THE ROVER SD1 FORUM

kiwi_sd1 · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 12:16 am Post subject: Automatic TP?

Hi, just wondering if there were ever any twin plennum vitesses that left the factory with an automatic transmission?

thanks

v8driver · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 12:54 am Post subject:

I'm not aware of any around (though doesn't mean much as I'm fairly new to the SD1 scene), although automatics were deleted from the options list in May 1984 and Twin Plenums were only availabe from mid to late 1985 I doubt the were any made.

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Half Poly bushed 3.5 Twin plenum VITESSE(Waiting patiently for better weather)
Baby Blue D889 MOJ Daily driver

Chris P · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 1:01 am Post subject:

v8driver is correct....

However, there is always a possibility one or two were made. White
Vitesses were never officially available, but several were made (and
they are not ex-Police cars). It would be very easy to figure if a
car which claimed to be a TP auto was original, the VIN would
confirm it was auto and a late VIN would suggest it was TP.

I also believe that no manual Vanden Plas EFi cars were made, and
the VDP EFi ceased manufacture prior to the twin-throttle being
available. However, read the latest SD1 Club magazine and there
is a claim a manual TP VDP EFi exists.

Lehto · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 1:07 am Post subject:

But the twin plenum mechanism lacks kickdown provision. So they would of made few "one off" linkages for such cars?

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Owner of 3 Rovers and 1 MG.

Chris P · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 1:44 am Post subject:

Lehto wrote:

But the twin plenum mechanism lacks kickdown provision. So they would of made few "one off" linkages for such cars?

Reckon you are right there. Could argue that Austin-Rover would have
had development cars with such options. But as the TP was only a very
limited run item, never fitted to other Rover V8 users inc. Land/Range
Rover, even this is unlikely.

Anyone else read about the TP manual VDP EFi in the latest SD1 Club
magazine? I would like to see that car and check it's VIN Rolling Eyes

ramon alban · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 1:56 am Post subject:

Lehto said: But the twin plenum mechanism lacks kickdown provision. So they would of made few "one off" linkages for such cars?

Absolutely true, and neither did they have the Cruise Control linkages either because everyone knows that no TP cars left the factory with fitted Cruise Control yet I know of at least two, both retrofitted by their owners, and of course there may be more because the fitting instructions are readily available.

Now, what if, in a galaxy far far away (next year) a person was to sell one of these cars as "fitted with Hella Cruise Control System" then the buyer may well believe that it was an original fitment unless it was declared otherwise..

And the next time the car was sold ????? Perhaps this is how Urban Myths are given a life of their own.

Probably the best guide is a combination of comparison between the brochures and the VIN and as Chris says ----- However, there is always a possibility one or two were made -----.

However, regarding the claim that ---- a manual TP VDP EFi exists -----, well, I believe it to be true, why not? Its just another retrofit methinks.

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Ramon