spend in those days but a measure of the affection that Mr Curtis had for his motor car.

In second owner Emes BXK 440 found another worthy custodian who also owned a Rover Special Sport saloon. He decided in 1981 to replicate a Continental tour that Mr Curtis had made before the war and, complete with a light trailer containing spares, he covered more than 3,000 miles in about three weeks. With two passengers on board, the Rover tackled the Arlberg and Bremer passes whilst travelling through Austria and on to the Dolomites, taking in the Italian Lakes for good measure. Needless to say the spares were not required.

In 1983 the car was featured in a delightful article in the august edition of ‘Thoroughbred and Classic Cars’ by Brian Palmer who was charmed by the Rover build quality and the driving experience. A copy of the magazine is in the history file with the original handbook, copious old MOT certificates and tax discs, the aforementioned correspondence, buff logbook and a plethora of invoices spanning seven decades. Emes kept the car for 34 years and the two subsequent keepers have maintained the tradition of respecting the originality of this time warp machine.

In short a rare surviving pre-war Rover with a delicious patina that is a delight to drive and sports a fold flat screen, freewheel, wire wheels and a disappearing hood. The engine is wonderfully smooth and surprisingly lively and the coachwork remains strong with doors that shut with a satisfying clunk that would be the envy of many a recently restored car. Currently taxed and no longer requiring an MOT (although the old one has only just expired), this remarkable car is ready for a new owner to enjoy right away.