1985 Rover 3500 Vitesse
Discussion
Just dropping in to say I'm a big fan of the car and what you've done with it - I saw it at Caffeine & Machine on Sunday (I've got a photo somewhere!) and it's even cleaner in person than it looks in this thread!
I'd love an SD1 one day, despite the last ones being 8-9 years older than me.
I'd love an SD1 one day, despite the last ones being 8-9 years older than me.
gforceg said:
Thanks for the update. The weather has been perfect for early outings. Thanks for the mention of that cafe/restaurant. I'd never heard of it before but could go past on the way to Lincolnshire in a couple of months so may well drop in.
It really has, definitely perfect driving weather. Glad to spread the word, I really enjoyed my trip 
surveyor said:
This belongs to a friend.... Lovely car, but currently a bit broken after 3 bolts sheared when he was taking the head off....
Poor Nathan! Last time we spoke he was ordering his stainless exhaust manifolds, doesn't sound like the install has gone well... TheVole said:
Just dropping in to say I'm a big fan of the car and what you've done with it - I saw it at Caffeine & Machine on Sunday (I've got a photo somewhere!) and it's even cleaner in person than it looks in this thread!
I'd love an SD1 one day, despite the last ones being 8-9 years older than me.
Thankyou very much glad you enjoyed seeing it, and that means a lot I'd love an SD1 one day, despite the last ones being 8-9 years older than me.
Chuck the picture up! I love seeing other peoples pics! I've not regretted getting this one, and it's 7 years older than me.
Joe
f:1Legacywr said:
I've been watching that it does look amazing, pricey though!Lots of false information in the add too.
Even at that price I can already see some bits that I'd change too, those sills wouldn't stay black for long...
Joe
L80KUS said:
Your cars is looking great!
My brother had one back in the early 90’s.
Now that is amazing! Proper whale tail! My brother had one back in the early 90’s.
It's been a little while since I've updated this, but don't worry I've been busy in the background!
First up is a boring one, I finally found the elusive lower boot carpet. Very hard to find in SD1 circles as they always used to rot away!
It's the darker grey, but still happy to have one
Next up was a temperamental oil pressure gauge, something that you definitely don't want. It would sporadically drop to zero when driving around, I have thoroughly checked the oiling system so was confident I wasn't destroying the engine. But as the oil system is staying for the rebuilt engine I wanted to have some confidence in it.
The oil sender was way to high meaning it was very close to the alternator, so a proper sender was sourced. Not cheap though!
Proper cold oil pressure and no drop outs now, much better.
Now we have tail light gate.
Something that's always bothered me when trying to get those detailed rear end badge shots (sad I know) is the tail lights. The stuff I can't get out from the reflectors has always looked horrible, so I finally bit the bullet and ordered some new ones, along with new boot gas struts.
Even took my old lights off in exciting anticipation!
They finally arrived, and I was underwhelmed...
They are NOS (date stamped Week 16 1986) and the passenger lamp is beautiful. The drivers side not so much, I removed the lamp holders and they where filthy with corrosion on the bulb holders. I tried cleaning it, but it just wasn't going to work. After an initial offer of a small discount on my next order, Rimmer Bros did eventually offer to replace the lamp with a more suitable one.
Did mean I had to put the old drivers side back on as I wanted to take it out!
It was worth the wait though.
With the new light I could finally finish the prep for Pride of Longbridge!
Joe
Edited by 1275 GT on Friday 21st June 23:17
Edited by 1275 GT on Friday 21st June 23:18
Spinakerr said:
Looking fantastic, as always - you even have the headlamp covers!
There's another example that is a very close relative in this month's Practical Classics - do you know that car? B455SFA...
There's another example that is a very close relative in this month's Practical Classics - do you know that car? B455SFA...
Thanks, I thought the headlight stickers were a bit fun too, marmite though!
First show I made it too I parked next to John Jones' Vitesse it really is stunning. It was originally exported when new so a much later registration than mine, but actually a much earlier car.
Joe
It's been another few weeks and I've been making the most of the nice weather.
First up was Pride of Longbridge, always a fun one with plently to see, it was very cold though!
Lots of Rovers, Only a few SD1s though. But then again nobody complained that we turned up in a cars built in Cowley!
A very rare picture of me infront of the camera! I am rather proud of the old girl.
The other SD1's in attendance looked stunning, an amazing police car and some brilliant Vitesses to see.
Joe
First up was Pride of Longbridge, always a fun one with plently to see, it was very cold though!
Lots of Rovers, Only a few SD1s though. But then again nobody complained that we turned up in a cars built in Cowley!
A very rare picture of me infront of the camera! I am rather proud of the old girl.
