Rover Vitesse?
Discussion
Right then. In passing, during a conversation with a work colleague, the disposal of a relative's Rover Vitesse came up. Not necessary to go into details, but I suggeted that if it was a V8 Vitesse I'd be interested (just for the spares, you understand ;-) but the guy didn't know exactly what it was. So, although I'm on tenterhooks till he finds out, I'm prepared for the fact that it's probably a later '820' shape car with a poxy 2-litre that they badged 'Vitesse' to fool the old folks.
Am I right, or could I be onto a winner here?
Ian
Am I right, or could I be onto a winner here?
Ian
ultimapaul said: They did indeed badge some later 820 'Vitesse' They were turbo car's IIRC. Not what your hoping for if I've read between the lines correctly????
Tut.
You're quite right: I wouldn't have an 820 given. With or without a 2.7 V6.... A proper, V8, twin-plenum.... now that's another matter! 
Ian
OK this is a list of the Vitesse models (excluding the 6 cyl 2 litre Triumph)
V8 Vitesse 3.5 V8
216 Vitesse 1.6 S4 (first 200 series fwd 3 box saloon)
827 Vitesse 2.7 V6 (same motor as Sterling but 2 door)
820 Vitesse 2.0 S4 Turbo (this replaced the 2.7 but I can't remember when 89/90 I think).
Edited to add only the V8 was rwd the rest were fwd.
>> Edited by kevinday on Tuesday 7th January 08:13
V8 Vitesse 3.5 V8
216 Vitesse 1.6 S4 (first 200 series fwd 3 box saloon)
827 Vitesse 2.7 V6 (same motor as Sterling but 2 door)
820 Vitesse 2.0 S4 Turbo (this replaced the 2.7 but I can't remember when 89/90 I think).
Edited to add only the V8 was rwd the rest were fwd.
>> Edited by kevinday on Tuesday 7th January 08:13
As far as I'm aware the 350i used the SD1 Vitesse engine in pretty well unmodified form. 190hp in the Vitesse and 196hp in the 350i courtesy of a decent manifold and exhaust (ie not much in the way of silencing hence possibly the nicest noise of any V8 TVR)
So if its an SD1 you could be on to a winner!
>> Edited by Brm Brm on Tuesday 7th January 22:22
So if its an SD1 you could be on to a winner!
>> Edited by Brm Brm on Tuesday 7th January 22:22
not all sd1 vitesse(plural?)were twin plenum some were the single.
as for the 800 rovers with the 2.5 then 2.7 v6's they were made to follow the 16v vauxhall astra rule,which states"great engine crap chassis"
i put a twin plenum rover in a sierra once and it almost worked it almost made it into an ok car.apart from it still understered like an upset woodlouse,like all sierra's
as for the 800 rovers with the 2.5 then 2.7 v6's they were made to follow the 16v vauxhall astra rule,which states"great engine crap chassis"
i put a twin plenum rover in a sierra once and it almost worked it almost made it into an ok car.apart from it still understered like an upset woodlouse,like all sierra's
An upset woodlouse... not heard that one before! 
Was the Triumph Vitesse only a 2-litre 6? I thought I recalled it being a 2.5; maybe that was a later incarnation of the same engine....
I already have a 3.9 Rover V8 (one of the TVR specials, none of yer poncy Range Rover nonsense ;-) but I was hoping I could score a twin-plenum fuel injection system (and a spare V8!) for nowt. I haven't heard from my mate, so still don't know what it is. I don't want to appear too keen, you see, in case the pound signs start flashing....
Ian
Was the Triumph Vitesse only a 2-litre 6? I thought I recalled it being a 2.5; maybe that was a later incarnation of the same engine....
I already have a 3.9 Rover V8 (one of the TVR specials, none of yer poncy Range Rover nonsense ;-) but I was hoping I could score a twin-plenum fuel injection system (and a spare V8!) for nowt. I haven't heard from my mate, so still don't know what it is. I don't want to appear too keen, you see, in case the pound signs start flashing....
