David Bache facts for kids

David Ernest Bache (born June 14, 1925 – died November 26, 1994) was a brilliant British automobile designer. He spent most of his career creating cool cars for the Rover car company.

Early Life and Learning to Design Cars

David Bache was born in Mannheim, Germany. His dad, Joe Bache, was a famous football player for Aston Villa and England. Joe was coaching in Germany after he stopped playing.

Near the end of World War II, David started working at the Austin Motor Company. He was an engineering apprentice, which means he learned how to build and design things. After his training, he moved to Austin's design office.

David Bache's Car Design Career

Designing Cars for Austin

At Austin, David Bache worked under a designer named Dick Burzi. One of David's first jobs was to design the dashboard for the Austin A30 car.

Creating Iconic Rover Cars

In 1954, David Bache moved to the Rover factory in Solihull. He became Rover's very first 'stylist'. This job was different from an engineer because it focused on how the cars looked.

His first big task was to update the Rover 60, 75, and 90 models. He made the back of the car (the boot) higher and made the rear window bigger. A year later, he changed the front of the car. These new designs by David Bache lasted for ten more years with only tiny changes!

He also helped make the Land Rover Series II look less like a farm vehicle and more like a regular car. This updated design, which he finished in just six weeks, stayed almost the same until the Land Rover Defender stopped being made in 2017. That's a really long time for a car design to last!

The Stylish Rover P5

In the 1950s, car shapes were changing a lot. Cars were becoming straighter and sharper. New ways of building cars meant passengers could sit lower. Also, curved glass gave designers new ideas. David Bache was very inspired by the amazing Citroen DS and the cool Facel Vega cars he saw at a car show in Paris in 1955.

David Bache started designing the Rover P5. At first, it was meant to be a smaller car. His first designs were very modern and had lots of shiny chrome. But the head of Rover, Maurice Wilks, didn't like them. He said, "Rover cars don't turn heads. We like cars that pass by quietly and aren't noticed."

So, David went back to work and designed something that looked more like an updated P4. But then, Rover decided to make the P5 a bigger, more luxurious car. David started all over again! He created a strong, simple design. The straight line along the side of the car, from front to back, looked a bit like the Facel Vega. It also had a cool wrap-around front windscreen. It's amazing that the P5's shape stayed the same for fifteen years, even though the P4 had many updates!

The Innovative Rover P6

Rover 2000

In 1963, David Bache designed the Rover P6. This car was special not just for its outside look, but also for its clever inside design. It had an "open plan" dashboard and separate bucket seats in the back.

David also designed a big Rover car to compete with the Jaguar XJ6, but this project was stopped at the last minute. He also worked on a prototype for a sports car with the engine in the middle, but that was also cancelled.

Working for British Leyland

The British car industry went through a lot of changes. Rover became part of a bigger company called Leyland Motor Corporation, and then later British Leyland (BL). Because of these changes, many of David Bache's projects, like the big Rover and the sports car, were cancelled.

The Famous Range Rover

rear view of 1972-1984 Land Rover Range Rover 3-door

David Bache helped design the Range Rover, which came out in 1970. The main shape was already created by Spen King and Gordon Bashford. But David Bache made the car's practical lines smoother and more appealing. He deserves credit for helping make the Range Rover an award-winning design.

The Award-Winning Rover SD1

Rover SD1

David Bache's last Rover design was the Rover SD1, released in 1976. This car replaced his P6 design. It was famous for being a large, fancy car with a new five-door hatchback style and a bold interior. It even won the 1977 European Car of the Year award! However, the car had problems because of production and reliability issues at BL.

Austin Metro and Maestro

As the main designer at BL, David Bache also helped design the 1981 Austin Metro. He also made improvements to the Austin Maestro design.

In 1982, David Bache had to leave his job at BL after disagreements with the new boss, Harold Musgrove. He then started his own design company called David Bache Associates. This company designed things both for the car industry and other areas.

Later Life and Legacy

David Bache passed away from cancer on November 26, 1994. He was married and had two sons and one daughter. His designs left a lasting mark on the world of cars.

Some of David Bache's Car Designs

• Rover P5
• Land Rover Series II
• Rover P6
• 1964 Rover-BRM gas turbine car (with William Towns)
• Range Rover
• Rover SD1
• Austin Mini Metro
• Austin Maestro