This unusual small Rover was designed by Jack Sangster, well known in the motorcycle industry as his family founded the Ariel company and he became chairman of BSA.

Sangster approached the Rover company with his design for an air-cooled flat-twin car in 1919. Rover purchased the design and employed him as Assistant Works Manager to oversee production of the Eight in the Birmingham Tyseley factory.

This was perhaps the most successful small car in Britain before the Austin Seven. Over the years the Eight was gradually reduced in price from £300 to £139 until production ceased in 1926. This coupé model was new for 1923 and was very much a de-luxe version, being fitted with a then modern self-starter.