THE ROVER SD1 FORUM

kiwi_sd1 · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 1:12 am Post subject: Black Vitesse

Hi guys, finally got a couple of pictures sorted. I'll need to do some more but this should do for a start anyway Smile

Shot from the side, rear bumper not quite sitting properly:

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Shot from the rear:

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Interior shot:

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Lehto · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:25 am Post subject:

I see you have the rear spats fitted in front of the car also. (just what I was going to do) Damn you people. Im so jealous because my car is in pieces and I cant drive with it yet...

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Owner of 3 Rovers and 1 MG.

KwS · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 11:13 am Post subject:

tahts a REAL beautiful car! where in NZ are you man? im looking at getting an SD1 soon. Fell in love with them about... 8 years ago, when i was about 11/12 years old Razz

JayDeeVDP · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 1:28 pm Post subject: spats...

Wow, never even considered the possibility of using spats on the front, looks very good especially on the black car, balances it off nicely, and adds to the even chunkier meaner appearance of the Vitesse.

I have some NOS spats for my car, (It's a VDP and should not really have them, but I have fitted Efi wheels...) but I'm not sure whether to fit them, I've been advised they are nasty moisture traps and can cause rapid corrossion, which is why they were deleted on the twin plenum cars?

A point worth considering, keep an eye on the metalwork beneath your four spats...

Lovely looking car

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Lifelong SD1 fan - 1983 Rover 3500 Vanden Plas

kiwi_sd1 · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 1:47 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the positive comments - I can't take any credit for the looks, the previous 2 owners have done it all Smile

KwS - I'm in the Waikato, where abouts are you? This is my first rover, and I must admit the sunbird that occupies the other side of the double garage is in danger of getting the flick in favour of another one of these Cool

Regarding the spats, yes I can see how they could be a problem. When i was washing it the other day I was thinking that they could be a problem. Almost thought about getting the hardryer out Laughing

I'll see if I can get some engine bay pics done. Under the car will be difficult as it's a bit low Smile

Lehto · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 7:34 pm Post subject: Re: spats...

JayDeeVDP wrote:

Wow, never even considered the possibility of using spats on the front, looks very good especially on the black car, balances it off nicely, and adds to the even chunkier meaner appearance of the Vitesse.

I have some NOS spats for my car, (It's a VDP and should not really have them, but I have fitted Efi wheels...) but I'm not sure whether to fit them, I've been advised they are nasty moisture traps and can cause rapid corrossion, which is why they were deleted on the twin plenum cars?

A point worth considering, keep an eye on the metalwork beneath your four spats...

Lovely looking car

The original "rubber plastic" ones fit to the front perfectly. This was the first thing to check when I found 2 sets of them from the warehouse. What comes to the rust? Its a sure way to make your car rust like crazy from under them if you got original thin paint. But if you have 6 coats of paint (4 of them are thick epoxy) like I do.. then I think rust wont be a problem Smile

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Owner of 3 Rovers and 1 MG.

JayDeeVDP · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 8:02 pm Post subject: paint

I'll get 7 coats applied then, just to be sure.... Wink

Seemingly like your car, my original factory paint finish has already been lost Sad

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Lifelong SD1 fan - 1983 Rover 3500 Vanden Plas

Chris P · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:18 pm Post subject: Re: spats...

Lovely Vitesse - how many Vitesses made it to New Zealand? Are there
many locally-produced SD1s still on the road?

JayDeeVDP wrote:

I have some NOS spats for my car, (It's a VDP and should not really have them, but I have fitted Efi wheels...) but I'm not sure whether to fit them, I've been advised they are nasty moisture traps and can cause rapid corrossion, which is why they were deleted on the twin plenum cars?

Spats don't look quite right with the larger front spoiler, rubbing strips and
body-colour sills (obviously not an issue on a black car), which is
probably why Austin-Rover deleted them from MY1985. Compare the
targa Vitesses on the following page - Ramon's, mine and 7XYC
which incorrectly has spats (despite only being 7000 miles from
new!). Maybe it'd be different if the spats were body colour.

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JayDeeVDP · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:29 pm Post subject: sill colour

Mmmmm, some delicious looking cars there.... Very Happy

Another thing has struck me however is sill colour, some are body colour, some are black (mine is black which I thought was original)

I'm speculating, but were the sills ever factory painted in body colour, every SD1 I've owned ranging from a 2600S, a 3500SE, two Vitesses and two Vanden Plas, all were matt black.

I must say the body coloured sills on the Vitesse cars again give them an even lower appearance, and look very nice indeed, I may do the same, and perhaps fit Vitesse suspension, my SD1 is a bit Range Rover-ish in ride height....

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Therefore, inspired by the owners' club pics I've just seen, my next plans are....

Fit lower suspension
Paint the sill body colour
Fit the spats (should be acceptable, mine's a 1983 VDP, Vitesses of that year had them fitted....)

But to retain the Vanden Plas image, I will not be adding a rear spoiler or twin plenum front spoiler....

Oh, and a Rimmers Stainlss Steel exhaust

What you think, guys and gals?

Jay

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Lifelong SD1 fan - 1983 Rover 3500 Vanden Plas

Lehto · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 11:22 pm Post subject:

Now we are hijacking the thread... lets not get into that otherwise this forum will be like 99% of the others.

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Owner of 3 Rovers and 1 MG.

kiwi_sd1 · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:50 am Post subject: Box Section Trailing Arms

Here's a pic of the trailing arms on my Vitesse

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Chris P · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 5:32 am Post subject:

I'm guessing they were fabricated due to lack of available
trailing arms? Prior to the India stock, trailing arms were
made from purist unobtanium - indeed one enterprising
SD1 owner made and sold repair kits!

I know of at least one UK SD1 which has fabricated trailing
arms - made from stainless steel I believe!

kiwi_sd1 · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 1:08 pm Post subject: some more pics

Hi, thought I'd add a couple of pictures after I gave my baby a wash this avo....

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KwS · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 2:23 pm Post subject:

Stunning! i envy you oh so much!

Halkyardo · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject:

Awesome, awesome car! ME WANTS!

_________________
My SD1:
Grey-green 1984 3500SE
New Zealand-assembled
Registration: GR8DOG