1985 Rover 3500 Vitesse

[1275 GT]

Fast Bug said:

Great thread, just wallowed in nosalgia as my Uncle had a Red Vitesse like yours. God I loved that car

Thankyou Fast Bug! Every time I see it it reminds me of the one my dad had as a child. Your uncle has excellent taste!


Well it's been a while since I've updated this, a new job has been keeping me very busy.

Vitesse is now at the lovely point where if the mood takes me I can just go for a drive.
Everything works as it should, and is just lovely to drive.

Sadly it's got to this stage right at the end of show season though.
I have managed to attend a few though.







I took it to visit a friend who's purchased something which could be more 80's, sadly no pictures yet, but I'll get some soon. It's very 80's Japanese.










I Brilliant time at a very busy BL Autumn Rally in Milton Keynes with my Dad. I drove the GT so he could enjoy the luxury of the SD1.



It's even surprisingly economical returning 33.9MPG for the day (I know the trip computers are hilariously inaccurate but who really cares)

Last show was a local one to me earlier this month, perfect after work activity.



May have left the show a little too enthusiastically...
But sadly no evidence of that. Must get more videos.

Now the Vitesse spends most of the time cooped up in the garage, but I still drive it at least once a week if the weather stays dry.


Next step will be refitting its original rebuilt engine and air-con system!




Joe

[MCSV8]

Well done ! Great car. One of the very few (IMHO) that look good despite not having a traditional-style radiator grille.

[Piginapoke]

I think you just won Pistonheads.

A glorious car, well done.

[anonymous-user]

A fantastic journey, lovely, lovely car. Well done.

[Evo]

From an age where a set of alloy wheels and a rubber rear spoiler meant you'd made it, awesome car and top marks OP.

[Mr Tidy]

Yes, stunning OP!

[anonymous-user]

Piginapoke said:

I think you just won Pistonheads.

A glorious car, well done.

Yes, I’ve already offered once to buy it. Too embarrassed to try again. Stunning, car and reminds me of the one I had when I was 18. Bloody loved it!

[1275 GT]

MCSV8 said:

Well done ! Great car. One of the very few (IMHO) that look good despite not having a traditional-style radiator grille.

You don't really notice that until you point it out, almost unheard of on modern cars! But as you say it doesn't date it massively.

Piginapoke said:

I think you just won Pistonheads.

A glorious car, well done.

Very high praise indeed, thankyou


I'd love to bring it along to a Sunday Service at some-point, see what people make of it in the flesh.

yonex said:

A fantastic journey, lovely, lovely car. Well done.

Thankyou it's been a lot of fun playing around with a completely different car from what I was used too.

Evo said:

From an age where a set of alloy wheels and a rubber rear spoiler meant you'd made it, awesome car and top marks OP.

It really did, still amazes me that the spoiler is actually rubber, it weighs a bloody tonne!

Mr Tidy said:

Yes, stunning OP!

Thankyou

wormus said:

Yes, I’ve already offered once to buy it. Too embarrassed to try again. Stunning, car and reminds me of the one I had when I was 18. Bloody loved it!

Don't worry I still have you in mind if I do decide to let it go, unfortunately for you I'm having a little too much fun with it at the moment!
Well that and I have a terrible record of letting cars go...

Joe

Edited by 1275 GT on Monday 29th October 22:28

[1275 GT]

Long time no update!

Like 5000 other nutters I was up at 6am on Sunday for the Bicester Sunday Scramble.

I'd spent Saturday polishing and prepping and was really excited. Right up until around 7.30am sunday morning.



Does still look good though.



Less cool...



Not cool, with my dad posing beside.



A very rare picture with me in it.

Safe to say I didn't make it to Bicester! Alternator didn't like me using the lights and the heater together and promptly died. Couldn't get any voltage out of it so the AA recharged the battery and I managed to run it home on that.

I wasn't going to bother but in the end grabbed another car and bombed down to Bicester anyway. Definitely worth it, what a place! One of the best shows I've been too, just a shame I didn't get to show off my car as well.











Did get to see another one of my Vitesse friends with his red single plenum, so everyone still got to see one SD1.

Got home that afternoon and got to use one of my Christmas presents. I've always wanted a proper set of ratcheting spanners.



Alternator is off, and off for a rebuild. Battery is also out for a conditioning, the discharge can't have done it much good.
Can't waste a months tax!


Joe

[Alias218]

I've been following your progress and have to say that is a rather lovely SD1, although it's a tremendous shame it couldn't make it to spend some time with it's buddy.

Keep the updates coming!

[1275 GT]

Alias218 said:

I've been following your progress and have to say that is a rather lovely SD1, although it's a tremendous shame it couldn't make it to spend some time with it's buddy.

Keep the updates coming!

