Hemmings Classic Car – October 2019

H

yacinth Bucket (pronounced “Bouquet”

or “boo-kei”) doesn’t have a driver’s

license, but that doesn’t stop her from

being a passenger-seat driver. “Mind

the cows, Richard.” To which, he replies in a

monotone voice, “Minding the cows.”

I do hope you are familiar with the British

sitcom, Keeping Up Appearances (1990-’95), or this

column will be pointless.

Aside from telling Richard how to drive,

Hyacinth insists he keep their small, medium blue

saloon (sedan in U.K.-speak) absolutely spotless.

“Richard, your car

is immaculate,”

declares next-door

neighbor and

nervous coffee

drinker, Elizabeth.

“Hyacinth

wouldn’t have it

any other way,”

replies Richard,

the most patient

husband on the planet.

The saloon is a 1986 Rover 216, which

figures prominently in the entire run of the series.

It looks much like a mid-1980s Honda Civic sedan,

and there is a good reason for that.

Preceded by the Austin Maestro and

succeeded by the MG 3, the Rover 200 and

subsequent Rover 25 saloons, were built and sold

by British automaker Rover from 1984 to 2005.

The first generation was based on the Honda

Ballade, and the second generation was based on

the Honda Concerto, which was built on the same

assembly line in Longbridge as the Rover 200.

The third generation was a Rover design. Before

BMW sold Rover in 2000, the Rover 200 became

the Rover 25. The later MG ZR was based on the

Rover 25. The Rover name now belongs to Indian

automaker, Tata Motors.

Confused yet? That’s the global automaker

situation these days. You can buy an American car

made in Mexico, a Japanese car made in America,

and a French car made in Montenegro, all with

parts from all four corners of the globe. Chances

are the car you drive shares a platform from

another manufacturer and is sold with a slightly

different body and name in another country.

Produced from 1984 to ’89, Richard’s

Rover 200 series was available as a four-door

saloon and powered by a Honda 1.3-liter EV214

or 1.6-liter S-Series inline-four and mated to a

five-speed Honda manual transmission. Available

transmissions that the Buckets chose not to mark

on the build sheet, were a two-speed Honda

automatic and a four-speed ZF automatic. There

were 245 centimeters (96.5 inches) between the

wheel centers.

Whenever I discover a four-door car with a

wheelbase shorter than 100 inches, it reminds me

of the development of the 1950 Nash Rambler and

how the engineers said it was impossible to design

a four-door car with a wheelbase of 100 inches. In

1960, they did.

Hyacinth would be pleased to know that

the Rover 200 series was more upmarket than

the existing Maestro and

Montego models, which

were smaller and bigger,

respectively. Unlike similar

cars—the Volkswagen Jetta

for example—the Rover

200 was not based on an

existing hatchback body.

While based on the

Honda Ballade, the design

was a collaborative effort

between the two companies. The aforementioned

Honda version was never sold in England.

The last of the Rover 200 series was built in

late 1989, with leftover stocks sold as 1990 models.

Here are some interesting facts: Exterior shots of

the Buckets’ Rover 216 and around their house

were taped in Binley Woods, Warwickshire, a

village east of Coventry. Two cars were used. Early

episodes had a car with license plate D541 EXL,

followed by the second car with D541 EFL.

The Rover 200 series, and in particular the

216, are not highly collectible. In fact, they are not

collectible at all. So, why would you want one?

Seriously—why wouldn’t you? First off, you can

find one easily for less than £1,700 (approximately

$2,130). And since it shares Honda mechanicals, it

will be a breeze to maintain.

Second, of all the cars for which you could

create an interesting display at a show, the 1984-

’89 Rover 200 series would be the most fun. You

will need a mannequin—or a full-figured friend—

in a blue floral print dress and a large hat sitting

in the passenger seat, with a picnic basket stocked

with Royal Doulton China with “the hand-painted

periwinkles” and plenty of Riparian delights. You,

of course, will be dressed in a Lloyd’s of London

blue blazer, gray slacks, white shirt, blue striped

tie, and a driver’s cap. Tell everyone you are going

to the river for an outdoor finger buffet with the

Vicar, his wife, Elizabeth, and Emmet.

And when you show your Rover 216, mind

the spectators!

Mind Richard’s Rover

miltonstern

I do hope you

are familiar

with the

British sitcom,

Keeping Up

Appearances

(1990-’95), or

this column will

be pointless.

40 HEMMINGS CLASSIC CAR OCTOBER 2019 I Hemmings.com