Rover 14

Key facts

Year

1938
Country

Great Britain
Capacity

1,577cc
Cylinders

In-line 6
Valves

Overhead
Output

48hp @ 4,500rpm
Performance

70mph
Price new

£320
Owner

National Motor Museum Trust
Manufacturer

The Rover Co. Ltd

This 1938 Rover 14 is an example of the Rover P2, a range of similarly styled and engineered cars introduced in 1937 that was also available with 10, 12, 16 and 20hp engines. This car was acquired by Mrs Gee Pringle in 1950 and used regularly by her for 45 years. Mrs Pringle was the wife of a naval officer and the car was shipped to Sri Lanka aboard an aircraft carrier in 1953.

Rover is one of the oldest established names in the British motor industry. Like many motor manufacturers, its origins lie in the bicycle industry, the Rover name first appearing on tricycles built by Starley and Sutton in 1884. By the late 1920s, the Rover Company was in financial difficulty. The appointment of Spencer Wilks as Managing Director in 1928 heralded the start of a new era of prosperity.