Meet the Member: James Cassells

‘Why Rovers?!’ People ask. 

It’s a good question actually.. 

If I had three RS Fords parked outside my house I imagine that I would be required to justify my choices far less frequently, but then I would also likely be in unmeasurable debt! (A clue as one of the things I like about Rovers). 

I’d had an increasing interest in 90’s and 00’s Rovers and MGs thanks to YouTubers such as Furious Driving, Project Nigel and Tom // Drives and had been seeking them out with more purpose while at The Motorist and the NEC. I’d had a hankering for a 200 Coupe or a BRM since my late teens and actually owned an R8 convertible in Tahiti Blue in my early 20’s. But that’s a story for another time.. 

My MG Rover obsession really kicks off in 2022 when I was browsing the BCA Auctions app for cheap turds. I wasn’t looking to actually make a purchase initially but then I stumbled upon a 2001 Rover 45, resplendent in Steel Blue (a wonderful colour in my opinion) and rocking a CVT gearbox! I sent the images over to my friend Adam and he basically told me that I had to have it.  I agreed but I was also well aware that I was buying a £600 car with only a handful of photos to go by. Nevertheless, I placed my bid and was overjoyed when I won the auction! To be honest there was only me and I think one other person bidding on it who probably wasn’t that bothered but a win’s a win right? I remember Adam ringing me when he collected the car for me and saying ‘it’s a beauty!’ - the gamble seemed to have paid off. 

The car was indeed in very good condition with some recent parts and it had gone through an MoT test just a month before! Very curious. It turned out that the previous owner was a Rover enthusiast who had passed the car on through We Buy Any Car as a necessity because he was moving to Scotland (I actually tracked him down via a phone number scribbled on to a paper tag attached to the keys and met up with him while he was back in Yorkshire). I used the 45 as a daily for a while - doing little jobs along the way and getting used to the rather odd experience of using the CVT box.

However, I decided that it might be a good idea to have a ‘back up car’ just in case anything went wrong and that’s when I picked up my ZT 190+ - an earlier car in Zircon Silver which I still own - a purchase this time encouraged by my friend Pete. This turned out to be a good decision as the 45 subsequently decided to blow its head gasket in tremendous fashion! The ZT then stepped in as my daily transport while I took way too long replacing the head gasket, cambelt, water pump, tensioners and header tank on the 45. It was my first foray into more extensive engine work (hence how long it took) but it was a great learning curve and a big ego boost when I didn’t bugger it up! 

It was around this time that my MG TF 160 came into my life. To cut a long story short, it belonged to someone that I knew locally. I happened to drive past him one Friday afternoon as he stood at the side of the road - looking a little perplexed as the TF emitted steam from the side vents. Later that evening while sat in my local pub, I came across that same TF being advertised as spares or repairs due to a suspected blown head gasket. I messaged the owner to ask what had happened and after a bit of to-and-fro, he offered me the car at a price that I couldn’t turn down - the TF was going to join the fleet the next day.

Thankfully it turned out that the steam was not the head gasket but was in fact just down to a pinhole in one of the hoses shooting a fine stream of coolant on to the hot exhaust. New pipe work was sourced and fitted and I enjoyed the summer months during 2024 with the TF. It was a bit of a squeeze to get in to as I’m on the tall side but it was a hoot to drive on B roads with the top down and that wonderful VVC K Series. As the summer months came to an end, I sold the TF on to another friend who now uses it for track days (yes, he has let me have a go).

In 2025, I attended my first PoL in the 45 and then passed that on to a fellow enthusiast. At around the same time, I spotted an ad on Facebook for a Rover 800 Coupe at a bargain price that had been sat for some time and was a non-runner with knackered tires. After sitting in an R8 Coupe at the NEC Restoration Show, I’d come to the devastating realisation that I was just too damn tall to fit in one comfortably and that an 800 would be a more viable alternative. I sent the ad to Pete and Adam and they both confirmed why I already knew - I couldn’t miss this opportunity! The 800 was delivered on a trailer a couple of days later and I was instantly smitten. It turned out that a loose wire on the starter motor was responsible for it not starting - Pete basically wiggled stuff about and it suddenly fired into life. Result! All the missing bits of interior and exterior trim were found within the car - another result as Coupe specific parts aren’t exactly plentiful. A new battery and tires were fitted. New oil and filters added and the car went off to Chris at Retro Sports Cars for a replacement alternator and an MoT. I couldn’t quite believe it when it passed! I could now drive and enjoy this wonderful old barge and that’s exactly what I intend to do for years to come - this one’s a keeper. 

Oh.. and then late last year I also bought a 75 1.8T to use over the winter. No influence from alcohol or my mates on this occasion - this one’s on me! So that’s my story so far. The 75 will likely find a new home in 2026 and I’m hoping to scratch the 200 BRM itch.

So, ‘Why Rovers?’ 

It really comes down to a combination of factors for me. 

Preservation and nostalgia are high on my list - it’s now been 20 years since Longbridge shut its doors -  a powerhouse in the world of British engineering and manufacturing gone forever. Sure they didn’t always get it right and God knows they made some bloody stupid decisions along the way but the cars that rolled off those production lines need to be celebrated and saved for future generations. They’ve been through the doldrums - rock bottom values making cars not financially viable to repair when they go wrong. The scrappage scheme was the death knell for many more and numbers have dwindled over the last decade. They are still a cheap way in to the classic car scene - unlike the RS Fords that I mentioned earlier. This also means that enthusiasts of all ages can enjoy an MG Rover product and it’s encouraging to see so many younger people involved in the scene. 

And that leads nicely into the best part about owning a Rover or an MG - the community. 

I’ve met so many amazing people over the last couple of years who are as determined to keep these cars on the road as I am. Aftermarket support from people like Scott and the guys at DMGRS and Chris and Dawn at Retro Sports Cars help us to keep the dream alive - we all want these cars to survive and to be appreciated. I think their time is coming - the underdog will have it’s day and the growing swathes of enthusiasts would suggest it’s on its way. We don’t care about the head gasket jokes or that our car isn’t commanding a 10k+ price tag at the moment (unless it’s a MG XPower SV of course).

We may not be the coolest kids on the block but damn are we passionate about our cars!