Cars of the Rootes Group: Hillman, Humber, Singer, Sunbeam, Sunbeam-Talbot

About Graham Robson

After a varied career in the automotive industry the late Graham Robson gained a worldwide reputation as a motoring historian and has nearly 170 books to his credit. Born in 1936 and educated at Ermysteds Grammar School in Yorkshire Graham then went on to study Engineering at Oxford University. He joined Jaguar Cars as a graduate trainee becoming involved in design work on the Mk II E-Type and Mark X. Beginning as a hobby he became a rally co-driver eventually joining the Sunbeam 'works' team in 1961 taking part in rallies up to International level (once with Roger Clark) but had stopped rallying by 1968. During this time he joined Standard-Triumph in Coventry in 1961 as a Development Engineer mainly on sports car projects. He then ran the re-opened 'works' motorsport department from 1962 to 1965 this being the period of the birth of Spitfire Le Mans cars TR4 Vitesse Spitfire and 2000 rally car developments. Graham Robsons writing began with rally reports for magazines which evolved into a job with Autocar from 1965-1969. He was recruited back to industry at Rootes to run the Product Proving department then after a brief period in 1972 as technical director of a safety belt company became an independent motoring writer. Graham has lived 'by the pen' and 'by the voice' ever since not only writing but commentating presenting and organising events of all types.