Ian
Ok, to be really anoraky!
there have been
Triumph Vitesse 6 Mk1 - 1.6 litre straight 6 (yes thats not a typo)
Triumph Vitesse Mk 1a + mk 2 - 2.0litre straight 6
Rover SD1 vitesse - 3.5 litre V8, single or twin plenum depending on year, the twins are very rare tho!
Rover 216 vitesse - 1.6 litre EFI 4 cylinder in the original 200 (square honda balade) body. There was never an official later model 200 vitesse, but some dealers did badged specials.
Rover 827 Vitesse. 2.7 litre Honda V6. Nice, but renowned for chewing cams + aircon units. Actually chassis wasn't too bad for the day.
Rover 820 vitesse series 1. Acctually launched as the 820 turbo in the earlier 800 body. 180bhp and it handled OK, but not great.
Rover 820 vitesse sport (series 2) the later 800 body (some 800 2 door coupes also had this engine and were badged vitesse too) and the engine tweeked to 200bhp (197 actually). Went VERY well.
Lowered and stiffened suspension + bif tyres made it corner too. I did 150k miles in mine with no major problems.
I've owned most of the others on the list too at some time.
can I get me coat now?
Andy 400se
there have been
Triumph Vitesse 6 Mk1 - 1.6 litre straight 6 (yes thats not a typo)
Triumph Vitesse Mk 1a + mk 2 - 2.0litre straight 6
Rover SD1 vitesse - 3.5 litre V8, single or twin plenum depending on year, the twins are very rare tho!
Rover 216 vitesse - 1.6 litre EFI 4 cylinder in the original 200 (square honda balade) body. There was never an official later model 200 vitesse, but some dealers did badged specials.
Rover 827 Vitesse. 2.7 litre Honda V6. Nice, but renowned for chewing cams + aircon units. Actually chassis wasn't too bad for the day.
Rover 820 vitesse series 1. Acctually launched as the 820 turbo in the earlier 800 body. 180bhp and it handled OK, but not great.
Rover 820 vitesse sport (series 2) the later 800 body (some 800 2 door coupes also had this engine and were badged vitesse too) and the engine tweeked to 200bhp (197 actually). Went VERY well.
Lowered and stiffened suspension + bif tyres made it corner too. I did 150k miles in mine with no major problems.
I've owned most of the others on the list too at some time.
can I get me coat now?
Andy 400se
I'm, to add even further consufion, I'm sure that there was another SD1 varient.
The V8S or V8 Sport, something like that anyway, in the series 1 SD1 shell.
It had a basic interior, unlike the luxo (for the time) 'tesse, but still carried the bent-8 3500.
Could this have been a civvy version of a jam sandwich special?
Mouse
>> Edited by danger mouse on Thursday 9th January 15:37
The V8S or V8 Sport, something like that anyway, in the series 1 SD1 shell.
It had a basic interior, unlike the luxo (for the time) 'tesse, but still carried the bent-8 3500.
Could this have been a civvy version of a jam sandwich special?
Mouse
>> Edited by danger mouse on Thursday 9th January 15:37
The V8S was the manual version of the even earlier (1970s)Rover P6 V8. Used an early carb version of our favorite engine and is very rare as the vast majority were built with auto boxes. Never heard of an SD1 "Sport" or "S". The vast majority of SD1 Vitesses had single plenums and this was the version used as standard in the 350i. Of course there is nothing to say that they didnt build a few with twin plenums - there being no such thing as a "standard" TVR!
accident said: not all sd1 vitesse(plural?)were twin plenum some were the single.
as for the 800 rovers with the 2.5 then 2.7 v6's they were made to follow the 16v vauxhall astra rule,which states"great engine crap chassis"
i put a twin plenum rover in a sierra once and it almost worked it almost made it into an ok car.apart from it still understered like an upset woodlouse,like all sierra's
LMFAO*2 ... great engine because it was a Honda unit, I think? Shame honda never used the 2 litre turbo engine in the Prelude (equivalent of the Rover 600?) ... four wheel steering and all the other clever b*llocks with that engine would have been groovy.
I have had from new one of the last 8 series November 1997 Vitesse Coupe 2 litre turbos fully loaded including traction control and excellent she is. I have had her from new and although unchipped she will seriously embarrass many other cars.
