1985 Rover 3500 Vitesse
Discussion
bolidemichael said:
It’s too low, looks good, but too low.
I've done around 200 miles in it so far, haven't caught anything yet, and done quite a few speed bumps! B'stard Child said:
Au Contraire - Could do with a bit more drop - tyre gap to the arch is closer but not quite close enough
I hate you saying that because I'm thinking the same...miniman said:
Looks awesome to me.
Thankyou!
Spinakerr said:
I think it looks about right - your experience for the next few 100 miles on British roads may bring the final height back into question!
Top stuff, as always. I apologise for interfering with your alloys at Bicester.
The peer pressure was just too much for Callum, I expected better from you... Top stuff, as always. I apologise for interfering with your alloys at Bicester.
Mr Tidy said:
And me.
I certainly wouldn't want it any higher.
Yeah I won't be going back up! I certainly wouldn't want it any higher.
The journey to and from Bicester was around 140ish miles, and I've driven it a little more over the last few days and I haven't had any grounding issues.
I had the same revelation when I fitted the rear springs and shocks, I think having knackered shocks means it comes down harder which grounded it out before.
It's never been able to go over the middle hump bumps anyway...
I'll fit the helper springs when they turn up this week and we'll see
Joe
Edited by 1275 GT on Sunday 28th April 22:13
1275 GT said:
B'stard Child said:
Au Contraire - Could do with a bit more drop - tyre gap to the arch is closer but not quite close enough
I hate you saying that because I'm thinking the same...]Go lower and the wheel arches look like skirts too much bell
miniman said:
I saw that advert the other day, I'm old enough to remember when you could pick these up for less than a grand, alas, I'm also young that I didn't have a grand to buy one... B'stard Child said:
Because that's perfection - not stupid sump scraping low - just "spot on"
Go lower and the wheel arches look like skirts too much bell
The helper springs turn up tomorrow, so I’ll have a play before Shedfest on SaturdayGo lower and the wheel arches look like skirts too much bell
miniman said:
Yeah C303TSO is probably one of the best restored Vitesses around, mine can’t hold a candle to it. But quite scary to see what it was like before, it was an invasive restoration! I really quite like that mine has retained almost all of its original panelling.
bolidemichael said:
Ride height looks good on that one 
You be nice! And it looks like a monster truck 
No I still think the standard ride height combined with the standard wheels look amazing.
TheDoggingFather said:
I saw that advert the other day, I'm old enough to remember when you could pick these up for less than a grand, alas, I'm also young that I didn't have a grand to buy one...
Yeah increasing values are a double edged sword, it’s nice to see them appreciated, but pulls them out of reach of a lot of people who would really love to own them. With pictures of TSO knocking around it brings me nicely onto what will probably be the next step for BCK, I’m thinking that my knackered paintwork down the drivers side, and passenger side sill lets it down. I’ve been speaking to a few body shops, but a friend’s recommendation relatively locally I think will work out nicely.
I took the Vitesse down last week, and we both agreed that to really do it properly I’ll need either to re-skin all the doors, or just replace them.
All my seams at the bottom have blown out, and all the doors have been repaired in the corners before.
I’m a bit torn between the two tbh…
This is just plotting for the winter I will say.
I still want to keep as much of the original car, but also doing it properly.
I still want to rebuild the diff too, it’s quite sloppy and it really needs an LSD.
Joe
1275 GT said:
B'stard Child said:
Au Contraire - Could do with a bit more drop - tyre gap to the arch is closer but not quite close enough
I hate you saying that because I'm thinking the same...1275 GT said:
B'stard Child said:
Because that's perfection - not stupid sump scraping low - just "spot on"
Go lower and the wheel arches look like skirts too much bell
The helper springs turn up tomorrow, so I’ll have a play before Shedfest on SaturdayGo lower and the wheel arches look like skirts too much bell
B'stard Child said:
APPROVED
So as the car sat the springs sat just above the tyre edge, and were just on the edge of tension at full droop. I reckon it was about 5-10mm lower than vitesse ride height.So let’s ruin that!
The helper springs from Bilstein turned up!
My 10mm shock holding tool worked beautifully.
I thought I was stronger than I am, as I thought I could just push the shock back down pop the new spring and coupler on, and be done, how I under estimated the force in a new shock absorber!
But eventually after strength finding, and getting the whole front end in the air so I wasn’t fighting the anti-roll bar I won.
I now have full flexibility of ride height, but at the expense of the spring being a little lower, so I don’t think the standard wheels will fit now…
Ahh well.
The things we do to get that 1 finger arch gap
This is 635mm from arch lip to the ground, before modification it was 657mm.
I think my suspension was a little saggy before too. I am pushing my luck…
But I do think it looks cool…
Ride is unaffected and I still got over all the speed bumps on the way to Shedfest…
Just need new smaller bump stops at the rear now.
