I got my first drive in a series rover on the weekend in a 2a trayback on a farm. Hasn't been registered for 5years plus, brakes are useless, clutch is very odd, transmission is hilarious, but what a wonderful car!!! The most impressive part was the 2.25 petrol engine. that 40 year old engine is harder to stall than a new 700kg hatchback. You can drop the clutch, then jump on the accelerator, and the engine seems to stall and comkpletely die for about half a second then BANG, you start going forward and your off. i can't belive how versatile that thing is!!! i managed to teach 2 people how to drive the thing (people who have never driven cars before) and between the two of them, they stalled it once. very impressivve. one guy forget about the clutch and went from first to second without touching the clutch, no complaints, the old girl just takes it and keeps going. one of my friends had been copmlaining about my obsession with rovers, but when i got her in the car and gave her a spin, she was instantly converted.
The muffler also dropped off the thing which gave the motor a much beefier sound which just added to the whole experience. I would like to shake everyones hand that had anything to do with the development of this absolute gem of a car.
cheers!