Celtic Classics Garage

In the 1860s J.K. Starley sets up business in Coventry. Starley starts to manufacture sewing machines in the Coventry area. In1884 Rover 'Safety' cycles are introduced.
Starley introduces early tricycles and bicycles, using the name 'Rover' for the very first time. The Rover 'Safety' tricycle is followed by the Rover 'Safety' bicycle. The Rover 'Safety' was a forerunner of the modern pedal bicycle, and the name 'Rover' continues to mean 'bike' in Poland. In 1888 Rover Electric Carriage developed. Starley creates Coventry's first 'car' - an electric tricycle which is never developed beyond the prototype stage. In 1896 the Company becomes Rover Cycle Company Limited. The Rover name is well established, and thecompany is renamed. In 1904 Rover stars to build its first car.In 1906 Production switches to cars only. Bicycle production stops, and the company is renamed to Rover Company Limited. By 1920, Rover has established itself as one of Britain's important car manufacturers. Growth levelled out during the 1920s, and Rover suffers badly from the Depression in the 1930s. In 1933 Spencer Wilks becomes Managing Director. In 1946 Maurice Wilks' Jeep needs replacing. He had a farm on Anglesey that made use of a beaten-up war surplus Willys Jeep. He found this Jeep useful for a variety of practical farm uses. Nearing the end of its life, Maurice was considering a replacement. No British alternative existed, and parts for a new Willys Jeep were hard to get at that time. What spares were available, had to be purchased as bulk war surplus stock. This problem identified a gap in the market for a farm vehicle that was smaller than a tractor but was more versatile, and was rugged without being cumbersome. In September 1947 the 'LandRover'
project was made official. Development of the Land Rover progressed quickly. The P6 engine proved to be too small, and a 1.6 litre engine is fitted instead. Two-prototype 80-inch wheelbase Land Rovers are exhibited at the Amsterdam Motor Show. The new vehicle is greeted with enthusiasm, and was eaten up by the motoring press. 1951 Land Rovers out-sell all other Rover vehicles 2 to 1.