Rover Sports Register Forum

Hi All
Excuse my ignorance but I'm a bit confused. What is the max power output of my 1939 14 (1901cc)? Is it only 14.9? Wikipedia says the earlier model (1577cc) was 54bhp. What power did Rover claim?
Cheers
Rich

I think the difference is HP & BHP

In the first part of the 20th Century engine horse power was based on the RAC (Royal Automobile Club) hp rating, which was a complex formula based on the cross-sectional area of an engine's cylinders and was used for taxation purposes. It was not far from the actual power of an early car (1910-20), but more modern cars (1930 -1940) could probably produce many times their RAC hp rating. Manufacturers found they could make the piston stroke very large, increasing the engine's power, but without changing the taxation class; this caused some mechanically undesirable designs. So a Rover 10 or 12 was a taxation class, the engine output could be more especially when items like triple carbs were added to a long stroke engine. As a matter of interest in the P3 and P4 range a Rover 60 or 75 etc was named after the actual BHP, as the taxation law had changed.

Hope that helps

...and in the 1920s they used both at the same time on the same car, hence the 14/45 and 16/50 Rovers from the mid 1920s.

Thanks Gents. That explains the theory. But what is the max BHP of my 14?

That depends if you have 1 or 3 carburettors

Just the one.

Hi,
I have some Lockheed hydraulic parts on eBay for a 1934/5 14hp. 1 3/8"pistons
I've had enquires if these are the same as P3 .
The hoses seem to be Lockheed's own thread slightly bigger than 3/8 bsp 16tpi,
How do these compare to P3 hoses wheel cylinders etc..
Cheers Jeff. Lee.

Our 1939 16 is 55BHP (2.1L)

Thanks Phil. I'm going to estimate mine is something similar.