1985 Rover 3500 Vitesse
Discussion
lockhart flawse said:
What sort of work do you plan to get into when you graduate (?)?
I actually graduate in 2 weeks time, and start as a Quality Engineer for a major auto manufacturer next week. So it'll be a big change for me. langtounlad said:
There must be a mistake in that photo. 
The mini isn't red and doesn't have chrome door mirrors!
I assume it must be a work in progress.
That did make me laugh, as much as I like to keep a theme going, I'm not painting that mini! The mini isn't red and doesn't have chrome door mirrors!
I assume it must be a work in progress.
So while I'm out enjoying the car I'll carry on with the work.
With the entire front end disassembled it seemed silly not to refresh things.
First up was the anti-roll bar.
I had actually acquired a full polybush kit in the various spares I've been buying up, so why not throw them on. New track rods are a no-brainer, and everything else is freshly painted.
You can also see the original aircon condenser and pusher fans that aircon cars got. It all looks a bit grotty but I'd love to get it working one day.
Next up was the area under the battery.
It cleaned up remarkably well, but I could see some surface rust below. This is hidden behind the headlight washer bottle, with it removed it revealed some more surface corrosion.
There wasn't a lot of paint applied in there!
Usual process applied, with rust removed.
Battery tray was also treated and primed.
A nice dusting of paint, and a bit more on the battery tray!
These jobs are almost unseen, but preventing any further corrosion from coming through is definitely worth the time.
Joe
Edited by 1275 GT on Sunday 8th July 23:14
Thankyou for the kind words, it did end up being quite a bit more work than I was expecting, but then when isn't it!?
DRFC1879, I have to admit I did have to Google your user name, did made my laugh though.
This is a very satisfying post, as I finally get to put stuff back onto the car.
First up was the undertray.
The one I removed was suitably horrible, with overspray and a few broken fixing areas.
You can actually still buy these new, so I did! I had ordered one to be collected from the Classic Car Show at the NEC, but when I got home one of the tabs had some damage. So on one of my many trips to Rimmer Bros to collect engine gaskets I took it back and they let me swap it for as nicer one from their stock. I also did the same for the new front grill I bought. The guy on the desk got so bored of bringing out what he thought were good ones only to be rejected again, he just let me go and pick my own.
They come absolutely filthy, and require some serious cleaning to get to this stage, it's still got some marks in the plastic, but they're almost unseen and much better than what came off.
Next up was the headlight bracketry. These have captive studs that usually shears, and mine where particularly gross, and I didn't manage to get them off in one piece. Luckily you can buy these NOS, but definitely an emphasis on the old.
The bracket on the left is as they come. If that's the factory finish it's no wonder they rust to pieces!
As you can see I'd already started to strip them completely ready for a much more durable finish.
All stripped ready for paint.
Treated, primed, and top coated in lovely satin black.
The new undertray bolted on very nicely, and actually has riv-nuts ready for the bottom spoiler attachment, makes fitting the spoiler much easier.
All the other bracketry including the grill posts went through the same process. The other L shaped headlight brackets are long since unavailable, mine weren't great, but saveable. They spent a good few days soaking in deox gel before painting. I debated having the original nuts and bolts re-coated, but in the end I managed to source stainless replacements.
Very satisfying to get to this stage. Especially considering how nice it now looks. I did got back after this picture was taken and painted the heads of the bumper mounting bolts...
Joe
DRFC1879, I have to admit I did have to Google your user name, did made my laugh though.
This is a very satisfying post, as I finally get to put stuff back onto the car.
First up was the undertray.
The one I removed was suitably horrible, with overspray and a few broken fixing areas.
You can actually still buy these new, so I did! I had ordered one to be collected from the Classic Car Show at the NEC, but when I got home one of the tabs had some damage. So on one of my many trips to Rimmer Bros to collect engine gaskets I took it back and they let me swap it for as nicer one from their stock. I also did the same for the new front grill I bought. The guy on the desk got so bored of bringing out what he thought were good ones only to be rejected again, he just let me go and pick my own.
They come absolutely filthy, and require some serious cleaning to get to this stage, it's still got some marks in the plastic, but they're almost unseen and much better than what came off.
Next up was the headlight bracketry. These have captive studs that usually shears, and mine where particularly gross, and I didn't manage to get them off in one piece. Luckily you can buy these NOS, but definitely an emphasis on the old.
The bracket on the left is as they come. If that's the factory finish it's no wonder they rust to pieces!
As you can see I'd already started to strip them completely ready for a much more durable finish.
All stripped ready for paint.
