Tests and Reports

The press reports enthusiastically about the new ROVER 8 hp. Rarely enough original British automobiles come onto the market - mostly modified products from abroad. The successes in the so-called "trials" before the start of production were really remarkable.

The following magazines are quoted in the first Rover brochure:

Motor News
Der 8 h.p. Rover made a most successful début.

The World
The whole design of the engine has been thoroughly well thought out and is in every way worthy of the firm responsive for its production.

Sportsman
This little vehicle has made a very favourable impression by its performances, and at the Bexhill holiday meeting it gained the second prize in its class. It is undoubtedly one of the smartest light cars in the market and should sell readily at £200.

Morning Post
Of very clever design. ... As has already been stated, the Rover is by far the greatest novelty among the cars entered for these tests . . . her swiftness on the hills enabling her to overtake the majority of the other cars at will. The chief point of excellence is in the suspension which is so perfect that, were one blindfolded and temporarily deafened, it would be impossible to tell that what is termed ‘the pull’ was that of a single cylinder engine. Indeed it is no exaggeration to say that the car glides along. From the engineering point of view the car which has been designed by Mr. Lewis, whose association with the Daimler firm will be remembered by motorists, is remarkable, among other features from the fact that everything in the nature of an ordinary frame has been dispensed with while every possible part is carried on ball-bearings. In fact, she is so original as to be somewhat of a revolution in motor car construction.

The Autocar
Most substantial and well thought out ... Full of brains. ... The 8 h.p. Rover swung up Frome’s Hill grandly: it appeared to be the fastest car. ... The much admired 8 h.p. Rover. The most unique car in the trials.

Daily Telegraph
This afternoon I rode in the 8 h.p. car, which was one of the most striking novelties of the trials. ... She is unquestionably one of the best cars running, and bristles with good features. In point of smoothness of running she vies with large cars.

Country Life
Cleverly designed ... of which more will undoubtedly be heard in the future.

The Engineer
In the trials alluded to, the car was constructed to accommodate two persons, but it was apparent that there was sufficient power in reserve to enable at least three persons to be carried with ease.

The Field
... the general impression is very favourable to the car, and it is certainly sufficiently ingenious to merit careful study ... The shape of the complete vehicle will, I think, be admitted to be very elegant, being, indeed, on ‘racy’ lines. I had an opportunity of a fifty miles journey with Mr. Lewis, and can state, without hesitation, that it is a very smooth travelling voiturette. It has in a remarkable degree the feeling of a large car ... It keeps up a steady pull on hills long after one has expected that a change of speed would be necessary.”

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For those interested in ROVER 8 hp we have compiled some early reports as PDF files for download. Some of these are very extensive documents. Translations are currently not available.

The New 8 h.p. Rover Car
The report of the magazine The Autocar, reprinted in the first ROVER brochure, with the technical illustrations mentioned and described therein. The original article is not available.
Published August and September 1904, text in English
Download it from [ ⇒ New 8 h.p. Rover Car ] as PDF file.

The Rover Motor Car
The report of the magazine The Engineer corresponds to the report of The Autocar, also in the main illustrations.
Published October 1904, text in English
Download it from [ ⇒ The Rover Motor Car ] as PDF file.

Der neue 8 PS Rover Motorwagen
The report of the magazine The Motor Car is obviously very close to the report of The Autocar, also the pictures are equal.
Probably published end of 1904/beginning of 1905, exact date not known, text in German
Download it from [ ⇒ Der 8 PS Rover Motorwagen ] as PDF file.

The 8 h.p. Rover Design
A detailed consideration of the construction of a commercially successful small car at moderate costs
Published in The Automobile Engineer, June 1910, text English
Download it from [ ⇒ The 8 h.p. Rover Design ] as PDF file.