Rover 9

The Rover 9 was a small car produced by Britain's Rover car company. It had a 1074 cc 9 fiscal horsepower four-cylinder engine. Manufactured from 1924 to 1927 it was first supplemented then replaced by Rover's 10-12 model.

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]
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

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, three 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