Treated, primed, and top coated in lovely satin black.
The new undertray bolted on very nicely, and actually has riv-nuts ready for the bottom spoiler attachment, makes fitting the spoiler much easier.
All the other bracketry including the grill posts went through the same process. The other L shaped headlight brackets are long since unavailable, mine weren't great, but saveable. They spent a good few days soaking in deox gel before painting. I debated having the original nuts and bolts re-coated, but in the end I managed to source stainless replacements.
Very satisfying to get to this stage. Especially considering how nice it now looks. I did got back after this picture was taken and painted the heads of the bumper mounting bolts...
Joe
Edited by 1275 GT on Sunday 8th July 23:28
J4CKO said:
Always liked the SD1, but the Vitesse is the one, they were a rare sight even back in the eighties, as someone mentioned, really expensive.
They were very cool as well, normal SD1's were a bit bank managerish, but the Vitesse was way way cooler, all that touring car attitude.
I do love a regular SD1, but as you say the Vitesse just has that extra attitude. They were very cool as well, normal SD1's were a bit bank managerish, but the Vitesse was way way cooler, all that touring car attitude.
With the hard work on the front end done I really wanted to get it together, so next up was the headlights.
One of my lenses has a very small crack on one of the edges, so a NOS replacement lense was sourced.
Really looks good with the re-done brackets.
First trail turning the lights on. All working as it should.
I spent a good few hours lining the lights up with the bonnet, and eventually I was happy, and could put the grill on. Looks so good with the main beams on.
SD1s do look odd without bumpers, but now I get a flash of body colour through the grill rather than black underseal!
Just needs the bumper and bonnet eyebrows back on now.
Joe
Edited by 1275 GT on Sunday 8th July 23:33
james_tigerwoods said:
helix402 said:
Headlight washers?
I did wonder that, but it looks like a pretty hefty tube....The pipe is massive, and so is the reservoir, I think it has a 6 litre capacity and it's seperate from the windscreen washers too.
Joe
1275 GT said:
james_tigerwoods said:
helix402 said:
Headlight washers?
I did wonder that, but it looks like a pretty hefty tube....The pipe is massive, and so is the reservoir, I think it has a 6 litre capacity and it's seperate from the windscreen washers too.
Joe
artois7 said:
Great read - took up my morning! Thanks
Glad you enjoyed reading it. J4CKO said:
Looks like they do in Japan with external oil coolers.
Exactly, luckily this is hidden behind the bumper so nowhere near as obvious. SD1s have many rusty spots, and the tailgate is another weak point.
Mine is actually remarkably nice, but around the openings behind the slatted trim was looking a bit scabby.
Nothing a clean and touch up couldn't sort.
Don't worry I stripped and repainted the rusty solenoid bracket you can see there...
While we're doing the tailgate I may as well cover the minefield that is the central locking.
This sometimes worked, and I couldn't be having that. There is a lot of different configurations of locking arrangements on SD1s. But I eventually worked out mine is the middle type with the seperate solenoid.
I couldn't buy a new central locking latch for my type, but I could buy a non central locking one and swap all the bits over.
This research and assembly was left to my very capable dad. Made a lovely job of it.
From my spares collection I found a nicer solenoid, and low and behold, working central locking!
Next up was the tailgate trim that goes over everything. It wasn't in bad nick, and I decided to renovate rather than replace
It had a tiny crack that was glued, it was cleaned, and plastic and rubber treatment applied that brought the colour back out.
I also couldn't help but use all new stainless hardware. The original zinc plating had all but come off, and I managed to find the exact spec screws in stainless.
Rear end just needs the bumper now.
Next up was the floor pans, the carpets had long been removed, so I had perfect access.
In the passenger footwell sits the engine ECU.
You can just see in this picture a previous owner had tarred over it to try and stop it rusting further.
But the area around the base was looking pretty grotty, I did my best to unscrew it, but the screws had also rusted, I did eventually manage to get them out though.
There wasn't much of the bottom left, and if the front looked back the back was appalling!
Luckily it hadn't transmitted the rot to the floor which just needed the surface rust treating and repainting.
All the surface rust was removed, and again lathered in Deox Gel.
The ECU plate was beyond saving, and a replacement was sourced.
The paint on it was awful, but completely solid, so I stripped it and began the painting process.
Much better.
Compared to the original.
I didn't get any pictures when I was painting the floors, but the results with the new ECU plate speak for themselves.
Exactly the same process for the drivers floor pan too.
Lovely floor pans that nobody will ever see! But it's nice to know they're solid and painted.
