Whatsthisthen?

[bobins]

There's nothing like a novelty, so this is a first for a whatshisthen?

très difficile ou très facile?

Regards Neil

I'm reckoning there's a good chance it's got 'Rover' in the name

[NewcastleFalcon]

I'm reckoning there's a good chance it's got 'Rover' in the name

Yes well done, your French, or your knowledge of Solihull and its environs is spot on

It was a "Dessin du Mois" in Gazoline Magazine illustrated beautifully by Francois Roussel



Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

illustrated beautifully by Francois Roussel

His illustrations are très magnifique

[NewcastleFalcon]

I'm sure many will remember from schoolday French "La plume de ma tante".....

Well, "Cette auto, affectueusement nommée “tante Rover”!

Regards Neil

[bobins]

Yes well done, your French, or your knowledge of Solihull and its environs is spot on

Regards Neil

When it comes to Solihull, there aren't too many other car manufactureres that spring to mind

Wonder if the cathedral tower in the background of the picture is based on a real one ?

[Stickyfinger]

Knowing Solihull, it will be a Minaret now.

[CitroJim]

Knowing Solihull, it will be a Minaret now.

...And full of loudspeakers...

I've spent much time in the Middle East and found the morning call to prayers a great alarm clock. No way you could sleep through it... Most mosques seemed to have a pretty powerful PA system installed!

[Stickyfinger]

[Gibbo2286]

Rover 90, one of my last jobs I did before leaving Brum in 1965 was to fit a new works engine to one of those, if you looked at it you would expect it to be a pain of a job to do but the new engine came with everything on, all timed up, just add oil and water and despite the seemingly limited space it came out and went in with hardly any difficulty.

[CitroJim]

Back in those days you could hold a party in most engine bays, there was so much room!

[Gibbo2286]

Back in those days you could hold a party in most engine bays, there was so much room!

Not on those Rovers Jim, they looked as packed in as the BMW Mini at first glance.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Wonder if the cathedral tower in the background of the picture is based on a real one ?

Yes its the unusually named St Alphege ( l'église Saint-Alphège) quite French sounding to me, and I'm afraid my curoisity had me wondering how many St Alphege Churches there are, and who was St Alphege.



Suffice to say Alphege was a man of Somerset, and was born here by all accounts



Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Back in those days you could hold a party in most engine bays, there was so much room!

Plenty of room here in this 1959 example, and its in the boot



Regards Neil

[Hell Razor5543]

Back in those days you could hold a party in most engine bays, there was so much room!

Plenty of room here in this 1959 example, and its in the boot



Regards Neil

The reason the engine sounds so loud in there is because of all the echoes.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Before the invention of the undertray as well, Northumberland country roads would soon make short work of that shiny engine bay

Regards Neil