Biographical Data - L

Lawson, Harry

Harry Lawson is one of the most dazzling personalities in British automotive history. He builds the Daimler car under license. His ambitious and hopeless plan to buy up the entire young British engine industry is not working, despite all his efforts.

Lewis, Edmund W.

Edmund W. Lewis joined ROVER in 1903 from Daimler, where he was Chief Draughtsman. He had been wooed off because they were extremely impressed by the vacuum carburetor developed by Lewis.
He designed the ROVER 8 hp from 1904, which is not a modification of a foreign model, but a real new development.
Since the 8 hp is technically complex and therefore quite expensive, he pushes a simpler car, the 6 hp, right after it.
1904 Lewis takes part in car race in Bexhill-on-Sea with the 6 hp .
In 1906 he develops the 10/12 hp and the 16/20 hp.
At the end of 1910 Lewis leaves ROVER and takes over a leading position in Siddeley-Deasy (Armstrong-Siddeley).
 
Lewis about his carburetor:
"The principle of the new ROVER carburetor is basically quite normal, because not only the additional air supply but also the quantity and speed of the air is regulated by the nozzle."
 
After a test drive with the new carburettor, a journalist notes enthusiastically:
"On the trip from Coventry to London, I found that my engine had improved by about 20 percent. I just raced up the hill".

Lindsay, A. J.

A. J. Lindsay is employed at the ROVER dealer Rossleigh in Edinburgh. In 1914 he took part in the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man with a ROVER. With [⇒ Bush Newsome] and [⇒ Douglas Brown] he becomes team winner.

Lloyd, John

John Lloyd becomes [ ⇒ Spencer Kings] successor at Rover-Triumph. 1975 he becomes head of the entire running vehicle technology at British Leyland Limited.

Locker, Harry

Harry Locker has been responsible for styling since the late 1930s. He designs and develops the P2 bodies. After the II. After World War II he designed the M1 body, also an open version. Afterwards he does the re-styling of the P3.

Lockhart, Frank

Frank Lockhart is (at least in 1989) owner of the ROVER Special racing car. He successfully conducts historical races.

Loewy, Raymond

The American Raymond Loewy is an advertising specialist.
His company Raymond Loewy Associates designs for Studebaker two cars for serial production. A new feature is the "3-Box-System" with a relatively short engine compartment, passenger compartment and separate boot. This sets a new standard in automotive engineering.
Among his designs is also the "template" for ROVER's "P4".

Lombard, Adrian

Adrian Lombard is an engineer at ROVER in 1940. He modifies [ ⇒ Whittles] gas turbines quite substantially. He will later become Director of the Aero Engines Department at Rolls Royce.

Lyons, William

William Lyons and William Walmsley found the Swallow Sidecar Company (share capital: £ 1000) in Blackpool in 1922. They produce sidecars for motorcycles.
In 1926, the production of car bodies (e. g. Austin Seven Swallow) began. The company is renamed in The Swallow Sidecar and Coachbuilding Company. Due to lack of space, the company moves to Coventry. Among other things, car bodies are created for Morris Cowley, Fiat 509A, Wolseley Hornet and Standard.
In 1931, the company introduced its first own car in London - the type "SS." with the six-cylinder engine from Standard.
After World War II the company was renamed Jaguar Cars Ltd. Inspired by the BMW 328, William Lyons developed the Jaguar ""XK 120"". In 1960 Jaguar takes over Daimler, together with its shares in BSA.
William Lyons is ennobled for his services to the British automobile industry.
1968 follows the fusion with Leyland.
Lyons vehemently opposes the serial production of the ROVER P6BS sports car, as it is faster and cheaper than the contemporary Jaguar cars.