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.

Yet, for such a small car, the Rovin has surprisingly advanced technology, such as a three-speed synchronised gearbox and independent suspension. The initial models were fitted with a 260 cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine, but this was soon replaced by a 462 cc water-cooled flat-twin. Frenchman Robert de Rovin was building motorcycles in the 1920s, as well as a couple of cycle-cars for his personal use. After World War II he started producing small cars. Although later models like this D4 were fitted with a 13 hp 462 cc engine, the Rovins were not able to compete with the Citroën 2CV and the marque disappeared in 1958. Rovins were imported in the Netherlands by Louwman & Parqui.