What is this car?

[eldar]

Probably 1920s, but no one seems to know what this is. All sorts of guesses, but none really likely yet. The apparent lack of front brakes seems odd. Possibly French?

[nicanary]

Rover 8 ?

[Abbott]

I see it is fitted with the Decapitating Windscreen option

[eldar]

nicanary said:

Rover 8 ?

I believe it is, 1919 to 1925 so right time.

Thanks

[ettore]

Yes, definitely a Rover Eight.

[Abbott]

Restored Rover 8

[EW109]

The lack of front brakes is not odd -- lots of stuff then was rear-wheel only.

There are still cars out there with rear-wheel brakes only.

[Dogwatch]

EW109 said:

The lack of front brakes is not odd -- lots of stuff then was rear-wheel only.

There are still cars out there with rear-wheel brakes only.

Yes, light cars, not very fast and little traffic so lack of front brakes wasn't an issue then.

[Allan L]

Dogwatch said:

Yes, light cars, not very fast and little traffic so lack of front brakes wasn't an issue then.

Not just small/slow cars. It was thought that front brakes would affect the steering, so quite large and fast cars (e.g. 30/98 Vauxhall) had rear brakes only. What they chose to ignore was the effect of using rear-only brakes if the car was not heading dead straight ahead. . .

[Abbott]

With wheels and tire like that it is hard imagine them not going in a straight line

Who is it in the photo?

[eldar]

Abbott said:

With wheels and tire like that it is hard imagine them not going in a straight line

Who is it in the photo?

Head teacher and his wife, circa 1925. Apparently notable for happily ignoring speed limits and scaring the local population.

[Hoofy]

They must have been small people! The video shows the car to be quite small whereas the photo makes the car look massive.

[heebeegeetee]

Front brakes are for wimps.

[austin]

heebeegeetee said:

Front brakes are for wimps.

If you are using brakes you aren't going fast enough.

Can't remember where I heard it but has always made me laugh.

[Allan L]

austin said:

If you are using brakes you aren't going fast enough.

Can't remember where I heard it but has always made me laugh.

Nuvolari was reported to have said something similar at the 1933 TT (according to Alec Hounslow, his riding mechanic) but I can't find the direct quotation.