ROVER Automobiles

Production during WW I 1914-1918

During the I. World War the production of civilian ROVER automobiles rests. ROVER is fully involved in war production. ROVER continues to build motorcycles, but also Sunbeam - staff and ambulance vehicles and Maudsley - trucks..

[ ⇒ More about the production during WW I .... ]

The Diversity of Models 1918-1930

After successful post-war years, ROVER gets lost in an exuberant variety of models. Several times the company is on the verge of insolvency - many of the quickly developed vehicles fail to reach the market..

[ ⇒ The various Series .... ]

1919-1924
12 hp Clegg

1923
Six

1927-1932
16 hp 2-litre

1927-1933
10/25 hp Ten

Period of Consolidation 1930-1940

New management, streamlining of the manufacturing programme and the associated consolidation of production lead to significant cost savings and thus to the turnaround of the company.

[ ⇒ Consolidation in the Thirties .... ]

Transitional Models
1930 Light Six	1930-1934 Meteor	1931 Light Twenty	1931-1934 Speed Twenty	1931 Scarab	1932 Ultimax	1932-1933 Pilot	1933 Speed Pilot
Model Synopsis "P1"
1934-1938 10 hp	1934-1938 12 hp	1934-1936 14 hp	1934-1936 14 hp Speed
Model Synopsis "P2"
1938-1940 10 hp	1938-1940 12 hp	1938-1940 14 hp	1937-1940 16 hp	1937-1940 20 hp	1938-1940 Drop-heads

War Production again - 1940-1945

World War II interrupts the company's successful recovery once again. The main factory is heavily damaged, all civilian production stops. ROVER is massively involved in war production.

[ ⇒ The Period of World War II .... ]

Gas-
Turbines

Tank-
Engines

Difficult Restart 1945-1948

Under difficult conditions, ROVER starts civilian production with a pre-war model series. Steel shortage and high taxes stand in the way of the desire to return to the market quickly.

[ ⇒ The Post-war Models .... ]

1945
20

1948-1949
P3
Tickford

1948
Racer

Successful Years 1949-1986

ROVER amazes with a new construction in - to the conventional eye - "American" design, with an off-road vehicle, numerous gas turbine vehicles, a conventional series, a small revolution and a hatchback in the luxury class. In addition, interesting prototypes are created.

[ ⇒ The successful Years .... ]

ab 1947 Land Rover	1949-1964 P4	1950-1952 JET 1	1950-1952 Marauder	1954-1955 T2/ T2A	1956-1957 T3	1958-1973 P5/ P5B	1961-1962 T4	1963-1977 P6/ P6B	1963-1965 P7
1966-1967 GTS	1967-1968 TCZ	1967-1968 P6BS	1968-1969 P9	1969-1971 P8	ab 1969 Range Rover	1970-1973 P10	1976-1986 SD1

Adopted Series 1984-1995

The Austin Rover Group , which belonged to British Leyland , became the Rover Group in 1986 with the Austin, Rover, Mini and MG passenger car brands. In addition, the Land Rover Group (LRG) , Freight Rover and Leyland Trucks belong to the Rover Group. Thus, already existing brands are added to the well-known ROVER - vehicles.

[ ⇒ The adopted Models .... ]

1984-1994
Montego

1984-1987
Freight Rover

Connected with Honda 1983-1995

In cooperation with Honda, but also independently of it, interesting and successful models are created, which lead ROVER into a new period. Quality and equipment are well received by the prospective customers.

[ ⇒ Shared years with Honda .... ]

1989-1995
200
Mark II

Under the direction of BMW 1995-2000

After the takeover by BMW, the cooperation with Honda ended abruptly. Models are completely overhauled and get new engines - for others, the Honda engines have to be bought in at a high price. New models are also added that were already in development before the takeover..

[ ⇒ Under the thumb of BMW .... ]

1995-1998
200
Mark III

1995-1998
400
Mark II

1993-1998
400
Tourer

1995-2003
MG
F

1998-2003
75

The last Years of MG Rover 2001-2005

After BMW's withdrawal, the quickly assembled Phoenix Consortium takes over the remaining vehicle series. It is, for whatever reason, not a lasting success and ends chaotically in 2005, despite all the new models.

[ ⇒ The last Years under MG Rover .... ]