Up for sale shortly due to impending new company financed car but I cannotbear to part with her
Lost Boy
Up for sale shortly due to impending new company financed car but I cannotbear to part with her
Lost Boy
there was definatley a SD1 V8s made about 1980/81 it just hada better interior than the standard 3500 sd1, a sort of cord material for the seats and headlamp wash/wipe and chrome back box .great cars if you know how to look after them i owned 8 sd1's and only had probs with leaking gearboxs.
Yep, I agree there was definitely an SD1 V8S. They came with rather tasty alloy wheels too in addition to previously mentioned stuff. I remember lusting after it as younster before more recently buying a rusty one to relieve it of its engine and gearbox for my Kit Car.
On the Triumph Vitesse angle, the 1600cc Vitesse 6 isn't generally referred to as a MkI, the MkI and MkII are used to distinguish between the two variants of the later 2 litre car. The main difference between these is that the MkI 2L had the transverse swing spring rear suspension which was notorious for extreme on-limit handling, while the MkII benefitted from the so-called Rotoflex rear suspension in which an additional lower wishbone provides improved lateral location.
From an engine perspective, this is the same engine as was taken out to 2.5L in the Triumph saloons using a longer stroke crankshaft (and is also basically the same engine as in a TR6). Increasing the capacity by fitting the longer stroke crank was (and still is) a popular mod for Vitesses and also GT6's but was never fitted by the factory to these cars.
Sorry if I've momentarily donned my anorak but as an owner of both a Rover engined kit car and a 2L MkII Triumph Vitesse, you just happen to have hit on two of my favourite engines!
Chris
On the Triumph Vitesse angle, the 1600cc Vitesse 6 isn't generally referred to as a MkI, the MkI and MkII are used to distinguish between the two variants of the later 2 litre car. The main difference between these is that the MkI 2L had the transverse swing spring rear suspension which was notorious for extreme on-limit handling, while the MkII benefitted from the so-called Rotoflex rear suspension in which an additional lower wishbone provides improved lateral location.
From an engine perspective, this is the same engine as was taken out to 2.5L in the Triumph saloons using a longer stroke crankshaft (and is also basically the same engine as in a TR6). Increasing the capacity by fitting the longer stroke crank was (and still is) a popular mod for Vitesses and also GT6's but was never fitted by the factory to these cars.
Sorry if I've momentarily donned my anorak but as an owner of both a Rover engined kit car and a 2L MkII Triumph Vitesse, you just happen to have hit on two of my favourite engines!
Chris
Just to put the cat among the pidgeons.....
If the original 3.5 litre Rover V8 could make 190 bhp, how difficult could it be for TVR to coax an extra 45 bhp for an extra 0.5 litre capacity with associated fettling
Perhaps all this talk of TVR quoted power figures being optimistic is unfounded!!
If the original 3.5 litre Rover V8 could make 190 bhp, how difficult could it be for TVR to coax an extra 45 bhp for an extra 0.5 litre capacity with associated fettling
Perhaps all this talk of TVR quoted power figures being optimistic is unfounded!!
buzzsaw said: Just to put the cat among the pidgeons.....
If the original 3.5 litre Rover V8 could make 190 bhp, how difficult could it be for TVR to coax an extra 45 bhp for an extra 0.5 litre capacity with associated fettling
Perhaps all this talk of TVR quoted power figures being optimistic is unfounded!!
The smaller TVR engines are nearer the mark, some are around 235 bhp. although some are 210 ish they fit there own cam which is the main factor for increase in power.
Tim
Believe it or not I actually own a 1980 SD1 V8S. Its actually quite a nice car. The 1st owner had it "Ziebart" rustproofed from new so the bodywork is pretty good, at least it always seems to pass its MOT on the bodywork front. It doesn't half go, even though its an auto.
Although its not advertised I would be interested in getting rid of it if anyone is interested. Its taking up valuable TVR space on the drive...! It not injection though.
Cheers
Ed
Although its not advertised I would be interested in getting rid of it if anyone is interested. Its taking up valuable TVR space on the drive...! It not injection though.
Cheers
Ed
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