Joe
1275 GT said:
This is 635mm from arch lip to the ground, before modification it was 657mm.
I think my suspension was a little saggy before too. I am pushing my luck…
But I do think it looks cool…
Ride is unaffected and I still got over all the speed bumps on the way to Shedfest…
Spot on - that sits lovely - level just the right amount of arch over the tyre and the wheels fill the arches nicelyI think my suspension was a little saggy before too. I am pushing my luck…
But I do think it looks cool…
Ride is unaffected and I still got over all the speed bumps on the way to Shedfest…
Surprised by the size of the front discs, guess that’s how it was back in the day. I had 2600 SE as a student, took it on a European road trip, including the Pyrenees, it did have a bit of an appetite for front pads.
One of my absolute favourite cars on PH, your attention to detail is very impressive, the car looks gorgeous.
One of my absolute favourite cars on PH, your attention to detail is very impressive, the car looks gorgeous.
Stick Legs said:
I wasn’t sure when you started modding but now I think it looks amazing.
Please don’t over do it but it’s just perfect now.
I also wasn't entirely sure, I was in too deep by the time I even put the wheels on, but I think now the lower ride height makes the wheels work. Completes the whole slightly modded look for me, I think that's it for visual mods. Next steps are an LSD and getting the paint right. Please don’t over do it but it’s just perfect now.
I might put silly stickers on for Retro rides this weekend though...
B'stard Child said:
Spot on - that sits lovely - level just the right amount of arch over the tyre and the wheels fill the arches nicely
I agree I knew you were right daqinggregg said:
Surprised by the size of the front discs, guess that’s how it was back in the day. I had 2600 SE as a student, took it on a European road trip, including the Pyrenees, it did have a bit of an appetite for front pads.
One of my absolute favourite cars on PH, your attention to detail is very impressive, the car looks gorgeous.
I'd love to follow in your footsteps with the roadtrip, definitely on the bucket list.One of my absolute favourite cars on PH, your attention to detail is very impressive, the car looks gorgeous.
Yeah they are a little diddy at only 258mm although vented on the Vitesse compared to solid on the 2600's, and naturally drums at the rear! Compared to the size of the car and similar weight to my relatively modern A3 with it's 345mm front/310mm rear vented discs makes for a very pad heavy wear!
Now I'm struggling to even source standard discs I am looking at upgrades. Annoying I would like to be able to retain the ability to fit standard wheels. But it would be a massive compromise as my BBS's have extra clearance barrels and could take humungous rotors!
Cheers
that means a lot TheDoggingFather said:
That stance is perfect to my eye, somewhere between a standard Vitesse and a BTCC racer, superb.
That was always the dream for this car, so to have other people think it too makes me very happy 
I still think the rear should be a tickle lower on it's -60mm springs, I'll have a look to make sure I'm not on the bump stops tomorrow.
I'll be at Retro Rides this weekend if anyone wants a closer look!
Joe
bangerhoarder said:
What’s the route on rear discs? Adaptation of P6 parts? It’d almost certainly not be worth the effort, but they do look better behind a wheel!
Not an easy option as the P6 had inboard rear discs so you'd never see them through the wheel!Edited by bangerhoarder on Thursday 9th May 08:05
bangerhoarder said:
What’s the route on rear discs? Adaptation of P6 parts? It’d almost certainly not be worth the effort, but they do look better behind a wheel!
Completely custom sadly. A few people have made kits over the years, mainly using Rover 800 or sierra calipers. Then custom mounting brackets, and then custom drilled discs to fit over the original hubs. Most fall down figuring out how to get the handbrake to work though! Edited by bangerhoarder on Thursday 9th May 08:05
P6 has inboard discs and is IRS. So would be waaaay more hassle.
I would also love it just for the look, but luckily for me both the original vitesse wheel, and my BBS's you can barely see anything due to the dense spoke design! If it was an open design you'd really see it.
Retro_Jim said:
having seen your SD1 at the PH show last year this just keeps getting better and better!
Cheers I've still got a few more things up my sleeve too! Mr Tidy said:
Not an easy option as the P6 had inboard rear discs so you'd never see them through the wheel!
What he said! Earl of Petrol said:
Ahh I remember NON, a 39k original TP that just needed some lacquer attention (and probably a hell of a lot more) . Sadly poached from me before it completed it's ebay listing 6 years ago. I'd rang the guy and he assured me he would let the listing run. (I did also offer him to just buy it) But he didn't keep his word and I ended up with my Vitesse instead! I would have given it a lovely home too.
But no, got bought by Ken and it was left to rot in a car port for 6 years, now sold to someone else who looks to be doing the same!
But I wouldn't have been so brave, so I'm glad I ended up with what I have.
Speaking of which, just back from a brilliant weekend at Retro Rides representing Bilstein with my fancy new suspension
Joe
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