Rover 16

The new engine has a Lanchester vibration damper on the front end of its crankshaft. Its camshaft and valves are overhead, the valves being set at an angle of 45 degrees on either side of the spark plug. At the back of the engine there is a vertical shaft to drive the camshaft. The camshaft works the inlet valves through rockers and by horizontal pushrods works the exhaust valves on the opposite side. The whole mechanism is enclosed and the covers are easy to remove. The double springs on the valve stems have variable tension. Though removing the cylinder head is not as simple as on a conventional design its removal does not affect the timing of the engine or its magneto. The crankshaft has three bearings, the camshaft four. The air supply to the carburettor is routed through a tunnel in the crankcase and in this way the air is slightly warmed while cooling the crankshaft's central bearing. The pistons are manganese with tubular connecting rods and the gudgeon pins receive positive oiling.[4]

Water coolant is fed through a honeycomb radiator by a water impeller in unit with the belt-driven fan drawing air through the radiator.[4]

Pressure feeds from the one reservoir provide automatic oiling to: engine, clutch, spigot-bearing, gearbox and steering, The central bearing in the torque tube is fed from the back axle.[4]

Petrol is kept in a tank midway in the frame and fed to an Autovac on the dash. The dynamo is driven from the gearbox by an enclosed silent type chain.[4]

Steering is by worm and wheel. The steering box is fixed to the cylinder head and a long drop arm provides good leverage. The clutch uses a single plate and runs in oil. The 4-speed gearbox is a strengthened version of the 14/45 gearbox. It is assembled as a unit with the engine. It is operated by a right-hand change speed lever with reach adjustable for the driver. Gearbox lubrication is from the engine and automatic. Final drive is by spiral bevel[2][4]

Brakes on all four wheels are operated by the foot pedal, those in front use the Perrott system. Pressure is distributed evenly by rods operated from a central location. The circular section front axle supports the chassis through underhung half-elliptical springs. The semi-elliptical back springs have central anchorages which can swivel about the axle case.[4]

The saloon's windscreen is V-shaped. The side windows have two sliding panels, two winding panels and fixed panels at the rear of the six-light body. The Weymann saloon's front seat is slidable by hand. The spare wheel is carried at the back of the body in front of the folding luggage grid.[4]

Retrospective

"It was a car with doors that closed with the convincing clunk of a railway carriage, interiors trimmed with wood and leather, and an instrument panel with clear clock-faces. It had furnishings that looked like those in a doctor’s sitting room or even a consulting room, door cappings with fine inlays, and door pockets with leather flaps like giant tobacco pouches. The Doctor’s Coupé was a car for strong men in tweed plus-fours who preferred things built to last." – Eric Dymock, Rover: The First Ninety Years 1904-1994.[5]

The Times' reviewer thought the engine's hemispherical combustion chambers and angled overhead valves unnecessarily complex. Four wheel brakes were provided and the overall braking system was, the reviewer thought, the best part of the whole car. Seating was comfortable in both front and back of the four-door saloon tested and the doorways The Times graded as "usable". There was just adequate headroom. The suspension rocked the saloon fore and aft if there were just two passengers. Comfortable maximum speed would be 55 to 60 mph.[4]

The reviewer also commented that the price seems high for a four-cylinder 16 hp car. The open car was priced at £575, the Weymann saloon £675 and the coachbuilt saloon £775.[4]

Said the correspondent of The Times, "The Rover Sixteen is exceptionally attractive by reason of its quiet gentle manner, sweet running, comfort and spruceness in and out." Further lengthy comment was lyrical. The sole concern was that the engine could with advantage be rather more powerful. Comfortable maximum speed — 75 mph.[9]

The Rover 16 saloon returned to production almost unchanged after the war, but with a different inlet manifold, and the horizontal SU carburettor was replaced with a Zenith downdraught unit, and the white metal crankshaft main bearings were replaced with shell bearings. The drop head coupe version was no longer listed.

1947 sports saloon

1947 6-light saloon

1947 sports saloon interior

1939 drophead coupé