The other SD1's in attendance looked stunning, an amazing police car and some brilliant Vitesses to see.
Joe
Edited by 1275 GT on Friday 21st June 23:16
After a trouble free outing to Longbridge I was feeling brave!
My pride is still a little bruised from my last attempt to make it to Bicester Heritage, this time i wasn't going to be beaten.
Journey was actually lovely, car cruises so nicely and arrived just in time to nab a prime spot in the technical centre.
Got parked up next to a lovely Quattro of the same vintage, I would love to add one to the garage they make a lovely pair.
Tried to get all arty taking photos, it really is a special event, so much to see and some really stunning cars.
I'll eventually get around to uploading some of the better pictures I took and put them on their own thread.
I loved it in January, but it was a bit more special with my own car on display. Lots of nice comments too.
Car was faultless and I had a lovely day.
If I'm not so heavy footed it doesn't smoke that much either!
But I've got a plan in motion to solve that...
Joe
My pride is still a little bruised from my last attempt to make it to Bicester Heritage, this time i wasn't going to be beaten.
Journey was actually lovely, car cruises so nicely and arrived just in time to nab a prime spot in the technical centre.
Got parked up next to a lovely Quattro of the same vintage, I would love to add one to the garage they make a lovely pair.
Tried to get all arty taking photos, it really is a special event, so much to see and some really stunning cars.
I'll eventually get around to uploading some of the better pictures I took and put them on their own thread.
I loved it in January, but it was a bit more special with my own car on display. Lots of nice comments too.
Car was faultless and I had a lovely day.
If I'm not so heavy footed it doesn't smoke that much either!
But I've got a plan in motion to solve that...
Joe
Edited by 1275 GT on Friday 21st June 22:32
Mr Tidy said:
Your car looks great. 
Definitely deserves a special parking space!
Thankyou Definitely deserves a special parking space!
yonex said:
Looks great, shame I missed it at the Scramble.
There was so much to see! Definitely one of the best shows I've been too.
Well after having such a good time at the Sunday Scramble surrounded by some amazing cars the desire to match the Rovers bark to a bit more bite was at a very high level.
Driving it normally it behaves perfectly, but pressing on the leggy RR lump really isn't up to much.
So what to do...
.78
So I've got a turn key car that's reliable but a little lack lustre, and doesn't have its original engine.
I've also finally got the engine bay to how I wanted it...
Insert original numbers matching Vitesse motor.
During the previous owners first few weeks of ownership the engine suffered from quite bad detonation causing both piston and liner damage.
I've since found the issue and have got the injection system running well on the replacement motor.
It was always the intention to reunite the two, and I'm finally in a position to do something with it now.
After doing a lot of research I made a call to J E Developments and took the motor over for John to have a look at.
The aim is to build the nicest road engine that I can, and with that aim we began to draw up a spec.
A general overview of the spec is going to be:
A complete overhaul with top hat liners, pistons, performance camshaft, mild head work, fully balance rotating assembly with lightened flywheel, and built to a short engine with me doing final assembly.
The time-frame for this was actually a lot shorter than I though,and I now needed the front pulley and flywheel to balance the new motor!
So a future project of improving the car turned into a teardown...
First off came the bonnet
Then radiator, aircon condensor, shroud and fans.
Lots of unbolting disconnected and then after some wiggling...
It's dirty but all the ancillaries will clean up nicely
Perfect opportunity to sort out some gearbox leaks too!
Engine bay is good, but will definitely need some tidying before a fresh engine goes in.
Brackets will be repainted and scabby bits of the engine bay will be repainted.
The aim is to get it as nice as possible while the motor is out. I don't intend on pulling it again!
Headlight and grill brackets have held up so nicely, still look like new.
I hopefully should be getting back the short motor this week so lots of work to do!
Joe
Edited by 1275 GT on Friday 21st June 23:09
Well I collected the Vitesse's engine today from JE Developments!
Definitely knew I was in the right place!
Very exciting day talking through the final spec with John. Really happy with what I've seen so far. Can't wait to get stuck i and get it back together.
Engine bay is also almost ready for the new engine, I'll sort pictures of what was involved in that, it needed some work.
All loaded up and ready to come home finally.
Joe
Definitely knew I was in the right place!
Very exciting day talking through the final spec with John. Really happy with what I've seen so far. Can't wait to get stuck i and get it back together.
Engine bay is also almost ready for the new engine, I'll sort pictures of what was involved in that, it needed some work.
All loaded up and ready to come home finally.
Joe
Edited by 1275 GT on Friday 17th July 21:42
PorkRind said:
Oh wow. That's a beast. Will it take much to get the ac working!?
