Classic Car Catalogue

 Rover 1950

Great Britain

P4 75
Land Rover
Jet-1 – prototype 


Solihull

 

 


Seventy-Five


2103 cc
 
Rover 75 Series P4 Saloon was introduced in September 1949, replacing the Series P3. It have completely restyled bodywork, mounted on a new full-length chassis with improved (six-cylinder twin-carb) engine, transmission and suspension. The traditional Rover appearance gave way to full-width styling with an extended boot to balance the front end. A cyclops type foglamp is mounted in the radiator grille.
 


Rover 75

 


Rover 75 (P4)


Powstały tylko dwa egzemplarze kabrioletów, zbudowane przez Tickforda.


Jet-1 – prototype


Road & Track 1950
 

Rover BUILTS WORLD'S FIRST GAS TURBINE CAR

 
40.000 RPM AT 93 MPH
 


Jet 1


The Rover Gas Turbine Car is a much modified Rover 75 Saloon being used as a "test bed" for the newly developed gas turbine. Louvers at rear are for intake and exhaust gas passage. Standing behind the car (left to right) are: M. C. Wilks. chief engineer; S. B. Wilks, managing director; and F. R. Bell, engineer in charge of Gas Turbine Project.

On a typically British grey morning last month, an open sports car whipped down the damp concrete runway of Silverstone airport at Towcester, England. Altho the car resembled a Rover 75 sedan with the top removed and rear deck closed in, the forward position of the driver and the strange high-pitched whine gave notice that here was something new and strange. As the driver slowed for the end of the strip, a whisp of light smoke trailed from a vent in the rear deck.
In the conservative terms of the Royal Automobile Club official test report. the run of the Rover "Whizzer" gas turbine powered car was described.
"The time taken to start the power unit and to run up to idle speed was 13 1/5 seconds.
No attempt was made to attain maximum speed, but during the course of the Test a speed exceeding 85 mph was readily attained, at which speed the compressor-turbine revolution counter indicated 35,000 RPM. (Has since run 93 mph at 40,000 RPM)
In a test of acceleration from a stand-still, the car smoothly attained 60 mph in 14 seconds.”
Altho American newspapers at once seized the Rover press release and labelled the story "Jet Propelled Car", the Rover people were emphatic that the unit was a gas turbine, not a “jet”. An interesting result of this confusion was an editorial in Autonews which said, "American auto engineers scoff at Jet-Autos ... will toast pedestrians". (Perhaps it is Detroit you smell burning?)
The Rover turbine, mounted just forward of the rear axle, uses kerosene to fire dual combustion chambers which ram hot gases into two independent turbines. One of these runs at a constant high speed to drive a centrifugal air compressor supplying the combustion chambers. The other turbine runs at variable speeds, determined by load, and connects with the rear wheels thru 6 to 1 gears and a conventional drive shaft-differential unit.
Exhaust gases aren't much hotter than that of piston engines. Even without benefit of a muffler, noise is not excessive nor unpleasant.
The present engine was designed to include a heat exchanger which has not yet been installed. When complete, the Rover unit fuel consumption will be within range of a comparable conventional engine. Fuel may be gasoline, kerosene, or diesel oil.
Only brake and accelerator are necessary for control: starting is by pushbutton.
In 1940-3, Rover helped develop the pioneer Whittle gas turbine for aircraft and built some of the first units. This valuable experience led to the Whizzer gas turbine car project.
It is Rover's intention to mass produce this car if and when it become practicable: i.e., as good or better than conventional car, in respect to weight and performance. The next project will be an improved version with the engine located at the front.
The Whizzer will be on display in New York at the British Automobile and Motorcycle Exhibition, Grand Central Palace, April 15-23.
Road & Track, April 1950


 

 


Land Rover


4 cyl, 1595cc, 50 bhp; wb: 80 in (2032 mm)
 
In 1950, the lights moved from a position behind the grille to protruding through the grille. During the year, the unusual semi-permanent 4WD system was replaced with a more conventional setup, with drive to the front axle being taken through a simple dog clutch.
In April Land Rover was shown for the first time in the USA at British Automobile and Motorcycle show.
 


Land Rover Station Wagon by Tickford


W Land Roverach wprowadzono nową przekładnię rozdzielczą, umożliwiającą odłączanie napędu kół przednich.