Extremely rare 1935 Rover Speed 14 Streamline Coupe

Introduction

The Rover Company commenced the manufacture of cars in 1904 and may be said to have achieved a position of pre-eminence during the 1930s. That decade witnessed a vogue for streamlining first observed in the Chrysler Airflow and soon thereafter widely adopted by prestigious manufacturers such as Talbot. SS cars. and especially Riley. with its range of Kestrel saloons.  In harmony with this trend Rover developed and constructed their Speed 14 Streamline Coupe of which a total of 380 were manufactured from 1934 to 1936. The body work was aluminium and designed by Rover. The tuned six-cylinder engine of 1577cc was high compression; gas flowed and fitted with triple SU carburettors.

Brakes were hydraulic in operation with finned drums and Rudge Whitworth centre lock wire wheels. The model was timed at Brooklands in 1935 at 82. 57mph and being possessed of 54bhp clearly demonstrated its superiority in power and performance over its nearest competitor. the Riley 12/6 Kestrel. When the considerable saving in the purchase price over its Coventry rival was taken into account the advanced and highly specified Rover. with the Company at the peak of its fortunes. must have represented a tempting prospect indeed.

Styling of these cars was by Maurice Wilks. a skilled and technically innovative engineer. however the streamline designs wee two-dimensional in character and lost the sculptural quality found in other ‘airline' designs of the period.

All of the ‘Streamline bodies were manufactured by Carbodies of Coventry. and were assembled at the Rover factory. The dashboards originally carried a plaque proclaiming ‘Coachwork by Rover'

It is estimated that 350 -400 Streamline cars were produced between 1934 and 1936. the majority being saloons. at present some twelve Speed 14 Streamline Speed coupes are known to exist. with six being extant from 1935.

Description and History

CEV 676 was first registered on the 11th April 1935. there is buff logbook to accompany the car. detailing ownership through the 1960's to the early 1980's.

In 1982 the coupe was acquired by Mr Peter Flemming who embarked on a complete restoration of the coupe with a body off. frame up restoration. with the work being completed in 1989.

A full photographic record of the restoration accompanies the car. and meticulously details the restoration from the ‘as found condition' to a fully restored car. CEV 676 has undergone a thorough overall and service whilst being at Le Riche. with attention being paid to the fit of the coachwork. the rebuild of the hydraulic braking system. the oil pump. and any other areas that required attention.

It is possibly one of the rarest British sporting coupes from the mid 1930's that is available today.

Condition Report Overall

In excellent restored condition. supported by full photographic restoration carried out between1982 and 1989

Body / Coachwork / Interior

Excellent restored Condition

Engine and Mechanicals

In excellent condition with recently rebuilt brake cylinders and oil pump.

Documents available

Restoration Album

Original parts book

Copy Rover 14 Handbook

Copy Rover sales brochure

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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