Rover Story

After a varied career in the automotive industry the late Graham Robson gained a worldwide reputation as a motoring historian, and has more than 160 books to his credit.Born in 1936, and educated at Ermysteds Grammar School in Yorkshire, Graham then went on to study Engineering at Oxford University. He joined Jaguar Cars as a graduate trainee, becoming involved in design work on the Mk II, E-Type and Mark X. Beginning as a hobby, he became a rally co-driver, eventually joining the Sunbeam 'works' team in 1961, and took part in rallies up to International level (once with Roger Clark), but stopped rallying by 1968.During this time he joined Standard-Triumph in Coventry, in 1961, as a Development Engineer, mainly on sports car projects. He then ran the re-opened 'works' motorsport department from 1962 to 1965, this being the period of the birth of Spitfire Le Mans cars, TR4, Vitesse, Spitfire and 2000 rally car developments.Graham Robson’s writing began with rally reports for magazines which evolved into a job with Autocar from 1965-1969. He was recruited back to industry at Rootes to run the Product Proving department, then after a brief period in 1972 as technical director of a safety belt company, became an independent motoring writer. Graham has lived 'by the pen' and 'by the voice', not only writing but commentating, presenting and organising events of all types.

• ContentsForewordAuthor's introductionChapter 1 From a humble bicycle...Chapter 2 Birth, growth, crisisChapter 3 Wilks brothers to the rescueChapter 4 Underground, overground-Rover's war machinesChapter 5 One of Britain's fine cars- the 'Auntie' eraChapter 6 World pioneers-the gas turbine carsChapter 7 A Rover for the farmer Chapter 8 The young generation takes overChapter 9 Carving a new image-racing and rallyingChapter 10 Modern times-vee-8s and Range RoversChapter 11 Mergers and manoeuvres-Alvis, Triumph and LeylandChapter 12 British Leyland and SDI-the end of the beginning Chapter 13 Nationalisation and expansion-a bright future?Chapter 14 Rover in the 1980sChapter 15 Full circle-the birth of the Rover GroupAppendix I Blind alleys and oddballs-the Rovers that got awayAppendix 2 Rover since the start. Who has run the company? Appendix 3 The important milestones-who, what, when and where?Appendix 4 One-make clubs for Rover enthusiastsAppendix 5 The Rover pedigreeIndex