The AC systems on these are not renowned for reliability, or being that good when they were new! The previous owner assured me that the compressor seized and was working before. So I'll try the new compressor, but I think it'll also need a new receiver as they don't like being exposed to the atmosphere. The rest of the vacuum system is working correctly.
Joe
While the engine was away I carried on with the prep to make sure the engine bay was worthy of a fresh engine.
The engine bay is almost untouched, and has taken a bit of a beating over the years. Lots of paint missing and general tattyness.
One thing I did want to address with the engine out was inspect the bulkhead, as when I had the carpets out I did notice some crusty bits, but I thought nothing for alarm.
Well bugger, that was a lot worse than I was expecting, I didn't think I'd find a crack!
I didn't think I'd have to get the welder out, but needs must.
I had to remove a lot more rotten metal than I'd have liked due to a previously leaking clutch master (it's in the service history that it was changed a few years back) But I eventually got back to clean undamaged metal and formed my repair.
The bulkhead is NLA so it's fully fabricated from sheet steel.
The reinforcing plate behind was still intact, so instead of removing it entirely and loosing the reference position, I left it in place and de-skinned the bulkhead from it.
Using the reinforcing panel as a reference I could then line everything up and bolt the repair to the panel to keep everything in place.
Usual process of some serious fabrication to remake the missing part(s) of the bulkhead that I had to remove.
After some welding and seam sealing I was pretty happy with the results.
And after removing all the remaining surface corrosion from the engine bay and priming in Bilt Hamber Electrox paint, some red makes a massive improvement!
Joe
The engine bay is almost untouched, and has taken a bit of a beating over the years. Lots of paint missing and general tattyness.
One thing I did want to address with the engine out was inspect the bulkhead, as when I had the carpets out I did notice some crusty bits, but I thought nothing for alarm.
Well bugger, that was a lot worse than I was expecting, I didn't think I'd find a crack!
I didn't think I'd have to get the welder out, but needs must.
I had to remove a lot more rotten metal than I'd have liked due to a previously leaking clutch master (it's in the service history that it was changed a few years back) But I eventually got back to clean undamaged metal and formed my repair.
The bulkhead is NLA so it's fully fabricated from sheet steel.
The reinforcing plate behind was still intact, so instead of removing it entirely and loosing the reference position, I left it in place and de-skinned the bulkhead from it.
Using the reinforcing panel as a reference I could then line everything up and bolt the repair to the panel to keep everything in place.
Usual process of some serious fabrication to remake the missing part(s) of the bulkhead that I had to remove.
After some welding and seam sealing I was pretty happy with the results.
And after removing all the remaining surface corrosion from the engine bay and priming in Bilt Hamber Electrox paint, some red makes a massive improvement!
Joe
bodgerben said:
Dropping in to say thanks for this thread of an iconic car and your work, the rebuilt engine will give the old girl a nice bit of get up and go.
Shame about the bulkhead, but you've got that sorted and now looking good.
Like so many others I'd love a SD1, but very much doubt I'll ever get one, so its great so see the love this ones been getting.
My own V8 fix is mum's old SE6a now with a Lexus 1UZFE, I suppose I should do a readers cars thread on that sometime (she's in for a full strip down and respray next month).
Thanks that means a lot! Yes I wasn't happy to find the state that the bulkhead had gotten into, but glad to get it solid again. Shame about the bulkhead, but you've got that sorted and now looking good.
Like so many others I'd love a SD1, but very much doubt I'll ever get one, so its great so see the love this ones been getting.
My own V8 fix is mum's old SE6a now with a Lexus 1UZFE, I suppose I should do a readers cars thread on that sometime (she's in for a full strip down and respray next month).
I do love a SE6a such a well preportioned car, and with that motor I bet it's a bit of a weapon! A friend did keep proposing that engine for mine, but it had to keep its RV8 for me.
Well I've been busy so It'd be rude not to share!
First port of call was my removed sound deadening. Sadly it crumbled into dust when i removed it. When speaking to John about this he told me to throw it in the bin and forget about it!
But it would just look odd without it, and one evening while puroosing the various facebook groups I stumbled on something. It was already sold, but worth a message if it fell through.
A mint OS bulkhead pad. It's from an earlier car, but the difference is minor.
It needed a little "modifiing" aka a big hole cutting in it for the air con, and it went on nicely.
Behind is now lovely paint, and should protect it from any corrosion in the future.
I also reinstalled all the brake lines and bias valve. The master is still out as it needs a bit of refurbishment.
Next up was the gearbox.
The car still retains its original 28A prefix "suffix D" LT77, but its filthy!
Many hours and quite a bit of degreaser and I'm happy with it, its not immaculate but it's not a million miles off. I've got new seals and remote buses on the way.
Joe
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