1940 Rover 10hp Saloon

Lot details
Registration No: EVC 583
Chassis No: 0111182
Mot Expiry: July 2012

The Rover 10 of 1933 was the first of the company's models to be developed under the expert eyes of Spencer and Maurice Wilks, and featured both a new chassis and fresh 1328cc four-cylinder engine. There was the choice of factory Pressed Steel bodywork or a chassis to be supplied to one's coachbuilder of choice. The gearbox was initially a non-synchromesh unit that incorporated a freewheel system which was to remain a feature of some Rover models until 1959. The final iteration of the Rover 10 was unveiled in 1939 and featured a half-inch longer wheelbase, a modified cylinder head that helped raise the power output from 44bhp to 48bhp, and synchromesh for the top two ratios of the four-speed manual transmission. The factory body was restyled in the vein of the other members of the Rover range. Few examples of the newcomer were manufactured after the onset of hostilities, but production was restarted with few changes in specification once WW2 was over; at which point a further 2,640 such cars were made before the model line was finally terminated in 1947.

The Rover 10 being sold must have been among the last ones produced before production was halted in 1940, and features Grey bodywork complemented by a Blue leather interior. The car was apparently restored both bodily and mechanically between 2005 and 2006 and its history is recorded in a file that accompanies the car. These days, the vendor considers the four-door bodywork and engine to be in "very good" order and the paintwork, trim and four-speed gearbox to be in "good" shape. The stately Rover is currently displaying an unwarranted 56,642 miles and is being sold complete with the aforementioned history file, photos from the restoration and an MOT valid until July next year.