'97 800 Vitesse collection + review - see page 3

[scooters]

 

 

Ten to eight yesterday morning and I am in WH Smith at Edinburgh's Waverly Station looking for some reading material for the train journey ahead. There seem to be hardly any car mags – spoke to the doris who told me that they sell out of the classic ones within a few days of getting them. So Kit Car Monthly and Private Eye would have to do.

I'm off to Market Harborough, 350 miles away, to do some business and collect a 1997 820 Vitesse Sport. The journey to get there requires:

Edinburgh – Newcastle

 

Newcatle Central Station

 

Newcastle – Sheffield

Sheffield – Leicester

Leicester – Market Harborough

 

about 4 years ago I sold an XJ40 to Richard Moss, the chap who set up and runs the main 800 club in the UK. As I collected him from Harpenden station in the Daf 55 Marathon I was driving we did what shitters do and talked at length about chod, Richard told me about the 800 he was rebuilding I remember not really 'getting' the passion for the 800 he had nor did I especially understand him putting in so much time rebuilding one. This was before I really started to understand the whats and wherefore of cars and to a technically minded person here as a vehicle which in a way summed up Rover, certainly from the time it was brought into BL.

 

I have no 'heritage' in British cars, my old man was a big fan of Citroens and Volvos and I think most of us inherit a love for the cars we knew as a kid. British cars were often dismissed as unreliable and rusty (this from a man who drove an Ami 8!) and were never considered on the shopping list at Scooters Towers. Every now and then I would go into a friend's British car and marvel at the solidity, the opulence of even some of the basic models, the wood and the distinct thrum of the Austin power units most of them had. Then of course there were the friends with Rovers, As a kid these were mostly P5s and P6s but latterly SD1s...never small rovers, always big ones. These were owned by dad's who had to drive for a living, whilst we had DS Safaris, BX Estates (Mk1 and Mk2) and a succession of 245s these dads had cars which were not merely family lugging implements but gentleman's clubs on wheels complete with their musty interiors and the pack of Dunhill International on the dash. Latterly, in 1998, two years year before my dad died, I recall him waxing lyrical about how Rover were selling off the 820 Vitesse Sport on the cheap and how he was tempted to get one. I was surprised by this and said so but the old boy spoke with desire and respect in his voice, shame even at the cheaper price he was in no position to buy one.

 

So the 800, a reputation for shonky electric, industrial action and build quality issues thereof, cost engineering resulting in sub standard components and, even worse, engines. It is a testament to the brilliance of British car designers and engineers that despite all these challenges they were able to churn out vehicles that actually started at all. When I started to research the 800 it became very apparent that, typical with BL/Rover cars the success of different models of 800 very much seems to ride on when it was built and what engine it got, it is interesting to see how many cars they released were let loose on the public before ready – Maxi, Allegro, Princess...is the 800 guilty of this? To agree that it is is a stoning offence in enthusiast circles but there is a world of a difference between the 1990 Sterling 2.0 I once drove and the 1997 Vitesse I ended up with. The more I researched this the more I realised that now was the time to grab a bit of UK motoring history, P6's SD1s way out of price range – 75 far to mechanically complex for my ability with a spanner, this car would have to be kept on the road by me with my limited budget.

 

Nowhere in recent history is there a better example of how we have let our manufacturing sector down and created an economy that makes it easy for ruthless Venture capitalists to take a going concern and destroy it, trousering huge amounts of cash for the directors and leaving the brand, machinery and heritage to be taken away for a song to another country. Wouldn't it be better if we were making excellent cars ourselves and sell them to the aspirational Chinese middle classes who are buying up fake Rover 75's faster than they can be built. Sadly it was easier for the investors to line their pockets from the sweat of other's brows rather than build an exciting business in a new market previously unknown, one with an appetite for British luxury goods. It would and could never happen in Germany, the dual board system ensures that German companies build for long term futures and are there not just to make money but to provide employment and opportunity for generations. Decades of mismanagement and short termist leadership destroyed this company...its a damn shame.

 

So when the great 820 rescue I was arranging with Lord Sterling fell through I had a gander at the excellent Rover800 Forum and found what I was looking for. This example was owned by a well known member who had bought it about 5 years ago as a stop gap but had held onto it as it just handled so well and felt so good to drive. I was a tad skeptical, I'd driven an 825 and an 820 Sterling before and had personally not been bowled over by the handling or performance – far too much body roll and disconcerting steering when really pushed – a nice Luxobarge but more of a Lexus LS400 in handling than a BMW. I had done a bit of research and it seems that the later Vitesse Sport is quite different, the combination of engine, turbo charger, lower and stiffer suspension making a vehicle far more akin to the Mk1 827 Vitesse in which Tony Pond completed the TT in at an average lap speed of nearly 102mph, the 1992-96 Vitesse was a sluggish and poor handling car but by 1996 this had been sorted, so I was hopeful. However, I was nervous about collecting the 820 – experienced shitters will understand the thrill of tracking down and collecting new chod especially a car you have never owned before and especially one which is effectovely a scrap rescue. Would it be a peach or a shed?

