RE: Rover 827 Vitesse: PH Ad Break
Wednesday 13th March 2013
You’d hardly believe it now, but the early 90s were an optimistic time for Rover. After a torrid period in the early 80s, the company’s partnership with Honda was starting to pay dividends, and the Rover 213 and 216 – Honda Ballades, in all but name – had met with agreeable reviews and become a successful model for the company.
Rover's most unintentionally ironic subtitle?The next Rover to come out of this partnership was the 800, codenamed XX, and it continued the trend. Closely related to the first-generation Honda Legend, it featured a combination of Rover 2.0-litre M-Series engines and Honda V6s, and equipped with the latter, it spawned the second big Rover to wear the Vitesse name.
'I remember when these were all Ambassadors...'This particular ad, for the whole 800 range but featuring the Vitesse most heavily, was one of Rover’s better efforts of the 90s – all subtlety and innuendo, clever camerawork and neat asides. In fact it wouldn’t be out of place if it appeared on our screens today. In one fell swoop it takes a delightfully unsubtle swipe at Rover’s main rivals from the German car industry (then in its ascendancy, and just a few short years away from taking over the company in its entirety), and then addresses concerns about Rover’s fit and finish (although, clearly, the supposed owner who “likes the way it’s put together” enjoys the odd panel gap), before referring to its sporting credo (while cutting to a shot of a four-speed auto box being shifted between gears). Ahem. OK, so it’s not the greatest ad in the world in terms of its accuracy, but who cares? It looks great, the concept’s neat, and the car’s... well, it’s actually looking rather good these days, we reckon. Enjoy!
Rover 827 Vitesse: PH Ad Break
Old and flaky its reputation may be these days, but the 800 cut quite a dash in its time
Rover's most unintentionally ironic subtitle?
The first, of course, had been the big, brutish SD1 – but the 800 was an altogether different animal. Front-wheel drive, and more of an executive cruiser than a touring car tearaway, it’s no surprise that it’s barely remembered today while the SD1 is feted. But in its own right, and in its day, it was – take a deep breath, now – a good car. The V6 gave it 180hp, enough to propel it to 60mph in eight seconds dead, and it handled well. “Unlike the Legend, this car has the heart of a lion,” said Car magazine. “The Vitesse wipes aside the ills of earlier Rovers.” Let’s not forget, while we’re on the subject, that it was a completely standard 827 Vitesse that was the first production car to average 100mph around the Isle Of Man TT circuit, a feat achieved with Tony Pond at the wheel in 1990.
'I remember when these were all Ambassadors...'
PS. If you want a giggle, check out this earlier example of XX 800 advertising to see how well they moved the game on. Keep an eye out for the head-on shot with a main-beam bulb out. Only a company formed from the ashes of British Leyland could manage that one...
Discussion
Always liked that Deutsche ad.
The 800 was, frankly, a huge anti-climax compared to the SD1 it replaced, but wasn't a bad motor. IIRC Team Central TVR had one in their collection of sheds courtesy car days, just before their controversial switch to a Fiat Seicento fleet and it wasn't a bad drive. The 800s looked a bit dowdy from the off but it was probably the best Rover could do with the Honda platform share deal.
The 800 was, frankly, a huge anti-climax compared to the SD1 it replaced, but wasn't a bad motor. IIRC Team Central TVR had one in their collection of sheds courtesy car days, just before their controversial switch to a Fiat Seicento fleet and it wasn't a bad drive. The 800s looked a bit dowdy from the off but it was probably the best Rover could do with the Honda platform share deal.
These were always a really nice way to travel, and the Vitesse looked the part too.
Dubious "standard road car" Isle of Mann Tony Pond lap record not withstanding, these would have been much more of a hit if they had remained RWD IMO.
Not sure of the cost comparison, however the contemporary Honda Legend was a beautifully engineered piece of kit. With Alfa's 164, then later with Peugeot's 605, there was a good period where the German three didn't have it all their own way.
Dubious "standard road car" Isle of Mann Tony Pond lap record not withstanding, these would have been much more of a hit if they had remained RWD IMO.
Not sure of the cost comparison, however the contemporary Honda Legend was a beautifully engineered piece of kit. With Alfa's 164, then later with Peugeot's 605, there was a good period where the German three didn't have it all their own way.
My dad used to be a motoring journalist and I remember us spending a couple of weeks with one of the very early production 800s. I still to this day remember the absolutely appalling build quality and the fact that non of the electrics did what they were supposed to do. The electric window switches operated the wipers, wiper switch turned on the lights and other such ridiculousness. In addition it broke down at least twice while we had it. Rover assured him that this was an early development model and not the finished article but we never had the pleasure of trying another one so arent in a position to comment!
