The new daily

[Ravinder]

In the past couple of weeks, I’ve been looking for a replacement for my daily shed which I’ve owned for more then four years and also my first 75 I’ve owned. The MOT has now lapsed and I’ve decided to call it a day on it. It’s done 226,000 miles and it shows on the bodywork. The sills are quite bad now and it’s at a stage where it needs welding probably each year to get it through the MOT. The engine is sweet but also having issues with wheel bearings, tyre wear etc. I will be breaking it and keeping some bits for spares before scraping the rest.

So, the hunt began. After looking at a few cars on autotrader and on the forum, there was one car that I kept going back to. I enquired of its availability and made arrangements to go view it the following week. Train ticket booked and cash ready, I got the train up yesterday morning at 8:04am to Aberdeen before changing over to Dyce and then catching the bus to Inverurie where member Gary (Lovel) collected me 3 hours later and drove me the seven miles to his home in the small Aberdeenshire village of Methwick. Once there, I had a nose over the 75 and Gary talked through the history of the car and the work that he has done to it over the years in his ownership. It was very obvious that the car had been well cared for through Gary’s ownership and prior. A deal was struck without even a test drive as I knew it was the one. We went inside to exchange the cash and do the paperwork over a cuppa and a biscuit and chatted about everything including the hunt for Mrs Singh....(still ongoing and cash still waiting...)

Before setting off, I had a slight setback when the battery went flat. Ignition was left on for a period of time whilst we stood chatting which took the juice out the battery. With a quick jump start by Gary, the car purred back to life. We shook hands and said our goodbyes before I set off. Gary even left me enough fuel in the tank for the 2 and a half hour drive back home. The drive back to Fife was a very pleasant one and it mostly stayed dry before hitting a quick shower when I reached Glenrothes where I stopped off at Morrisingh’s for a toilet break and a sandwich. There, I also spotted a rare Maestro in the car park. I got talking to the owner of the car, a young man in his twenties who was keen on older cars. He had purchased it several months earlier and uses it as his daily. I told him about my new buy which he had a good nose of before we parted our way.
I got home in good time. The car drove fantastically well and didn’t miss a beat. It’s very smooth and quite quick and just looks the part. I’m deeply in love with the colour - Firefrost Red. I was never a fan of the Mk2 75 but it has grown on me in just a single day. This car is a keeper and I hope to enjoy many miles in it over the coming years.
Some pictures below.

Rover 75 Mk2 Connissour SE 1.8 Turbo
Firefrost Red
Mileage: 81,000




Waiting for the train at Kirkcaldy



Rubbish leg space. Don’t ask what the white stains are on my trousers....

Brought my iPad with me to keep me company.



The views across the Tay Bridge




Arrived in Aberdeen



Leg space better on the next train. Still, white stains on trousers, however...



My bus at Dyche for the short journey to Inverurie. Had it all to myself.





Arrived at Gary’s. My new baby.







After it’s mishap.



Quickly stopped in a lay by on the way home for a picture or several.





At Morrisingh’s



The Maestro



My current daily on the left. RIP.



A few snaps from last night after taking it out for a drive.