Biographical Data - K

Keikhaefer, Carl

Carl Keikhaefer works at Mercury Marine in the USA. [⇒ Martin-Hurst] visits him to make the ROVER gas turbine a boat drive. On this occasion he becomes aware of the V8 engine. He can persuade Keikhaefer to remove the V8 from his boat, package it and send it to ROVER.

King, Spen(cer)

Spencer King, commonly called "Spen", is one of the great personalities of the ROVER family.
His mother comes from the Wilks family, who are closely associated with ROVER. He is a nephew of [⇒ Peter] and [⇒ Maurice Wilks].
His father is a lawyer and businessman. King wants to become an engineer at the age of 11. At the age of 16 he finishes Haileybury School and starts an engineering apprenticeship at Rolls Royce. He is then involved in the development of the Dart gas turbine.
He comes to ROVER in 1943. He doesn't have a nerve for routine work, he is always competent with the construction of cars etc. His basic ideas and his research work in many fields are legendary at ROVER.
Together with [⇒ Frank Bell] he develops the turbines T4, T5 and T8, and from 1946 onwards, like Bell, he is in the project department "C", which, in addition to gas turbines, also investigates and develops diesel engines and hollow vane motors. The first "T8"turbine is installed in his boat "Torquil".
 
In addition, he develops with [⇒ Peter Wilks] and [⇒ George Mackie] the ROVER "Special" - racing car.
In addition to his duties at ROVER, he will also be Director at Marauder.
1956 he becomes head of the gas turbine department.
Since 1960 he has been responsible for all new vehicle projects. He took this position from [⇒ Gordon Bashfords] design team.
In 1961 he returned to the design department. He sketches the P6 coupé.
In 1964 he is fully convinced by the V8 engine, which [⇒ Martin-Hurst] brought back from the USA. He and [⇒ Maurice Wilks] discontinue all work on the ongoing five and six-cylinder engine projects. He checks all possible uses for the V8, but especially in the "P5", whose 3-litre engine has reached the end of its development.
 
In the mid-1960s he resumes the idea of the "Road Rover". 1966/67 he designed the upcoming "Range Rover", because [⇒ Baches] team is too busy.
1966/67 follows, together with [ ⇒ Gordon Bashford] the design of the "P8".
1968 he becomes chief engineer at Standard-Triumph.
Between 1971 and 1975, hr becomes in rapid succession
. Chief engineer at ROVER and Triumph,
Director of product development at British Leyland Cars,
Director of Development and Engineering at British Leyland Cars.
From 1975 on, King became the overall manager of construction and development at Leyland Cars, from 1977 onward he was appointed "top designer" at British Leyland, and since then he has been called "King of BL".
1979 he becomes Deputy Director at British Leyland Technology Ltd.
In 1986 he retires after a busy life.
 
In 1989 Spen King is interviewed by Anthony Curtis under the title "King of BL". King tells about his eventful life and his years with ROVER and British Leyland (BL). There is an interesting insight into many developments. Worth reading!

Knight, Charles Yale

The American Charles Yale Knight (* 1868, † 1940) is a publisher and printer.
Out of annoyance over noisy engines and breaking valve springs, he developed a double slide motor in which instead of valves, the shutters open and close the inlets and outlets. The engines are not uncontroversial, but thanks to their low noise level - the valve motors are extremely noisy at the time - they are appreciated by customers.
ROVER is very interested in these engines, but will soon remove them from its range due to considerable disadvantages.
ROVER does not build the engines itself, but obtains them from Daimler (Coventry). The Knight engines are also manufactured under licence by Daimler (Germany) and other well-known automobile manufacturers (e. g. Minerva in Belgium).