Rover Cars: Illustrated History Books & Guides

Rover's Rebirth - The Post-War Renaissance 1945-1953

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Like other British car manufacturers, Rover focused on supporting the war effort during World War II instead of producing cars. After its Coventry factory was bombed in 1940, the company moved in 1945 to a large, modern plant in Solihull, originally managed for the Air Ministry.
With no new models ready, Rover resumed production with updated versions of its pre-war cars. Early plans for a small economy car were abandoned as demand shifted. Efforts to develop a modern new car were delayed, leading to the 1948 launch of the P3, which combined new mechanical components with older body designs.

Meanwhile, Rover's Chief Engineer saw potential in a civilian version of a military Jeep. Using a simple chassis and body to cut costs and development time, Rover quickly introduced the Land-Rover, which became an unexpected global success.
The company also explored advanced ideas, including gas turbine cars, the Road-Rover (a blend of car and Land-Rover), and various model expansions. By 1953, as this book's story concludes, Rover had recovered strongly and was prepared for a successful decade with new saloons and Land-Rovers.

Product details

Author:	James Taylor
Details:	208 pages, 10 x 7.7 x 0.79 in (25.5 x 19.5 x 2 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	many b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	The Crowood Press Ltd (GB, 2025)
ISBN:	9780719844126

The Rover Story (1877-1988)

This book by Graham Robson offers a detailed history of the Rover Company, starting with the Starley family's bicycle production in Coventry in the 1870s. Drawing on company records and interviews with individuals connected to Rover since the 1930s, the author provides an insightful look into the company's leadership, achievements, and challenges.

Covering the period from 1877 to 1988, the book explores Rover's significant role in the British motor industry, featuring iconic vehicles such as the original Land Rovers, Range Rovers, and experimental jet cars.

This Veloce Classic reprint includes 127 photographs and diagrams, accurate and well-researched content, and reflections on the company's lasting impact. It is a definitive history of one of Britain's most respected automotive brands.

Pages of the book "The Rover Story (1877-1988)"

Product details

Author:	Graham Robson
Details:	224 pages, 10 x 8.5 x 0.87 in (25.5 x 21.5 x 2.2 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	127 b&w photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Veloce Publishing Ltd (GB, 2024)
Series:	Veloce Classic Reprint
ISBN:	9781787119352

Rover Cars of the 1930s in Detail

In the early 1930s, the Rover Company faced serious difficulties. A decline in car sales due to the recession worsened the impact of an unstructured model range. In late 1931, Rover's bank ordered an independent review, which led to a major reorganization of the Board of Directors.
Within three years, Rover had built a strong management team and streamlined its model lineup. The brand became a favorite among professionals, known for its discreet, well-crafted, and highly reliable cars. More than just transport, Rovers became aspirational vehicles.

Little has been written about this crucial period in Rover's history, partly because many company records were believed lost in the 1940 Blitz on Coventry. However, some documents survived or can be reconstructed from other sources, forming the foundation of this groundbreaking book.
"Rover Cars of the 1930s In Detail" explores this transformation in depth, beginning in the late 1920s, when the first models of the decade appeared, and extending to 1947, when revived pre-war models ceased production. Historian James Taylor provides a well-researched and compelling account of Rover's remarkable journey.

Product details

Author:	James Taylor
Details:	192 pages, 10.8 x 8.7 x 0.75 in (27.5 x 22 x 1.9 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	280+ b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Herridge & Sons Ltd (GB, 2023)
ISBN:	9781914929021

Rover Cars 1945 to 2005 - A Pictorial History

This detailed pictorial history covers 60 years of Rover cars and van-derived models, from 1945 to 2005. It showcases all the classic Rover cars, including the SD1, and discusses models that were inherited from British Leyland under the Rover brand.
The book also examines the cars developed in partnership with Honda, later British-designed models, and concludes with the final City Rover.

The book also includes information on Rover models that were designed but never produced, existing only as prototypes in museums.

As part of Veloce's Pictorial History series, this book offers a thorough description of all postwar Rover models, with illustrations and technical specifications for each one.

Product details

Author:	James Taylor
Details:	80 pages, 8.7 x 8.5 x 0.24 in (22 x 21.5 x 0.6 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	300 b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Veloce Publishing Ltd (GB, 2019)
ISBN:	9781787116092

British Leyland - The Cars, 1968-1986

In 1968, British Leyland was formed by merging most of Britain's car manufacturers to create a strong, unified group capable of competing with major European companies. However, this goal was not achieved.

Many books have explored the politics and business aspects of British Leyland, but "British Leyland - The Cars, 1968-1986" focuses specifically on the vehicles produced by the company. It covers both inherited models and those developed under its management.

During its 18 years, British Leyland produced a wide range of vehicles, often leading to confusion about their origins. This book clarifies which models were made, by whom, and when.

The book stops at 1986, the year British Leyland ceased to exist. What remained of its car and light commercial vehicle division was renamed the Rover Group.

Pages of the book "British Leyland - The Cars, 1968-1986"

Product details

Author:	James Taylor
Details:	192 pages, 11 x 8.5 x 0.79 in (28 x 21.5 x 2 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	63 b&w and 173 color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	The Crowood Press Ltd (GB, 2018)
ISBN:	9781785003912

Making Cars at Longbridge : 1906 to the Present Day

This richly illustrated book offers a detailed history of over 100 years of car manufacturing at the Longbridge factory near Birmingham. Founded by Herbert Austin in 1905, the Austin Motor Company later became part of the British Motor Corporation, British Leyland, Rover Group, and MG Rover. The factory produced iconic British models, including the Austin Seven, Mini, Austin Metro, MG TF, and Rover 75.

From its early days, Longbridge was a key employer and an important part of the local community. However, in April 2005, MG Rover entered administration, marking a significant change for the area and prompting its long-term regeneration. Despite these changes, the community remains proud of its manufacturing heritage and looks to the future with optimism.

This updated edition commemorates both the 110th anniversary of motor production at Longbridge and the 150th birthday of Herbert Austin. It includes a new colour section depicting the car manufacturing process, from design to showroom.

Product details

Author:	Gillian Bardsley, Colin Corke
Details:	192 pages, 9.8 x 6.7 in (25 x 17 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	220 b&w and 8 color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	The History Press Ltd (GB, 2016)
ISBN:	9780750965293

Rover, l'élégance britannique

For more than a century (1904-2005), Rover represented elegance and prestige in the British automotive world. From its first vehicles in 1904 to its demise in 2005, the brand left its mark with iconic sedans, surviving two wars and the British Leyland crisis of the 1970s.

In the 1980s, Rover established itself as an upscale generalist brand with the 100, 200, 400, 600, and 800 series. After being acquired by BMW, the brand disappeared in 2005 following the bankruptcy of the MG Rover Group.

This book traces the history of Rover year by year. It examines the company's development, the strategies of its various owners, and presents the models, their features, and their evolution. The historical, economic, and geopolitical context is also considered, with over 500 photos included.

Contents:
- Origins and first Rover models
- Brand chronology (1904-2005)
- Appendices: production and registration figures in Great Britain and France

Product details

Author:	Adrien Cahuzac
Details:	160 pages, 12.2 x 9.25 in (31 x 23.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	500 b&w and color photos
Language:	French
Publisher:	ETAI (F, 2015)
Series:	Héritage
ISBN:	9791028300753