Rover 9

Rover 9/20
1926 two-seater
Overview
Manufacturer	Rover
Designer	Jack Sangster
Body and chassis
Body style	open 2-seater or 4-seater fixed head coupé 4-door Weymann saloon
Dimensions
Wheelbase	standard: 94 inches (2,388 mm) de luxe: 99 inches (2,515 mm) super: 104 inches (2,642 mm) Track 48 inches (1,219 mm)[1]
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

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.

Engine

A 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

• 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]

1925 open 2-seater

The Nippy Nine, dickie seat open

1925 4-seater tourer

1925 instrument panel no driver's door

Road test

The 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]

Badge

References

1. Cars Of To-Day. The Times, Tuesday, Aug 12, 1924; pg. 7; Issue 43728
2. Hough and Frostick, Rover Memories, Allen & Unwin, London 1966
3. Malcolm Bobbit, Rover P4, Veloce, Dorchester, 2002 ISBN 9781903706572
4. The Motor Show. The Times, Friday, Oct 17, 1924; pg. 20; Issue 43785.
5. The Motor Show. The Times, Friday, Oct 09, 1925; pg. 8; Issue 44088
6. Cars Of To-Day. The Times, Tuesday, Apr 20, 1926; pg. 11; Issue 44250

External links