RE: Rover SD1 Vitesse: You Know You Want To

[Morningside]

I am a sucker for Rover SD1s after owning about 8 of the damn things so what a great car to add to a collection. If only I had the money

One day...one day...

[FWDRacer]

Final tidying. Paint in Bastos colours (incl Red wheels) and then go and scare the living duck out of people driving E30's on track days. All whilst grinning inanely.

[*George*]

My dad also had one also- a v8 auto. It broke down a lot, (but not as much as his previous princess- but that broke almost daily so it not much to compare too) and it was a new car then. But he still loved it. Its a beautiful car, a real classic shape. I did see a diesel one in India once long ago- they retooled them and built them there after UK production ended.

[OllieC]

FWDRacer said:

Final tidying. Paint in Bastos colours (incl Red wheels) and then go and scare the living duck out of people driving E30's on track days. All whilst grinning inanely.

nearly correct paint it black and orange like privateer Dennis Leech

[Bebee]

Monty Python said:

Bebee said:

Love 'em, love the V8 but total rot boxes, shame because the shape is sexy, it would be, it's design is based on the Ferrari Daytona.

It can be that bad if it still here after 20 years.....

I agree

[Phateuk]

Saw one of these at a track day at donington recently (might have been the same), it was pretty quick, more so than I'd expected

[anonymous-user]

I'd love one solely on the basis of this vid having a formulate effect on a 6 year old me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPudE8nDog0

A few years later, circa 85, a friend's well-to-do dad had a highly specced gold one which I went in but a handful of times. Even so it made an impression on me that i can still remember it well to this day. Still a car with great presence.

[pit5top]

It was at donington recently. I know the chap that owns it. Well maintained car and apart forms couple of relatively small scabs on the rear arches it is in really good condition.
It would easily make a mint standard looking vitesse if required.
The gentleman that owns it is 75 and is only selling as he thinks he is too old for trackdays :-(

[MonkeySpanker]

skyrover said:

Wouldn't touch with a barge pole myself... but an interesting addition to someone's collection.

If only they had been built by the japs.

Why, it wouldn't rust any slower than any 80s Japanese car.

[soad]

I'd take that GTV 3.0 V6 in the article - a stripped out special.

[Jerry Can]

SOXBOY how much money do you have in your piggy bank?

let's go halves?

[jamespink]

Proper V8 track day fun, then you get to drive it the rest of the week... What's not to like?

[acf8181]

Now that's cool!

[soxboy]

Jerry Can said:

SOXBOY how much money do you have in your piggy bank?

let's go halves?

Nowhere near enough my friend!

Just needs a full wrap in some Computervision graphics.

[Hooli]

StuntmanMike said:

NDT said:

It's still a big heavy car with a live axle...

Isn't that part of the fun?

It's exactly the reason I want it, except they aren't heavy or that big.

Live axle, V8 & RWD. What else would you want in a car?

[firebird350]

Am posting this with the greatest of affection for a true British rallying hero, Tony Pond, who had quite a job living this down - his early exit from the 1984 Lombard RAC Rally. Not sure it was due to the SD1's live rear axle though...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhurF49VKRw

Out of respect (and I've posted this before too!) here's 'Antoine' Pond stuffing it to his rivals on the 1983 BBC Rallysprint - this is how that Vitesse in the advert will probably sound and handle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NbG3RynL2k

Great machine!

[Oldandslow]

Speaking as an SD1 owner if you want innovative for the time buy a P6. The SD1 is 50's tech in an 80's frock. I love mine but be aware it is not what it seems. I'd imagine 300hp would be quite "interesting", I get enough rear end hop from <190hp.

[Bencolem]

Remember my old man first having a 2000S; ordered with the standard 4 speed manual box (and gear lever had 4 speed pattern to attest) that he actually found out by mistake after about 100 miles actually had the 5 speed box in (good old BL quality!). Replaced with a Vitesse which I remember as just so cool - but also remember the sunroof surround rotting after about a month! Bizarre what you remember as an 8yr old!

[dinkel]

The Bastos is a headturner:

[X5TUU]

Surprised at the love of these tbh ... Personally I wouldn't pay £450 for it never mind £4.5k lol