Rootes – a Global Motoring Empire in Coventry

From the mid 1920s a Kent-based motor agency called Rootes Ltd became the largest distributor of motors in the South East.

Managed by Brothers William and Reginald Rootes, by 1932, Rootes Ltd had acquired full control of both the Humber and Hillman motor firms of Coventry.

By the mid 1950s, Rootes had become a global motoring empire producing Commer, Hillman, Humber, Karrier, Singer and Sunbeam vehicles, a large quantity of which was built at their Ryton factory on the fringes of Coventry.

This exhibition charts the full history of the Rootes Group, the vehicles they built, and the thousands of people who worked for them.

Saturday 16 April 
To celebrate the launch of this exhibition, the History Centre will be displaying an array of original slides and photographs covering a variety of categories including car and commercial marques and models, motor shows, celebrities, Royalty, motorsport, factories and workshops, and WWII production.

Calling all former Rootes and Chrysler Employees... your museum needs you!

In 2014 Coventry Transport Museum was awarded an Arts Council Grant to to manage, conserve and digitise the Rootes/Chrysler photographic archive. 
As part of the project we want to record and archive former employees personal experiences. 
If you would like to share your memories with us please contact Damien Kimberley on 024 7623 4289 or email damien.kimberley@culturecoventry.com