Hi fellow roverers!

[pilkie]

Hi all.

I am Pilkie,and ive nipped over from the classicroverforum to ask a Q about a standing rover viking statue I have.
I bought it in about 2005,and have never seen another like it!
It is apparently made of gunmetal,but I think its bronze,stands just under 6" high,ROVER on the detachable shield,and a threaded fixing hole on its round base.
I was told it was available as an optional extra in the 1920's for £1 to mount on the top of the rad,but looking at others ive seen,it doesnt look the same??
Maybe it was made as a promotional item?
Can anyone tell me more about its origins?
Hopefully the pic comes out ok,as my camera is a bit naff,hoping to get a better one for Xmas.
My daily driver,"Everyday!!!,no moderns owned" for the last 12yrs is a 1971 Rover P6V8 auto,I have a 1970 Triumph TR6 ive restored,and am currently restoring a 1954 MGTF1500.

Regards Dave

[GOY189]

Hello Pilkie and welcome to the forum,

I just saw your post and it is indeed a Rover radiator cap mascot, although to have a detachable shield is unusual. They do turn up on ebay from time to time. and there are a number of reproductions about.

I have just looked up http://www.mascot-mania.co.uk/, which says [and has pics of]

"A Red Setter running dog was used by Rover as a company's mascot in 1921 and shown on their literature backing the Clegg 12 hp cars, however, in the same year, 1921, there appeared a much more significant publicity brochure, this time for the 8 hp twin air cooled car. The literature featured a picture of a Viking ship, thereby associating the name with the Scandinavian Rovers of the 8th, 9th, and 10th centuries. The following year buyers of a Rover car were offered a mascot of a standing Viking as an extra for just £1 pound. Marked Rover with Reg App to base. "

"Standing Vikings,( with spear, base meant to look like a rock) produced from 1922. Made from gunmetal or chrome plated zinc and fitted to the '9' models."

"Standing Viking With Axe, produced from 1922 to 1928. Made from gunmetal or chrome plated zinc." Base as your illustration

"Standing figures were made in two sizes, 105mm and 145mm also on different bases, flat, square or round. They carried either a sword, axe or spear. The earliest figures are shown standing on a rock."

Hope this helps

Mike Maher
Kitcher special and 1947 16ss

[pilkie]

Excellent thanks Mike.
Now had a look at the site,didnt find it before!
It would be interesting to find out which is the most common,and which is the rarest?
Ive seen quite a few of the small on rock ones,but never spotted any of the others except for the one I bought!!.