Joe
Edited by 1275 GT on Sunday 8th July 23:58
Watchman said:
If you ever come to sell it, you'll be able to name your price. It's in better nick than my 61-reg Merc.
Thankyou, hopefully it'll last another 33 years! As far as value I really struggled, as I had to say what I thought it was worth for the insurance. It doesn't help that nobody has sold a really tidy single plenum Vitesse yet, but perfect twin plenums have sold for £25k+.
I know my car is far from perfect, but I like to think it's definitely a good example.
It's got to be worth more than the £5k that it sold for 2 years ago though, but how much more I have no idea!
The engine will have an effect, and I'll be more confident in its value with the original engine re-installed.
For now though it's all hypothetical.
Although its nice to see the values increasing, it's a double edged sword. It does mean more cars are being saved and are now out of the breaking and banger racing category, and it increases the standard people work on them too, but it makes people scared to use them, and can price out enthusiasts who really love the cars. But I think this is an argument that's raging across the entire classic market at the moment.
Joe
Features like this thread on PH and blogs help to show prospective buyers what effort has gone into the car too. I bought a Cerbera from a PH owner because I was able to read through his various contributions and I could get an honest feel for the car and him.
I am trying to convince my cousin to post a Reader's Car thread here too. He's just about finished with building a 700wbhp Chevy Nova. It's a great place to both inspire people and show what you've done.
I am trying to convince my cousin to post a Reader's Car thread here too. He's just about finished with building a 700wbhp Chevy Nova. It's a great place to both inspire people and show what you've done.
Just found this thread and read it all. Excellent work OP! I used to look after a twin plenum about 25 years ago but that wasn’t as good then as yours is now!
I love the attention to detail and the paint finish in areas that can’t be seen. I’m going to show these photos to my new apprentice on Monday, they tell all you need to know about having pride in your work.
Keep up the good work and best of luck in your new job. An apt career choice methinks!
I love the attention to detail and the paint finish in areas that can’t be seen. I’m going to show these photos to my new apprentice on Monday, they tell all you need to know about having pride in your work.
Keep up the good work and best of luck in your new job. An apt career choice methinks!
BigMon said:
You're doing a fabulous job here. It'll end up being better than when it left the factory.
Re value, i think you're creating something not a million miles away from a Singer Porsche. If ever you want to sell it you will have people queued around the block.
Thankyou, that's the aim. Wow that's quite the comparison, I think I'm quite a way off their work though. I did look at doing some subtle upgrades like they do, (alcantara headlining, slightly different wheels) but in the end decided to keep the factory look. The car really deserves it. Re value, i think you're creating something not a million miles away from a Singer Porsche. If ever you want to sell it you will have people queued around the block.
Watchman said:
Features like this thread on PH and blogs help to show prospective buyers what effort has gone into the car too. I bought a Cerbera from a PH owner because I was able to read through his various contributions and I could get an honest feel for the car and him.
I am trying to convince my cousin to post a Reader's Car thread here too. He's just about finished with building a 700wbhp Chevy Nova. It's a great place to both inspire people and show what you've done.
Exactly my thoughts, it gives any work I do some transparency, and as you said gives you a feel of how the car has been cared for. I do love a Cerbera, it's on the list of my to do cars! How did you find it to own? I am trying to convince my cousin to post a Reader's Car thread here too. He's just about finished with building a 700wbhp Chevy Nova. It's a great place to both inspire people and show what you've done.
Definitely do! I'd read that.
Little Pete said:
Just found this thread and read it all. Excellent work OP! I used to look after a twin plenum about 25 years ago but that wasn’t as good then as yours is now!
I love the attention to detail and the paint finish in areas that can’t be seen. I’m going to show these photos to my new apprentice on Monday, they tell all you need to know about having pride in your work.
Keep up the good work and best of luck in your new job. An apt career choice methinks!
They did seem to suffer quite early on in their lives! What did you think of the TP? I'd love to do a comparison between a single and a twin. I love the attention to detail and the paint finish in areas that can’t be seen. I’m going to show these photos to my new apprentice on Monday, they tell all you need to know about having pride in your work.
Keep up the good work and best of luck in your new job. An apt career choice methinks!
Thanks, I know nobody will see them but I like to know its 100%, and it's the best way to preserve the car.
I really appreciate that, and don't worry there's still lots more high quality Rover repairs to come.
Joe
I was trying to remember the last Vitesse thread I'd liked - I found it in the end, it was from 2009, but lasted several years.
Worth a read if anyone is enjoying the Vitesse in this thread.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Worth a read if anyone is enjoying the Vitesse in this thread.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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