Rootes Marine Outboard Models + Manuals
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Boat Motor Owner Operation, Workshop Service, Repair and Parts Manuals Directory
Chris Craft / Oliver / Perkins / Rootes / Anzani Outboard Identification
Outboard brand names through ownership and production changes:
- Chris Craft Marine (Challenger and Commander)
1949-1953
- 1954 Chris Craft agrees to sell outboards sector to Oliver
- Oliver (J-Challenger, K-Commander, B-Olympus)
1955-1960
- 1959 Oliver agrees to sell outboard sector to Perkins
- Perkins (1959-1961 = 6, 16, 35, 40 hp) (1962-1964 = 4.5, 6.5, 18, 30, 40 hp)
- 1962 Perkins agrees to sell outboard sector to Rootes Marine
- Rootes Marine (1962-1964 = 4.5, 6.5, 18,
30, 40 hp)
- 1964 Rootes agrees to sell outboard sector to British Anzani
- Bitish Anzani (1964-1967 = 6.5, 18, 40 hp)
Rootes Marine Outboards 1962-1964: 4.5hp, 6.5hp, 18hp 30hp, 40hp
The
Rootes Group is a well established company that owned several businesses.
In the early 1960's, Rootes ventured into the outboard market by sourcing
motors which were originally U.S Oliver outboard designs that were now
produced in the U.K by Perkins. Many parts for Rootes outboard motors
can be sourced from Perkins outboards - since British Anzani - "the
last owner of these Oliver designs and production" ended outboard motor
manufacturing in 1967. More info here
Rootes Outboard Data
Oliver outboards were dependable motors, but to compete with the higher horsepower models from Mercury, Johnson and Evinrude, they formed an agreement with Perkins LTD of England in 1959 to manufacture their range of outboards in the UK. Perkins soon after purchased the American designs which were technically more advanced than their British counterparts, and at the time US supplied engines carried a heavy UK import duty so the British-made versions could be sold up to 40% cheaper than the American-made originals. Both Oliver and Perkins outboards were produced for a few years with the Oliver brand being discontinued in the U.S. as of May 1960.
Variations of the Perkins / Oliver motors show up in Europe under a host of different brand names (i.e. Perkins, Franchi, Rootes) as Perkins continued manufacturing outboards thru the early 1960's. In 1962 Perkins sold the outboard business to the Rootes car making group of companies (Sunbeam, Humber, Hillman etc.) but continues manufacturing both Perkins and Rootes nameplates models until 1964.
Marketing and service department limitation at Rootes brought about another short term tenure, and in 1964 British Anzani bought the parts, jigs, tools and Oliver/Perkins design rights including remnants of the original Chris-Craft/Oliver marquee from the Rootes Group. From there production dwindled until in 1967 British Anzani ceased all outboard manufacturing.
Rootes outboards were Oliver designs, modified & produced by Perkins in the UK.
Rootes Marine Outboard Resources
- Chris Craft/Oliver/Perkins/Rootes Marine Outboard Parts - on ebay
- Chris Craft/Oliver/Perkins/Rootes Outboard History
- Perkins Outboard Group on Facebook
Rootes Marine Outboard Manual Directory
Rootes Marine Outboard Motor Manual Listings
Unlinked manuals unavailable - submit a copy for credit: contact us
Owner Operating Instructions / Parts Lists
"Sorted by Year" | HP = Horsepower | Model # | Manual ID | Manual Type
| Year | HP | $ USD | Manual ID | Notes | Manual Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 thru 1964 |
6.5 | $19.98 | Perkins for Rootes 6.5, 18, 30, 40hp rootes6264og  |
Rootes same as Perkins |
6.5, 18, 30, 40 Owner Guide Operator Inst. |
| 18 | |||||
| 30 | |||||
| 40 | |||||
| 6601022 Rootes Marine Outboard Parts Lists | |||||
| Year | HP | $ USD | Manual ID | Notes | Manual Type |
| 1962 thru 1964 |
4.5 | $15.98 | 4.5 HP 64 pages pdf rootes4.5pl  |
Manual Start Short Shaft |
Parts List Tech Data Accessories Parts Index |
| Manual Start Long Shaft |
|||||
| 1962 thru 1964 |
6.5 | $15.98 | 6.5 HP 70 pages pdf rootes6.5pl  |
Manual Start Short Shaft |
Parts List Tech Data Accessories Parts Index |
| Manual Start Long Shaft |
|||||
| 1962 thru 1964 |
18 | $15.98 | 18 HP 83 pages pdf rootes18pl  |
Manual Start Short Shaft |
Parts List Tech Data Accessories Parts Index |
| Manual Start Long Shaft |
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| Electric Start Short Shaft |
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| Electric Start Long Shaft |
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| 1963 1964 |
30 | $15.98 | 30 HP STD 80 pages pdf rootes30pl  |
Manual Start Short Shaft |
Parts List Tech Data Accessories Parts Index |
| Manual Start Long Shaft |
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| 1963 1964 |
30 | $19.98 | 30 HP De Luxe 94 pages pdf rootes3040pl  |
Electric Start Short Shaft |
Parts List Tech Data Accessories Parts Index |
| Electric Start Long Shaft |
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| 1962 thru 1964 |
40 | $19.98 | 40 HP 94 pages pdf rootes3040pl |
Manual Start Short Shaft |
Parts List Tech Data Accessories Parts Index |
| Electric Start Short Shaft |
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| Manual Start Long Shaft |
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| Electric Start Long Shaft |
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| 1954 Oliver Purchases Chris Craft Outboard
Business - Oliver page 1960 Perkins Purchases Oliver Outboard Business - Perkins page 1962 Rootes Purchases Perkins Outboard Business - Rootes page 1964 British Anzani Purchases Rootes Outboard Business |
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