Thankyou very much

I was annoyed as it's the first time it's let me down, but as far as breakdowns go its easily fixed and no damage done really. Alternator has been dropped off to Rotating Electrics in Birmingham, it's near my work and comes recommended. I also took my spare alternator and 2 starter motors. Their condition was unknown so I thought I'd play it safe and have them rebuilt too.

I'll let you all know when I collect them and get the car back out.

Joe

[anonymous-user]

It’s a fine looking beast in rare condition. Even better that you are finding time to use it when most of us have our cars put away for winter. How’s the bodywork holding up? I remember mine was awful for rust, especially the bonnet.

Please keep the updates coming.

[BSSBMW]

In typical readers car fashion ive just read this thread from start to finish!

I've only ever been a Ford and BMW man myself concentrating on 80s-00's hardware, the bulk of it 80s but there are a handful of other cars from other brands i would like in my garage and one of those is a red SD1 vitesse (preferably a TP) to go along side a series 3 XJ12 and a MK2 Granda 2.8i Ghia X (of which ive has a couple of 2.8i Ghia Xs) to form a trio of non german 80s executive chariots!

Kudos to the effort involved in brining this one up to scratch.

[1275 GT]

wormus said:

It’s a fine looking beast in rare condition. Even better that you are finding time to use it when most of us have our cars put away for winter. How’s the bodywork holding up? I remember mine was awful for rust, especially the bonnet.

Please keep the updates coming.

Thankyou I'm not going to lie it spent most of December tucked up. It only really makes it out when the roads have been salt free for a while and nice weather. So maybe not as commited as you thought! I have completed hibinated my minis too, they'd definitely dissolve in the winter!

I have protected the underside with Bilt Hamber products and I'm really happy with the repairs I did but I'd rather not risk it, as you said they do have a reputation for not fairing so well!

Definitely will, should be back on the road in a few days, well maybe not with the rubbish weather on the way. Snow drifting would be fun though....

BSSBMW said:

In typical readers car fashion ive just read this thread from start to finish!

I've only ever been a Ford and BMW man myself concentrating on 80s-00's hardware, the bulk of it 80s but there are a handful of other cars from other brands i would like in my garage and one of those is a red SD1 vitesse (preferably a TP) to go along side a series 3 XJ12 and a MK2 Granda 2.8i Ghia X (of which ive has a couple of 2.8i Ghia Xs) to form a trio of non german 80s executive chariots!

Kudos to the effort involved in brining this one up to scratch.

I hope you enjoyed the read I can't knock those choices, I've always admired the older BMWs and I have an E34 M5 on my radar as a next project.
I did always stay on the BL side rather than Ford, although I did always think a mk2 cortina would match my 1275GT nicely. I have also seriously considered a jag, I'd have an XJ12c in a heart beat.

Thankyou I did enjoy getting it to this stage, satisfying knowing the work that went into it.


Joe

[BSSBMW]

1275 GT said:

I hope you enjoyed the read I can't knock those choices, I've always admired the older BMWs and I have an E34 M5 on my radar as a next project.
I did always stay on the BL side rather than Ford, although I did always think a mk2 cortina would match my 1275GT nicely. I have also seriously considered a jag, I'd have an XJ12c in a heart beat.

Thankyou I did enjoy getting it to this stage, satisfying knowing the work that went into it.


Joe

An E34 M5 is a brilliant choice of older BMW. They are put together so well and have one of the most glorious straight sixes.

I had a 3.6 a few years ago that i did a lot of work to bring it up to scratch.

If you have some spare time have a read here.

https://www.bmwccgbforum.co.uk/wounded-e34-m5-3-6_...

[1275 GT]

BSSBMW said:

An E34 M5 is a brilliant choice of older BMW. They are put together so well and have one of the most glorious straight sixes.

I had a 3.6 a few years ago that i did a lot of work to bring it up to scratch.

If you have some spare time have a read here.

https://www.bmwccgbforum.co.uk/wounded-e34-m5-3-6_...

I'll definitely give that a read, they really do have everything going for them, dream is a daytona violet one.

I did a lot of design work for a company that specialised in BMW engines, they used modified S38 engines on slide throttles for historic racing, and had a few e34 M5s laying around. Offered me one when I said I'd always wanted one, but I didn't have the funds at the time. Always told me to avoid the later 3.8's though.

Joe

[E24man]

BSSBMW said:

1275 GT said:

I hope you enjoyed the read I can't knock those choices, I've always admired the older BMWs and I have an E34 M5 on my radar as a next project.
I did always stay on the BL side rather than Ford, although I did always think a mk2 cortina would match my 1275GT nicely. I have also seriously considered a jag, I'd have an XJ12c in a heart beat.

Thankyou I did enjoy getting it to this stage, satisfying knowing the work that went into it.


Joe

An E34 M5 is a brilliant choice of older BMW. They are put together so well and have one of the most glorious straight sixes.

