RE: PH Carpool: Rover SD1 Vitesse
Discussion
My dad had two, a '77 maroon one with very yellow velour interior and a gold 1980 3500S with drab brown velour. It was a big step up from the metallic brown 1972 1600GT Cortina Mk1V with shiny, slippery black vinyl seats that I passed my test in, and I remember his grin from ear to ear to this day. I remember 120 on the M1 at night with Then he went back to sensible Granada, Camry, Accord etc. 
My dad had a Vitesse in 1983, EEG930Y it was, Moonraker blue I think the colour was called. Used to love hearing him leave for work in the mornings. That & letting me borrow it from time to time, ended up getting it sideways on a damp road in third, fortunately, more by luck than judgement, it gathered itself up & I continued unscathed with my heart nearly bursting out of my chest!
Great car & great memories.
Great car & great memories.
I was never a big fan of the SD1. I always preferred the previous P6 3500S.
My then employer had a normal SD1 3500 which I occasionally got to drive and it was not a pleasant experience - steering was horribly light and over-assisted and the warning lights on the dash were forever coming on.
The Vitesse was doubtless a much better car but it was always the better-looking but half-cylindered CX GTi Turbo I always fancied.
My then employer had a normal SD1 3500 which I occasionally got to drive and it was not a pleasant experience - steering was horribly light and over-assisted and the warning lights on the dash were forever coming on.
The Vitesse was doubtless a much better car but it was always the better-looking but half-cylindered CX GTi Turbo I always fancied.
A relative of mine had one of these from new in Liechtenstein - talk about a duck out of water - but the little black number plates suited it very well and showed off the great shape!
Rusted to hell in all the snow and was horribly unreliable - but he loved it with all his heart and kept it for years - which after decades of Mercs he couldn't seem to say about any of them.
Rusted to hell in all the snow and was horribly unreliable - but he loved it with all his heart and kept it for years - which after decades of Mercs he couldn't seem to say about any of them.
He had the straight six version I think and I remember it was bright yellow 
I'll see if I can get a picture of it.BeirutTaxi said:
Nice cars.. but I wouldn't go there. I've met a few (bright) engineers who have owned them and all of them have said the quality stinks. The common element that's been mentioned is that all of the seals on the car are utter crap.
Would it be viable for a restoration company to provide a similar service to what KWE does for old Jags? Strip out and replace all the old crappy components, while keeping the style and the V8 up front. Guess the demand is insufficient Before Group B and the MG Metro 6R4, Tony Pond rallied them too:
Also, even David Bache has admitted that the styling is basically the front end of this:
And the back end of this:
And I can't help but think that there's a subconscious touch of this about it (the designer was inspired by the Daytona too, admittedly):
Also, even David Bache has admitted that the styling is basically the front end of this:
And the back end of this:
And I can't help but think that there's a subconscious touch of this about it (the designer was inspired by the Daytona too, admittedly):
I miss my old Rovers. I must have owned about 8 (or more) over time from the crappy 2000cc to four V8s and always hankered after the Vitesse.
In the 80s when these were classed as 'junk' and you could pick them up quite cheaply, there was not a lot that would match them for spec at that price.
I have also owned a couple of 827s fastback but they are nowhere near the class of a V8 SD1.
Still have the Haynes workshop manual in the shed just in case I ever get another one.
I must have owned about 8 (or more) over time from the crappy 2000cc to four V8s and always hankered after the Vitesse.In the 80s when these were classed as 'junk' and you could pick them up quite cheaply, there was not a lot that would match them for spec at that price.
I have also owned a couple of 827s fastback but they are nowhere near the class of a V8 SD1.
Still have the Haynes workshop manual in the shed just in case I ever get another one.
Edited by Morningside on Tuesday 16th October 10:28
Back in the early 80's a mate of mine bought one of these and used to thrash in mercilessly. I remember it was a bit quicker that the Alfetta GT that was my benchmark at the time but that the live rear axle used to get its knickers in a twist when the bumps on Fife back roads really kicked in - that as a shame because another mate was running a P6 at the time with its De Dion rear axle and the difference in sophistication was marked.
Anyway, it was quick to me and sounded great but unfortunately ended up rolled in a field when something (I can't remember what) snapped in the offside front suspension at speed.
Said mate went back to his TR6 and continued building a TR8.
Anyway, it was quick to me and sounded great but unfortunately ended up rolled in a field when something (I can't remember what) snapped in the offside front suspension at speed.
Said mate went back to his TR6 and continued building a TR8.
Great story & good to know that one of these will be out & about on the roads - love the looks & the sound.
Also the photo of the 2 door coupe 800 - always liked the look of these cars from new & came close to buying one a couple of years ago,ended up with a 4 door saloon. A good car but not with the same hand crafted mini Bentley feel. Just may have to retire to the 'bay & find one for a winter smoker.
Also the photo of the 2 door coupe 800 - always liked the look of these cars from new & came close to buying one a couple of years ago,ended up with a 4 door saloon. A good car but not with the same hand crafted mini Bentley feel. Just may have to retire to the 'bay & find one for a winter smoker.
nice car, dont think there black was a popular colour for the sdi,there was a lot of blue/red/bronze and obviously white,ex police. nice to see this one original,the wheels set it off. There was a police documentary where theu had to get a liver in a medical box from middlesex through the motorway on the M25 ,through ,west end, central london and pall mall etc to a hospital on a friday lunch time, think they had 60 mins to do 50 miles,was amazing with the in car cameras etc all in a Rover SDi
Very weirded out buy this!
Had a dream last night that I saw a Rover Vitesse police car parked at the side of the road, and was having a conversation with my mate about how little money the old bill must have these days if they are still running one of these!
I do remember being very impressed with it though!!!
Had a dream last night that I saw a Rover Vitesse police car parked at the side of the road, and was having a conversation with my mate about how little money the old bill must have these days if they are still running one of these!
I do remember being very impressed with it though!!!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff