Secret Rovers

James Taylor has been writing professionally about cars since the late 1970s, and his interests embrace a wide range of older cars of all makes and nationalities, as well as classic buses, lorries and military vehicles. He has written several books about BMW cars within a portfolio that now consists of well over 130 books. Many of these have been definitive one-make or one-model titles, including a number for Crowood. He has also written for enthusiast magazines in several countries, has translated books from foreign languages, and makes sure he always has something old and interesting in the garage. D.J. COOKE spent his working life in the motor industry in a variety of enjoyable roles but has always had a close connection with Rovers and Land Rovers from the 1960s onwards, having owned and modified quite a few. After finally managing to view early prototypes of both subject cars, and prompted by an old school friend, he was moved to co-write this book to set the record straight, not knowing that it would take five long years of research to piece together. Armed with the full story at last, it now rankles even more that he never got to experience these two exciting and forward-looking V8 motor cars in period.

Marvellous book - a read that proves as frustrating as revelatory - shows how rivalries with Rover, Jaguar and Triumph proved to be as toxic as those between MG and Triumph