I would say don’t laugh, but what’s the point? You’re going to laugh anyway when I tell you that I once wanted a Rover 213 SE, just like this one. And the reason I wanted one? I’m not even sure. In the back of my mind, I think they might’ve had a surprisingly low insurance group, but I might be misremembering that entirely. If anything, it was more likely to be the opposite. It was based on the Honda Ballade, of course, and Japanese cars were notoriously pricey to insure.

It probably had something to do with the allure and prestige of the Rover badge, too, which shows you just how old I am. You could also probably swap the word ‘prestige’ for ‘pomposity’ to be honest. Because while the rest of my age group was being bombarded with advertising encouraging them to buy Nike Air Jordan IIIs, which would make them look cool, I was being indoctrinated to want a frumpy Rover 200 by watching episodes of Keeping Up Appearances. And that’s another thing I really shouldn’t have admitted to. In my defence, it was one of number of ropey BBC sitcoms I watched for the simple reason it meant postponing doing my homework for another half an hour. Last of the Summer Wine was another I endured because it was a better option than some Sunday night algebra.

The thing is, I quite liked the look of the old SD3. It had nice proportions and a clean, elegance about it. At least it did to me back then. And I must point out, too, that I wasn’t your typical teenage boy. I didn’t much hanker after the usual crop of hot hatchbacks from the day. By the time I’d hit 20, my car purchases had included a Mk2 Vauxhall Cavalier Antibes, a Mk3 Ford Granada 2.4i Ghia X and a Series 2 Daimler Six. I think that, had the SD3 fascination manifested, it would’ve slotted in after the Cavalier.

In the end I never owned a 200 and I have, to date, never driven one. Was it a bad car? That’s a genuine question to those that know, by the way. My impression is they were okay to drive, if you weren’t looking for the last word in handling and preferred, instead, a modicum of comfort. Soft springs to go with those softly cushioned velour seats, perhaps? And then there was the reliability factor of Honda hardware. The 216 versions used BL’s S-Series engine, but the 12-valve in the 213 was a trusty Honda motor. The gearbox was Honda’s, too, which applied whether you went for the five-speed manual or this version’s three-speed auto.

That said, the 200 was constructed at Longbridge, and clearly Honda had its doubts about how well they were being put together. The 200’s sibling, the Ballade, was built on the same line, but rather than let Ballades go straight out to its customers, Honda shipped them up to its new Swindon plant for a once over and some peace of mind.

I’ve absolutely no idea what the response will be to seeing this car. It interested me because it brought back memories I had long relegated to the depths of my mind. The SD3, too, had ceased to exist in any meaningful sense in my brain, and, like certain scents or a particular piece of music, it reactivated those withering synapses. If nothing else, that pleased me. And seeing one, let alone one in such lovely condition and with so few miles on the clock, I hope will bring a warm response to others, too. I am not holding out much hope of that, mind you.

Engine: 1,342cc, four cylinder, naturally aspirated
Transmission: 3-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 70 @ 5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 73 @ 3,500rpm
CO2: N/A
MPG: N/A
Recorded mileage: 32,000
Year registered: 1989
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £5,500