I had a 3.6 a few years ago that i did a lot of work to bring it up to scratch.

If you have some spare time have a read here.

https://www.bmwccgbforum.co.uk/wounded-e34-m5-3-6_...

Even the very best E34's are starting to suffer corrosion issues so be prepared for that; E34 M5 prices have been steadily climbing (rather than the slightly bonkers E28 M5 price rise) for five years snow since their lowest point so I'd recommend getting in soon if you're serious.

The 3.6's are anecdotally more robust than the 3.8's and the 3.8's need to be top notch to make their headline 340bhp. The six speed gearbox of the late 3.8's is unique to them and spare parts are become ever scarcer for them whereas the five speed in either the 3.6 or the 3.8 is well supported, documented and more easily repairable.

I had a five speed M5 Touring at rock bottom price and pretty shabby condition; it ran well enough for five years but once it started to let go (bottom end knocking) I started to do the sums for a full rebuild. I wouldn't have got change out of £7k and that was 10 years ago (the head gasket alone was over £400 back then) and because of some Atlantic Coast living prior to my ownership the bodywork was heading for a similar sum so it was sold for breaking.

It didn't break my love for the E34 which had started with a 540i Touring with a six speed so I waited until the only E34 Alpina Touring in right hand drive eventually surfaced and I bought it unseen.

I said earily in the thread how much I loved the SD1 due to my Fathers love for them and you've made yours an excellent example - it is simply stunning, well done.

[1275 GT]

E24man said:

Even the very best E34's are starting to suffer corrosion issues so be prepared for that; E34 M5 prices have been steadily climbing (rather than the slightly bonkers E28 M5 price rise) for five years snow since their lowest point so I'd recommend getting in soon if you're serious.

The 3.6's are anecdotally more robust than the 3.8's and the 3.8's need to be top notch to make their headline 340bhp. The six speed gearbox of the late 3.8's is unique to them and spare parts are become ever scarcer for them whereas the five speed in either the 3.6 or the 3.8 is well supported, documented and more easily repairable.

I had a five speed M5 Touring at rock bottom price and pretty shabby condition; it ran well enough for five years but once it started to let go (bottom end knocking) I started to do the sums for a full rebuild. I wouldn't have got change out of £7k and that was 10 years ago (the head gasket alone was over £400 back then) and because of some Atlantic Coast living prior to my ownership the bodywork was heading for a similar sum so it was sold for breaking.

It didn't break my love for the E34 which had started with a 540i Touring with a six speed so I waited until the only E34 Alpina Touring in right hand drive eventually surfaced and I bought it unseen.

I said earily in the thread how much I loved the SD1 due to my Fathers love for them and you've made yours an excellent example - it is simply stunning, well done.

Excellent advice, and a dream list of E34's you've had! especially the tourings. Can't believe the values they achieve these days.

Thankyou again

Well the Vitesse is alive again!

I dropped off my broken alternator, spare, and two unknown starter motors to a place near my work called Rotating Electronics.

Got a call a week later to go through what they needed, and a few days later a call to say they were completed. Guy was brilliant, and even met me nearer my work to save me fighting through the traffic.



Safe to say I was impressed with the work. All 4 items were looking worse for wear and now look like new.



Fitted and verified the charging system, a solid 14.5V at idle.
Very happy.



Engine bay still looking nice and tidy.





and a gratuitous front shot sat in the garage with lights ablaze.

Back to fully functioning as it should be, I'll probably wait until after the snow to take it out though, the salt is a killer!


Joe

[1275 GT]

Despite being busy with work the nicer weather meant I couldn't resist having a play with the Rover.

First thing on the agenda, was after the alternator failure I wanted to sure up my engine electrics.




Current engine loom placement isn't ideal being too close to the rocker cover and I'm not sure how it ended up that way. The original brochure shows the loom routed a different way coming over the throttle linkage, so that's how I will return it too.

That and the loom coating was slowly shedding. Apart from that the condition is good, and functions fault free.





First up was removal of the old loom cover. It does make the engine bay look tatty and a little unloved, something that definitely isn't the case.



All the covering was removed, and after cleaning everything, the original electrical tape that holds the breakouts in place was replaced.

Then many hours later with new fabric loom tape we get this!



So much better! Very happy with how this turned out, definitely not easy but worth the effort.

With that done, the fresh alternator and nice weather I had to take it out.



Weekend trip to Calke Abbey was brilliant, and last weekend I finally got around to visiting Caffeine and Machine.







What an amazing place, I'm already a big fan and will definitely be back.


I know I'm biased but I really do love the Rover looks.

Drove beautifully and is such a brilliant cruiser. Current engine is a bit smoky though on the overrun, I need to get the original engine sorted ASAP!

So still plenty to be tinkering with.



Joe

Edited by 1275 GT on Tuesday 26th February 19:45

[gforceg]

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.