Classic British Cars

suzublu · 17th May 2021, 08:02

On BBC4 tonight at 9, Classic British Cars made in Coventry. May be of interest to some of you 😎

coolguy · 17th May 2021, 08:51

On my watch list, as I have Triumphs and Jaguars. Don't think Rovers were ever made in Coventry.

bl52krz · 17th May 2021, 11:10

Jags, Daimler’s, Standard, Peugeot

egremont · 17th May 2021, 13:19

Rover commenced production in Coventry, U.K. Rover had the Meteor Works, Helen Street (referred as The New Meteor Works, and Tyseley factories.

Rover acquired their Solihull "Shadow Factory" after WWII. Their Coventry works had been decimated.

A sign of the times - Jaguar Land Rover are now also manufacturing vehicles in China and Slovakia.

Kevin Williams · 17th May 2021, 15:38

Before the long slow decline to zero car manufacturing in Coventry [even London Taxis have now moved outside the city], and the classic makes in the city post WW2 many people remebee, in the early days before WW1 there were 96 car manufacturers there! Arose from the motorbike industry, which had origins with James Starley and bicycles. Before that there was watchmaking. Daimler buses were also made there and Massey ferguson tractors [all gone too]. There was a lot of aircraft industry too which mainly morphed into rolls Royce ownership. All gone within the city and the Ansty site is being or has been cleared too. However, the old Dunlop wheel making factory is still going

I have happy memories as a "Coventry kid" waiting for my [Daimler] bus to take me to school, with a steady stream of Mortons [BRS] artic lorries taking M-F tractors all over the world whizzing past me, alongside some classic Alvises as their Service Dept. was just up the road.

Hope the programme tonight brings back more memories

SD1too · 17th May 2021, 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by egremont

Rover commenced production in Coventry, U.K.

Rover's first car was electric too!

The Autocar in 1903 reports: "This was, we believe, the first motor machine made in Coventry ... The little car was driven by electricity, the motor and accumulators being supplied by ... Messrs. Edwell Parker Ltd., Wolverhampton ..."

(Source: Rover, The First Ninety Years by Eric Dymock)

Simon

myfirstrover · 17th May 2021, 17:00

Love this old film of the Jaguar factory , only the Chinese army had more people !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei7AWRhetnc

ziggy72 · 17th May 2021, 17:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by myfirstrover

Love this old film of the Jaguar factory , only the Chinese army had more people !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei7AWRhetnc

That was a great watch Jon, thanks for posting it up.
I'll tune in to tonights programme too Ronnie.

myfirstrover · 17th May 2021, 21:07

What a cracking programme ! we really could make cars in those days

The Rovering Member · 17th May 2021, 22:09

Yes, James Starley invented the Rover Safety Bicycle in Coventry, which is basically the design that has been used ever since. His company then became The Rover Company & the rest is history.

He was originally from my hometown of Walthamstow, still part of Essex back then. Now N.E London. Co-incidentally, Frederick Bremer put together the first British motor car in a back garden shed just round the corner from me:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Bremer

And A.V Roe built one of his earliest aircraft under a railway arch on the Walthamstow Marshes:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliott_Verdon_Roe

It was all happening here you know.

17th May 2021, 08:02	#1
suzublu This is my second home rover 75 1.8 vvc club se wedgwood blue Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Seaton Carew Posts: 26,918 Thanks: 65 Thanked 7,142 Times in 4,642 Posts	Classic British Cars On BBC4 tonight at 9, Classic British Cars made in Coventry. May be of interest to some of you 😎

17th May 2021, 11:10	#3
bl52krz This is my second home Rover 75 cdt club + Rover 2.5 KV6 Conni SE Join Date: May 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 11,392 Thanks: 6,587 Thanked 2,262 Times in 1,729 Posts	Jags, Daimler’s, Standard, Peugeot __________________ Great Barr, Birmingham.

17th May 2021, 13:19	#4
egremont Loves to post Rover 75 Connoisseur SE. Auto. Saloon. SE Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 458 Thanks: 163 Thanked 198 Times in 70 Posts	Coventry. Rover commenced production in Coventry, U.K. Rover had the Meteor Works, Helen Street (referred as The New Meteor Works, and Tyseley factories. Rover acquired their Solihull "Shadow Factory" after WWII. Their Coventry works had been decimated. A sign of the times - Jaguar Land Rover are now also manufacturing vehicles in China and Slovakia.

17th May 2021, 22:09	#10
The Rovering Member I really should get out more....... Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: London Posts: 2,953 Thanks: 263 Thanked 538 Times in 431 Posts	Yes, James Starley invented the Rover Safety Bicycle in Coventry, which is basically the design that has been used ever since. His company then became The Rover Company & the rest is history. He was originally from my hometown of Walthamstow, still part of Essex back then. Now N.E London. Co-incidentally, Frederick Bremer put together the first British motor car in a back garden shed just round the corner from me: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Bremer And A.V Roe built one of his earliest aircraft under a railway arch on the Walthamstow Marshes: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliott_Verdon_Roe It was all happening here you know. __________________ Reducing the size of my Rover fleet by adding a 75 to it. Last edited by The Rovering Member; 17th May 2021 at 22:22..

17th May 2021, 08:51	#2
coolguy Coolguy Rover 75 CDT Tourer Auto, Rover 75 2.0 Connoisseur Auto, MG ZT 2.5 Auto and MG ZT Cdti Auto (Monogra Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Finedon Posts: 1,896 Thanks: 933 Thanked 638 Times in 430 Posts	On my watch list, as I have Triumphs and Jaguars. Don't think Rovers were ever made in Coventry.

17th May 2021, 15:38	#5
Kevin Williams Loves to post Rover 75 CDT Tourer [116 bhp] in Wedgwood Blue / MG ZT CDTi [131bhp] in Anthracite Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Matlock Posts: 330 Thanks: 106 Thanked 66 Times in 52 Posts	Before the long slow decline to zero car manufacturing in Coventry [even London Taxis have now moved outside the city], and the classic makes in the city post WW2 many people remebee, in the early days before WW1 there were 96 car manufacturers there! Arose from the motorbike industry, which had origins with James Starley and bicycles. Before that there was watchmaking. Daimler buses were also made there and Massey ferguson tractors [all gone too]. There was a lot of aircraft industry too which mainly morphed into rolls Royce ownership. All gone within the city and the Ansty site is being or has been cleared too. However, the old Dunlop wheel making factory is still going I have happy memories as a "Coventry kid" waiting for my [Daimler] bus to take me to school, with a steady stream of Mortons [BRS] artic lorries taking M-F tractors all over the world whizzing past me, alongside some classic Alvises as their Service Dept. was just up the road. Hope the programme tonight brings back more memories

17th May 2021, 17:00	#7
myfirstrover Posted a thing or two Rover 75 2.0 cdi Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 1,896 Thanks: 401 Thanked 448 Times in 303 Posts	Love this old film of the Jaguar factory , only the Chinese army had more people ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei7AWRhetnc

17th May 2021, 21:07	#9
myfirstrover Posted a thing or two Rover 75 2.0 cdi Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 1,896 Thanks: 401 Thanked 448 Times in 303 Posts	What a cracking programme ! we really could make cars in those days