The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word MOTORED
M
O
T
O
R
E
D
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "drove" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case drove = motored.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does MOTORED mean?
MOTORED verb- To make a journey by motor vehicle; to drive.
- To move at a brisk pace.
- To leave.
- (chiefly in combination) Having a motor or motors.