Friday 6th May 2011

SOTW: Rover 216 Vitesse EFI

As '80s rot-boxes go, this one hasn't...

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Having worked briefly for a well-known car rental franchise in a small UK town in the mid-to-late '80s, I claim to know a thing or two about the Rover 216 'SD3' models.

For instance I know that if an out-of-town punter returned his rental out-of-hours on a Friday evening, it was child's play to pick the keys and the paperwork up from the letter box, get to work with a ballpoint pen and find oneself the proud keeper of a 216 Vitesse for the rest of the weekend. Getting it back in one piece before the morning shift started on Monday was the key to a successful operation.

I also know how youthful exuberance/idiocy can conspire to wreck even the best laid plans. In which case, and assuming said 'rental' was in more than one piece come Monday, it was best if that out-of-towner was heading to Heathrow on the train and a flight home to some far flung country. The farther flung the better...

But most of all, I know that back in 1986, the Rover 216 was a nicer car to drive than a Montego, which also littered rental fleets back in the day.

Especially in Vitesse EFI guise like this time-warp specimen up for grabs on eBay, which features uprated suspension, sporty seats and natty latticed alloys - even if it can't muster the V8 power unit of its bigger (and more credible) brother the SD1. (OK, it's only got a 102bhp four cylinder 1600 S-Series lump, but it does feature Lucas electronic fuel injection which back then warranted a logo on the rump.)

Still, not an obvious choice for SOTW we freely admit, but this one caught our eye because it's done little more than 25k miles, and it looks so clean - check out that engine bay shot, and the blurb from the vendor who's selling a car which used to belong to his evidently fastidious Dad. We know we did a 'proper' Rover last week, but there's mileage in this for somebody, surely?

Advert says:
Unique opportunity to own a genuine low-mileage, excellent-condition, light blue Rover 216 Vitesse EFI.

Previously owned and lovingly looked after by my father, this car has been garaged throughout its life, regularly serviced, regularly cleaned and polished, and has genuinely only 26,450 miles on the clock.

Grey interior with mahogany finish on doors, 4-speaker stereo radio cassette player, electric front and rear windows, central locking - all in full working order. Tyres and exhaust have only about 500 miles use.

Taxed to end March 2011 (not renewed as garaged at present) ; MOTd to 6th July 2011; runs on unleaded petrol.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL
CAR IS AVAILABLE TO VIEW
THANK YOU FOR LOOKING!

[Oddball RS]

Gobsmacked at the condition they rotted like they should have in the 70's i thinks its great to see one in this condition, there are not many left, and as a teenager they used to be an everyday site / memory.

[mattman]

why do i have the need to buy this and wrap it up in the back of a garage for another few years?

Top shedding, it looks kinda cool now

[oxfordbiker]

My first ever car (mine was in red), bought for £595 in 1995 - seems they are appreciating in value at last Capable of phenomenal rolling (front wheel) burnouts and bounced around like the General Lee, which was fun too for an 18 year old.

[gforceg]

To paraphrase the mighty Lemmy; "I wouldn't f**k that with a stolen cock."

Next.

[mnkiboy]

Finding it hard to get excited about this weeks SOTW. It just shouts 'Richard Bucket' at me.

[Crimp a Length!]

Terrible car back in the 80's.
Amazing its in good condition.
Must have been stored in atmospheric free capsule somewhere & coated with grease.
Terrible.

[Lets Torque]

Liquid Knight Liquid Knight, your thread is here.

Top Shed!

I don't normally like these as my mom had a white one in the ninties, but to see one in that condition is really good.

[TristPerrin]

I remember my Grandfather had one of these when I was very young. I also remember him shouting at me for picking at chunks of rusty bodywork while playing on the driveway

[NoNeed]

I wanted to ask "what's a casette player" but as I am old enough to remember the other burning question will be asked instead. Why oh fking why has somebody chosen that for SOTW?




Oh and, has he been sacked yet?

[sjmoore]

Interesting choice. Normally SOTW gives us something interesting in (often) a dubious state of disrepair....whilst this seems to be in brilliant condition, but is utterly boring. Still, would likely make a great first car if you were buying on a tight budget.

[Gizmo!]

The 213 I had as my first proper car was better than the 216... But I massively want this. The OH would never forgive me though!

[Chris-R]

NoNeed said:

I wanted to ask "what's a casette player" but as I am old enough to remember the other burning question will be asked instead. Why oh fking why has somebody chosen that for SOTW?




Oh and, has he been sacked yet?

Not yet, but I am hoping to get away early this afternoon...

[Hub]

These disappeared off the roads quite suddenly a few years back. Still, no great loss... just a dull Honda really isn't it? And as for 'Vitesse'... well it probably isn't!

[mull1974]

Love this and these in general. In a better time I would have that like a shot, came so close to buying one many times years ago but they were always rotten.

Hope that makes a decent price.

[blueg33]

My first company car was a 213S, oh how I lusted after the dizzy heights of a Vitesse!

[ianwayne]

I know a friend who had one of these way back, was very quiet if running properly. It won't be just the poor mpg, it's the £215 it will now cost to tax it. Classic insurance would be very cheap though

Starting at £899 is a bit ambitious - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rover-216-Vitesse-EFI-Genuin...

AND it's in Lanarkshire. It would cost me £200+ just to fetch it.

Edited by ianwayne on Friday 6th May 08:44

[Turbocharger]

Bang on the spirit of shed - it's no monster Jag but it's never going to hit you with a big bill either...

[paulmurr]

[Lord Flathead]

Just ran a quote through on classic insurance. £101. You won't lose any money with that car if you keep it like it is. Very rare in that condition and with that mileage you're getting a car which should feel nearly new.

A credit to its owner and a notable shed. For those complaining, what other top of the range car can you buy from that era for that money in that condition with that mileage huh?

[tezzer]

Buy this, a gaberdine mac, a cloth flat cap, and anodding dog for the parcel shelf, then go out and bimble along at 40 in a 60, 40 in a 30, etc. etc. and see how big a queue you can build up behind you.

Pipe an optional extra, of course, billowing plumes of stinking smoke out of the drivers window, open about an inch, to save the draught.