Z28DUNC said:
My brother had a black 827 vitesse. For a big old car it shifted and handled quite well. 825 was never as good as the Honda engined cars.
Tappets are big prob on 2.7 (and 2.5 honda) Rover 825 kv6 yup a headache until sorted in 75Raced a vitesse against Mg Monty Turbo -monty left Vit for dead
I went on a school trip to the Cowley plant, as a very excited 12 year old, to see these being built. With the exception of the paint plant, we saw everything from the giant presses stamping out the body panels, to finished cars being wheelspun off the line (I have never bothered running a car in as a result). We then got to play with a demo model in the showroom on-site, where things like seat position memories and the lovely (then) backlit instruments were incredibly impressive for the time.
I know so much about these cars was utter crap, but I always had a soft spot for them. The later Vitesse Sport with the 200 bhp 2.0 turbo under the bonnet still rates as one of the most surprising (in a good way) cars I've ever driven. Went like the clappers, didn't struggle to get its power down, and for a big lump, it went round corners alright too. Oh, and this example had 130,000 miles on it, so they didn't all fall apart within weeks.
I know so much about these cars was utter crap, but I always had a soft spot for them. The later Vitesse Sport with the 200 bhp 2.0 turbo under the bonnet still rates as one of the most surprising (in a good way) cars I've ever driven. Went like the clappers, didn't struggle to get its power down, and for a big lump, it went round corners alright too. Oh, and this example had 130,000 miles on it, so they didn't all fall apart within weeks.
Well, I had one - an 827 Vitesse.
I grew quite fond of the old girl, loads of room and on mine all the electrics worked fine.
Had just one issue in the 5/7 years we owned it, poor starting - eventually traced to a cracked/damaged distributor cap. This replaced along with HT leads and joy restored.
Not very torquey - which was often mentioned in road tests of the day, but once wound up would cruise at a relaxed 100/120 on the foreign motorways.....But here's a thing not often mentioned, I reckon they had the best headlights of any car that I've ever driven, excellent throw and spread.
Nick
I grew quite fond of the old girl, loads of room and on mine all the electrics worked fine.
Had just one issue in the 5/7 years we owned it, poor starting - eventually traced to a cracked/damaged distributor cap. This replaced along with HT leads and joy restored.
Not very torquey - which was often mentioned in road tests of the day, but once wound up would cruise at a relaxed 100/120 on the foreign motorways.....But here's a thing not often mentioned, I reckon they had the best headlights of any car that I've ever driven, excellent throw and spread.
Nick
When I was a student the awful (but awesome at the same time) take away round the corner from Huddersfield student union where i worked at the time used to do 2 12" Pizzas and a Ben and Jerrys ice cream for a £5'er...but the kicker was that they would delivery you home along with your food for free in the back of an 800 Vitesse, with big leather seats and the guy let you smoke in the back. A little slice of class in out filthy student world to say the least!
LewisR said:
Maybe it's the Schwaben accent these guys have but what's said (in German) here:
Schnell?
Ja, in England ?????? "Fastback".
I'd expect "heisst es", "die Name ist" or somesuch.
It's: "In England, nennen sie es 'Fastback'..." > literally translated to: "In England they name/call it 'Fastback'..."Schnell?
Ja, in England ?????? "Fastback".
I'd expect "heisst es", "die Name ist" or somesuch.
The German verb "nennen" is to name/to call.
I only had the 1989 820Si fastback but was very fond of it. The best front seats and drivng position of any car I've tried so far and comfortable at any speed I cared to try. Sold with 130,000 miles on the clock and apart from the wipers failing (all the cars in the scrappy had their arms removed too) it was basically reliable.
It was a far nicer place to be than my 1990 Scorpio and despite only being the 2 litre multipoint 16V seemed quite a bit faster than the 2.9 Granny automatic. The Rover handled better too - the Ford wasn't powerful enough for RWD to come into play yet the Rover could lift off oversteer.
It was a far nicer place to be than my 1990 Scorpio and despite only being the 2 litre multipoint 16V seemed quite a bit faster than the 2.9 Granny automatic. The Rover handled better too - the Ford wasn't powerful enough for RWD to come into play yet the Rover could lift off oversteer.
I seem to remember this as late 80s, not 90s...
Car did a feature with Richard Bremner caning a red one around the country, most of the photography in Scotland. He seemed rather smitten - perhaps he should have tried a Vauxhall... (You have to be of a certain age to get that. I apologise, and yes, I have my coat.)
Car did a feature with Richard Bremner caning a red one around the country, most of the photography in Scotland. He seemed rather smitten - perhaps he should have tried a Vauxhall... (You have to be of a certain age to get that. I apologise, and yes, I have my coat.)
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