Rover Meteor

Rover Meteor
Corsica drophead coupé body on a Meteor chassis
Overview
ManufacturerRover[1]
Model years1931 to 1934
Body and chassis
Classmedium-size
Body style
  • saloon (coachbuilt)
  • Weymann saloon
  • sportsman's Weymann saloon
  • seven-seater limousine
  • chassis for special coachwork[2]
Layoutfront engine rear wheel drive
RelatedRover Two-litre
Powertrain
Enginestraight-six pushrod ohv 2,565 cc (156.5 cu in)[2]
Transmission1. two-plate cork insert clutch, 4-speed gearbox silent third, enclosed propeller shaft with central bearing, spiral bevel drive to half-floating back axle[2] 2. automatic clutch, freewheel, automatic engine starting[3] 1933—>
Dimensions
Wheelbase
  • 118 in (2,997 mm)[2]
  • 112 in (2,845 mm) speed models[2]
  • 130 in (3,302 mm) lwb limousine[2]
  • Track 56.5 in (1,435 mm)[2] option 51 in (1,295 mm) on speed models
Length
  • depends on body
  • 163 in (4,140 mm) speed model[4]
Width
  • not available
  • 66 in (1,676 mm)[4]
Heightdepends on body
Kerb weightdepends on body
Chronology
Predecessor
SuccessorRover 16
Rover Meteor
Layout
Configurationstraight-six pushrod ohv[2]
Displacement
  • 2,565 cc (156.5 cu in)—20[2]
  • 2,023 cc (123.5 cu in)—16[2]
Cylinder bore
  • 72 mm (2.8 in)—20[2]
  • 65 mm (2.6 in)—16[2]
Piston stroke
  • 105 mm (4.1 in)—20[2]
  • 101.6 mm (4.0 in)—16[2]
Cylinder block materialcast iron[2]
Cylinder head materialcast iron detachable[2]
Valvetrainoverhead valves, pushrods, double springs[2]
Combustion
Fuel systemcarburettor with acceleration pump, petrol pump driven from camshaft, 12-gallon tank at back[2]
Managementdistributor driven from camshaft[2]
Fuel typepetrol[2]
Cooling systemhoneycomb radiator in a shell with stone-guard, fan and water impeller driven from crankshaft, thermostat[2]
Output
Power output
  • 60 bhp (45 kW; 61 PS) @3,600 rpm[2]
  • Tax horsepower 19.28[2]
Chronology
SuccessorRover 16

The Rover Meteor was a short-lived 2½-litre or 2-litre medium-sized car made by The Rover Company Limited of Meteor Works Coventry. The new 2½-litre model was announced in mid-February 1930 to supplement Rover's Light Twenty which used the same engine and essentially the same chassis.

A 2-litre car, a further variant of Rover's Light Twenty was announced in July 1932. Under fiscal rating it was a 16-horsepower car and it was renamed Rover Speed Sixteen in mid-1934 but under either name was out of production before April 1935.

The first Meteor was announced a few months into the depression. It is difficult to establish whether models remained in the catalogue from continuing production or they were unsold stock. However it should be remembered it was in this period Rover returned to profit.

The name Meteor was abandoned during 1934, the products remaining in Rover's catalogue as Rover Sixteen (a four-door saloon) and Rover Speed Twenty (a four-seater sports tourer), and in due course they were replaced in the summer of 1936 by the new designs now referred to as P2.

  1. ^ The Rover "Meteor". The Times, Monday, Feb 17, 1930; pg. 11; Issue 45439
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Cars Of To-Day. The Times, Tuesday, Jun 17, 1930; pg. 20; Issue 45541
  3. ^ The Olympia Show, The Times, Thursday, Oct 20, 1932; pg. 9; Issue 46269
  4. ^ a b The Rover Twenty Special, Motorsport magazine September 1931