New week, new addition to wishlist; SD1 Vitesse

[dpbird90]

Getting into a habit now, every week I find myself trying to justify an interesting car to replace the Panda with, everything from an old knackered mini and a Haynes manual to a Dodge Ram has been covered so far this . Now, oweing partly to Ashes to Ashes a couple of weeks ago, I really want a Rover SD1 Vitesse. Just seeing the black one driven by Litton in A2A made me hurry off to the classifieds. If I saved an etra £1k on top of the Panda's rough sale price (£3-3.5k) there seem to be plenty of SD1's out there. Another option might be to buy a cheap one with faults, and a Haynes manual, which in all honesty I'd prefer (being an engineering student!)
Over to you

[miniman]

Not much to add, really. Seems to me that it's a plan with no drawbacks.

[Gold]

It's a pity this has ended: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

[theironduke]

The Longbridge Daytona lookalikey

My only experience of these cars is the one my Dad and i broke for the engine...which turned out to be fooked. I've still got the bonnet off it in my workshop....let me know if you should require one

[Paul6217]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
Seems a fair bit cheaper than other ones out there aswell..

[dpbird90]

Paul6217 said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
Seems a fair bit cheaper than other ones out there aswell..

that is very good, most seem to be £3.5k or more

[hidetheelephants]

There's not much to add to this; top choice! My only reservations are can you afford the insurance and buy the absolute best you can afford, as restoration, even if you can DIY, is more expensive than buying a good'un in the first place. Oh yes, and make sure and get the underside thoroughly waxoyled/dinitrolled/bilt-hambered(other protective waxy spodges are available).

[Paul6217]

dpbird90 said:

Paul6217 said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
Seems a fair bit cheaper than other ones out there aswell..

that is very good, most seem to be £3.5k or more

Exactly, if I had more years NCD I'd go for it myself

[red_rover]

theironduke said:

The Longbridge Daytona lookalikey

My only experience of these cars is the one my Dad and i broke for the engine...which turned out to be fooked. I've still got the bonnet off it in my workshop....let me know if you should require one

You mean Solihull and Cowley Daytona lookalikey!

SD1 was never built at Longbride!

[mybrainhurts]

I had a 3500SE SD1 for many years, almost from new, and enjoyed it immensely.

If you get one, don't let the MoT bod fail it for holes in rubber gaiters on the rear shocks. The holes are meant to be there.

[dpbird90]

Well, looks like I've finally thought of something great. Most of the time by now 50% of posts are saying I'd be totally bonkers to buy whatever it is that takes my fancy that week. Hmm, can't seem to find any with leather seats, not a neccesity like a V8 engine is, but it would be nice. Also I'm guessing the stereo is pretty poor being from the early 80s? Again not really an issue as I have a decent quality one to put in, I just like my music and in all honesty will probably cruise around with something quintessentially 80s on

[Matt UK]

I'm fond of these as well. My dad had one back in the day, a Vanden Plas EFi. I think it was quite a late one as it must have been in the mid-80's. He had it for a year or so and I remember that he liked it. As a kid I remember him telling his mate that "you don't really drive it as such, just sort of point it in the right direction".

He had a Rover P6 previous though, and if I was ever in the market for a retro-rover, I'd have to try and find one of these preferably in flat-Brown
No idea if any are left and prices comparisons for good ones vs the SD1 though.

Edited by Matt UK on Sunday 9th May 23:33

[theironduke]

red_rover said:

theironduke said:

The Longbridge Daytona lookalikey

My only experience of these cars is the one my Dad and i broke for the engine...which turned out to be fooked. I've still got the bonnet off it in my workshop....let me know if you should require one

You mean Solihull and Cowley Daytona lookalikey!

SD1 was never built at Longbride!

My error All BL goodness nonetheless

[hidetheelephants]

Matt UK said:

I'm fond of these as well. My dad had one back in the day, a Vanden Plas EFi. I think it was quite a late one as it must have been in the mid-80's. He had it for a year or so and I remember that he liked it. As a kid I remember him telling his mate that "you don't really drive it as such, just sort of point it in the right direction".

He had a Rover P6 previous though, and if I was ever in the market for a retro-rover, I'd have to try and find one of these preferably in flat-Brown
No idea if any are left and prices comparisons for good ones vs the SD1 though.

Edited by Matt UK on Sunday 9th May 23:33

Ample left and they are still cheap; £2k for a good runner, maybe £4-5k for a mint 3500(less for a 4cyl car).

[mark387mw]

I used to have one and would still have another - goes well, stops eventually, leaked and had a rotten tailgate and sunroof. Apart from that a nice fast barge of a car.
To get your interest going further, have you seen this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEcIM-J7NH4&pla...

I usually post the link on any topic that mentions the Vitesse

[Shropshiremike]

mark387mw said:

I used to have one and would still have another - goes well, stops eventually, leaked and had a rotten tailgate and sunroof. Apart from that a nice fast barge of a car.
To get your interest going further, have you seen this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEcIM-J7NH4&pla...

I usually post the link on any topic that mentions the Vitesse

Anyone remember the one that Autocar bought to run as a long termer this century? IIRC they only had it on the books a short while before deciding it needed a bit too much work and then shifting it on to someone in the Rover Owners club ( can't find the link from the club )

[dpbird90]

mark387mw said:

I used to have one and would still have another - goes well, stops eventually, leaked and had a rotten tailgate and sunroof. Apart from that a nice fast barge of a car.
To get your interest going further, have you seen this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEcIM-J7NH4&pla...

I usually post the link on any topic that mentions the Vitesse

looks amazing, and 400bhp, much better than an M5 IMO. Also reminded myself of Clarkson's modified one from an old video a few years back, whacked a 5.2 V8 in there, Cosworth style whale tail spoiler. Epic stuff.

[loose cannon]

i used to have a moonracker blue twin plenum vitesse on a d plate, it was a real hoot of a car and is one i wish had never sold,
you need to go in with your eyes open. there are a few good books to read up, they will tell you all the things to bear in mind like the water in the 2 glove box's from when the front screen leaks and things like the coolant temp warning light having a mind of its own, good luck with the hunting.

the rover sd1 story,, by karen pender

rover sd1 1976 - 1986 owners and buyers guide, by james l.taylor

[Caruso]

I had a single plenum Vitesse, it was a real hooligan's tool. It also got lots of good comments from the public.

[FM]

Shropshiremike said:

Anyone remember the one that Autocar bought to run as a long termer this century? IIRC they only had it on the books a short while before deciding it needed a bit too much work and then shifting it on to someone in the Rover Owners club ( can't find the link from the club )