The Rover 9 is a small car produced by Britain's Rover car company. It had a 1074 cc 9 fiscal horsepower four-cylinder engine. Manufactured from 1924 until 1927 it was first supplemented then replaced by Rover's 10-12 model.
| Rover 9/20 | |
|---|---|
_(7879003304).jpg) 1926 two-seater | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Rover |
| Designer | Jack Sangster |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style |
|
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase |
|
| Length | 132 inches (3,353 mm)[1] |
| Width | 63 inches (1,600 mm)[1] |
| Kerb weight | 1,813 lb (822 kg)[2] |
| Rover 9/20 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Rover |
| Designer | Mark Wild and staff |
| Production | 1924 – 1933 |
| Layout | |
| Configuration | straight four[1] |
| Displacement | 1,074 cc (66 cu in)[1] |
| Cylinder bore | 60 mm (2.4 in)[1] |
| Piston stroke | 95 mm (3.7 in)[1] |
| Cylinder head material | aluminium alloy crankcase |
| Valvetrain | overhead valves by Duralumin pushrods, chain-driven camshaft[1] |
| Combustion | |
| Oil system | forced lubrication by a gear pump in the sump[1] |
| Cooling system | water pumped through radiator, no fan[1] |
| Output | |
| Power output | 20 bhp (15 kW; 20 PS) @ 3,000 rpm Tax horsepower 8.93[1] |
| Dimensions | |
| Dry weight | 329 lb (149 kg)[2] |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Rover 8 |
| Successor | Rover 10/25 |
Engine
editA Mark Wild and staff designed 1074 cc water-cooled four-cylinder engine with overhead valves announced August 1924[1] supplemented then replaced the Rover 8 air-cooled twin and the new vehicle was named 9/20[3] The new engine with its clutch and gearbox are mounted as a unit to the mainframe at four points.[1] z
Advertised by Rover as "The Nippy Nine" with emphasis on its water coolant circulated by pump, pressure lubricated engine, 3-speed gearbox and silent worm (rear) axle. "Super" models were supplied with rod-operated four-wheel brakes. Steering was by rack and pinion, worm and segment in the more expensive cars. At first the open 4-seater cars had just one door beside the front passenger's seat.[1]
Bodywork
edit- Standard open 2-seater, open 4-seater tourer
- De Luxe open 2-seater, open 4-seater tourer, fixed head coupé
- Super open 2-seater, 4-seater, fixed head coupé and 4-door 4-seater Weymann saloon
- Sports 4-seater[4]
The wheelbase was 104 inches and track 48 inches. The 4-seater sports had a 99-inch wheelbase.[5]
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_(cropped).jpg) |
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.jpg) no driver's door |
Road test
editThe test car was the sports model with aluminium pistons, double valve springs, higher gear ratios and a lighter body. The car was considered to run pleasantly and do around 60 mph in top gear. When supplied for export the radiator is given a fan. There were complaints about accessibility for servicing and minor repairs. The engine was thought to be unusually smooth for a two-bearing product even at high speed. The steering wheel shook on rough roads otherwise controls were smooth and even. A final comment was "at the price one cannot fairly grumble at three speeds".[6]
_(7879002198).jpg)
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Cars Of To-Day. The Times, Tuesday, Aug 12, 1924; pg. 7; Issue 43728
- ^ a b Hough and Frostick, Rover Memories, Allen & Unwin, London 1966
- ^ Malcolm Bobbit, Rover P4, Veloce, Dorchester, 2002 ISBN 9781903706572
- ^ The Motor Show. The Times, Friday, Oct 17, 1924; pg. 20; Issue 43785.
- ^ The Motor Show. The Times, Friday, Oct 09, 1925; pg. 8; Issue 44088
- ^ Cars Of To-Day. The Times, Tuesday, Apr 20, 1926; pg. 11; Issue 44250
External links
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