Charles Spencer King, known as “Spen” to his friends, was born in Surrey in 1925. He grew up in a family heavily involved with the motor industry. His uncles, Spencer and Maurice Wilks, founded Land Rover. When he left school in 1942 he was apprenticed to Rolls-Royce. After three years he joined Rover where he was to meet his future wife, Moyra, then secretary to Peter Wilks.

and another, the creation of which was featured on a TV programme and is owned by Jools Holland. Spen worked on the Rover P4 based Marauder sports car in 1950 and many other experimental and prototype vehicles.

In 1959 he was appointed Chief Engineer of New Vehicle Projects and in the early 1960’s he led the teams that developed the Rover P6. He also came up with the “100 inch station wagon”, the original Range Rover concept. His original quick sketch being virtually unchanged in the final design. It was in development from 1966 and launched in 1970, celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2010.

Spen, to quote his own words, “Moved over to the enemy” when Leyland took over Rover, and oversaw the launch of the Triumph Stag, also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. He led the teams responsible for the Triumph TR6 and 7 and the innovative 16-valve cylinder head used on the Dolomite Sprint.

In 1971, Rover and Triumph joined forces to become the Specialist Division where Spen oversaw the development of the SD1 and SD2. However the collapse of BLMC in 1974 meant that the SD2 was doomed. With the formation of Leyland Cars in 1975, Spen became the company’s Director of Design at the time of the conception of the Metro and Maestro.

As Chairman of BL Technology in 1979 he was way ahead of his time and developed a series of experimental energy conservation vehicle concepts. Advanced aerodynamics and lightweight materials were used to reduce fuel consumption. "ECV3" was brought out of storage for the “Spen King Tribute Run” and put on display at the Heritage Motor Centre.

This vehicle had the first fully bonded aluminium chassis and although Spen never worked for Lotus, it lead directly to the development of the Lotus Elise. Concepts such as this, 30 years later, are only just beginning to be used in mass produced cars. He was an inspirational figure and his colleagues described it as an absolute joy and pleasure to be part of his team. They remark on his futuristic ideas on how cars should be developed and how he was always keen to discuss new ideas, often scratching out designs in the dust!

Spen retired in 1985 but had an active interest in car safety. He campaigned for legislation against unnecessarily thick windscreen pillars that he felt gave modern cars dangerous blind spots.

A private and modest man, Spen King shunned the limelight. But he was hard working and always on the go. He loved water sports and fast cars, and indeed his last car, a Golf 4 RSZ was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. His son Chris told me that he “tinkered with it just a bit”! He even bought a motorbike when he was 75. Spen had a wide range of interests which included Classical Music, Sailing, Skiing and even the occasional artistic venture, his sister and nephew both being sculptors, the desire to create must be in the blood. A very fit man, it was a tragedy that in June, at the age of 85, he sustained fatal injuries after a collision with a van whilst riding his bicycle near his home

Spen will be remembered as one of Britain’s most skilful automotive engineers. LandRover described him as one of Britain’s “All-time greats” and said “Charles Spencer King, known to us as Spen, has been an instrumental part of our company’s history and was the father of the Range Rover, our iconic flagship vehicle.” In fact, Land Rover produced a special edition two door “CSK” model to honour him in 1991.

Triumphs at their starting point, the Standard Triumph Club, Canley :

Rovers at their starting point, Solihull :