Record-breaking Rover goes under the hammer

0 0 May 08, 2026 Edit this post

A British-built car that still holds 36 UK land speed records goes under the hammer this Sunday.

The 1992 Rover 220 Coupe Turbo, nicknamed ‘Tomcat’ after its project name, will be auctioned at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire.

It's the same place the car made automotive history 34 years ago.

The car was specifically modified by the Rover development team to break land speed records held by other brands to highlight the launch of the new, 2.0-litre turbo Rover Coupe -- the fastest production car the British manufacturer had ever built back then.

Speed and distance records in its sights included those for 2.0-litre front-wheel drive vehicles.

The modified Rover was successfull in setting 37 UK land speed records, including a 24-hour world endurance land speed record of 138 mph (222km/h), plus a flying 5km run at 156 mph (251km/h).

It still holds 36 of these records.

To help achieve this amazing feat, the coupe was stripped back to a bare shell, checked and rebuilt with various modifications, including engine performance, fuel feed, roll cage, large capacity fuel tank, racing seat and various safety devices.

The car to be auctioned is actually one of two specially modified pre-production coupes, but thought to be the sole survivor of the land speed record attempt which took place in August, 1992.

It is presented in its land speed record breaking specification.

In 2002, the Rover was professionally recommissioned for a commemorative event at Millbrook where it led a cavalcade of surviving Tomcats, while the original team from the Rover factory who built the car were reunited.

A very special car, it is expected to fetch between £19,000 and £23,000 ($35,000-$43,000 Aussie dollars.

Those interested can register to bid at www.handh.co.uk.