Rovin D4

The front and rear of this car are the same. Because of the small wheels and the resulting seemingly tall bodywork, the Rovin looks a bit like a pedal car.

The front and rear of this car are identical. Because of the small wheels and the resulting apparently tall bodywork, the Rovin looks a bit like a pedal car. Yet it has surprisingly advanced technology, such as a synchronized three speed gearbox and independent suspension all round. The first models have a 260 cc air cooled single cylinder; later this is replaced by a 462 cc water cooled two cylinder boxer engine. As early as the 1920s, the Frenchman Robert de Rovin builds motorcycles and for his own use a few cyclecars. After the Second World War he starts producing small cars. Although later models like this D4 have a 13 hp, 462 cc engine, the Rovins cannot compete with the Citroen 2CV. The brand disappears in 1958. Rovin was imported into the Netherlands by Louwman & Parqui.