Rover 75

The story

Developed under BMW ownership, the 75 was quiet, comfortable and beautifully made. It won praise everywhere, but BMW sold Rover in 2000 and the car never got the chance it deserved. Production ended when MG Rover collapsed in 2005.

Inside

Oval cream dials set in a curved walnut dash, with chrome rings and soft leather. It was a deliberate nod to Rovers of the 1950s.

In period colours

Tap a colour to respray the drawing.

Meanwhile, in 1998

The Good Friday Agreement was signed in Northern Ireland.

Best-selling single of 1998: Believe by Cher

Before you buy a 1990s car

• On petrol engines, check the cooling system and any sign of head gasket trouble.
• Ask when the timing belt was last changed, where fitted.
• Parts for mass-market cars are widely available; specialist and low-volume models can be hard to find.

General notes, not specific to this model. Check the model's own history before buying.

Rivals of its day

Picked automatically: cars on sale at the same time with similar size, speed and price.

See the real thing

These open in a new tab: the car on Wikimedia Commons, the interior and the badge as Google image searches.