Info für Besucher ohne Javascript

Premium

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé - British problem child

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created in 2015

Text:

Jeroen Booij / Tamara Tanner

Photos:

Archiv Jeroen Booij

19

Archiv Jeroen Booij

19

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - little is known about the first 50 years of this car's existence

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - the spoked wheels by Rubery Owen cost 5 extra pounds at the time

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - the bodywork by Weymann is covered with dark red fabric

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - this example has changed hands many times

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - the car has a 25 hp engine

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - it was built from 1929 to 1933

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - around 15,000 of the Rover Ten were built

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - the trunk can be opened upwards

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - Starting with a crank handle

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - the Ten was very economical on test drives

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - the Ten was delivered with a 3-speed gearbox until 1931, then with a 4-speed gearbox

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - this plate indicates where the car was delivered (at Gordon Armstrong)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - spacious interior

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - this engine comes from a Rover 10 saloon car

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - the engine comes from a Rover 10 saloon car

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - with chassis number 72129, this car was registered for the first time on December 28, 1931

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - the Rover Ten was the first Rover with the famous Viking badge

You have only

1 out of 19

images seen in high resolution

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - die Speichenräder von Rubery Owen kosteten damals 5 zusätzliche Pfund

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - die Karrosserie von Weymann ist mit dunkelrotem Stoff überzogen

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - dieses Exemplar wechselte schon viele Male den Besitzer

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - der Wagen besitzt einen 25 PS-Motor

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - er wurde von 1929 bis 1933 gebaut

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - vom Rover Ten wurden rund 15'000 Stück gebaut

Summary

The Rover 10 (10/25) was introduced in 1929. This was a very delicate and uncertain time for the company. Nevertheless, around 15,000 examples of the British car were built by 1933. This vehicle report tells the story of the Rover Ten and shows a well-preserved example that has seen many different owners, supplemented by an original Rover sales brochure from 1935.

This article contains the following chapters

Viking pride
Red numbers and incompetent managers
Not good enough for the press
Five-year career
Delivered in England
Veiled history
In Belgian collector's hands
Engine swap
In very good condition

Estimated reading time: 4min

Preview (beginning of the article)

From 1904, the British bicycle and motorcycle manufacturer Rover from Coventry produced automobiles and it was not until many years later, in 1930 to be precise, that the well-known logo with the Viking head and sail was introduced at Rover. The image of the Viking as a "rover" has nothing to do with the actual meaning of the name. This was derived from the English word "to rove", which means "to roam". Together with the slightly older Rover Light 6, the Rover 10, introduced in 1929, was the first model to proudly wear the enamel badge with the Viking head on its radiator grille. But the time when the Rover 10 came out was a tough one for Rover. The car manufacturer was suffering from the economic crisis that was affecting the whole of Europe. The year 1931 was one of the worst in Rover's company history.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Images of this article

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - die Speichenräder von Rubery Owen kosteten damals 5 zusätzliche Pfund

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - die Karrosserie von Weymann ist mit dunkelrotem Stoff überzogen

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - dieses Exemplar wechselte schon viele Male den Besitzer

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - der Wagen besitzt einen 25 PS-Motor

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - er wurde von 1929 bis 1933 gebaut

Rover 10 Sportman's Coupé (1929) - vom Rover Ten wurden rund 15'000 Stück gebaut

Source: