Why you can drive a Rover BRM every day
I write regarding the article you wrote in relation to the Rover 200 BRM, which appeared in the feature Getting You The Most Bang For Your Buck in your 23 September issue. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Nick Larkin’s thoughts on the Rover 200 BRM because it raised awareness of this much underrated and great value performance hatchback.
I hope you don’t mind me pointing out a couple of inaccuracies in your article. Firstly, the traction control system it uses is ‘ Torsen’, not ‘ Thorsen’.
You also mentioned some of the areas where the R3 200 Series is well noted for corroding. The tailgate panels generally don’t suffer from serious rust although the panel above the tailgate where the hinges are is a known problem area. Mine is still on its original cylinder head gasket some 20 years and 39,000 miles later, but any examples that have suffered from it have likely been fitted with the upgraded MLS gasket type, which is a much better long-term solution, as is the uprated oil header rail and new stretch bolts.
Therefore, there is no reason why a 200 BRM, as with any other R3 200 Series fitted with the K-Series engine, can’t be used as a reliable every day car. It’s a great engine that, providing the owner bothers to periodically check the coolant level, should not cause any further long-term issues.
The red leather interior was definitely a unique feature for the 200 BRM although to date there has not been a shortage of used interior trim to find from examples that have unfortunately been broken for spares, all of which have proved to be hard-wearing. The unique features were certainly quality items and I have not experienced any examples where they are in particularly poor condition.
Sadly the MG ZR boys seem to like taking them for use in their examples…
▮ David Morgan, Rover 200 BRM historian, theBRM.co.uk