 

So as the London train heaved on to Newcastle and I made the Cross Country connection to Sheffield I was in two minds. The thrill of the chase all of us are familiar with can be tempered with some doubt especially when buying a car we don't know.

 

soundrediscover met me at Market Harbourgh station in the pissing rain, only an hour late thanks to the Newcastle- Sheffield service running 5 minutes late causing me to miss my connection. He was driving the car and at first glance I thought 'oh no' – it looked tired, the inside was all complete but was musty as the car hadn't been used for 3 years. However, I reassured myself, this was a £300 car and with good examples of late Vitesse Sports going for several grand these days the car would either be a runaround shed for a few months or might, just might, have some potential. A quick coffee and Ian talked me through the car, sharing all the pros and cons of this particular vehicle as enthusiast to enthusiast.

 

OK, this Vitesse is a 1997 which means it is a Sport spec as standard as the standard Vitesse was dropped at the end of 1996.

 

It's a fastback rather than a saloon and normally differs from other 800s thus:

 

820 200 bop Turbocharged 2lt twin cam 16V 'T' Series engine. (0-60 in 7.3 top speed of 142 MPH)

17†Rims

Lower and stiffer suspension, stiffer anti roll bars and Positive Centre Feel steering

 

This particular car also has:

 

Cone air filter

wide boyz dump valve

full stainless Powerflow exhaust

Full leather interior sourced from a Lux model

a recent cylinder head and gearbox

 

Toys include:

leccy sunroof and windows with 'lazy close' system – they will close on remote locking the car

climate control (aircon not present)

no cruise on this model

 

The car had been mechanically well maintained in Ian's ownership, initially by a specialist and latterly by a local mechanic who was an 800 enthusiast. This means that those jobs to sort out unique issues have mostly been done, i.e. fitting a quality head gasket (the T series isn't prone to failures but Rover was certainly guilty of using gaskets with the strength of a Fry's Chocolate Cream).

 

Paperwork was sorted and I started the journey home. First thing was to get some petrol and Sainsburys provided me with 55 lts of their finest cooking quality petrol. I then pulled over and gave the car the once over.

 

Bodywork is on the whole solid, Ian had taken a green fastback and removed the doors and wings off a blue fast back – bolted them on and can sprayed the bonnet, roof etc blue – the boot remains green as he ran out of paint. I wasn't too concerned about the paint at this stage. A couple of bubbles on one of the arches and Ian had sorted two of the others and the front of the roof line was just beginning to go and will also need sorted. Some new exterior trim clips will be needed as the nearside running strip is a tad wobbly and the rear bumper leading offside corner is typically loose and not far from the flapping around stage. What was pleasing was that the overall quality of the plastics and fittings is of a gratifying quality – it is worth repairing. Some of the chrome paint n the running strips is looking past its best, however I am closely watching Volksangly's repair using quality aluminium tape to cover the worn plastic paint before I worry too much about it.

 

Wheels are what you would expect of a 1997 car which as older alloys – they will need ground polished and painted at some point. Pirellis on nearside, a Michellin at the rear off side and a budget front offside. Brake discs look good as do the hoses and calipers. Inner wheel arches and sills all pretty solid. Stainless exhaust is a big plus point. A slight oil leak from the rear of the engine but nothing serious.

Engine bay is well maintained in all the bits you need it to be – battery tray needs rustproofing and painting and there are large dried pine needles sitting on every flat surface in the bay. Aftermarket Kenlowe fan with adjustable thermostat, unidentifiable cone air filter and a reasonable quality dump valve. The oil breather also has an aftermarket catch filter on it. The bay has a feeling of an unrestored stone built Georgian house, a bit down at heel and looking worn but well designed, logically thought out with none of this 'Frenchman's nonsense' you get in the PSAs or 'Teutonic indifference to the home mechanic's knuckles' in some of the later BMWs! Actually, the same could be said for the car.

 

Anyone know who made this filter? Jetex? or a cheapo ebay tosh one?

 

OMG CHK OWT DA DUMP VAWVE - JS LK VIN DESSIL AWSUM

 

The interior of these 800's is half the point of owning one. The first thing that this one needs is a damn good clean – Ian has 2 dogs and every carpet surface has dog hairs in addition the full leather grey interior he added to the car has suffered from daily driving, post dog walks and with a busy life and a coupe to work on, needs a good clean and feed. No criticism of Ian here – christ, you should see the inside of the family Subaru – the leather is 'protected' with a unique balm consisting of a combination of Mcdonald's barbeque sauce, sherbet, dried apple juice, sand from the beach and the occasional bit of horrible matter – kids! I found a fossilized sausage under the passenger seat. In my wife's last Scab she kept complaining about the 'horrible smell the engine was making' which actually turned out to be a rotting nippy – under the passenger seat and a layer of plastic bags and papers – in short, the family car is horrible...really really horrible. This Rover is going to be MY sanctuary and therefor I will make sure the interior is as mint, clean, nice smelling and comfortable as it can possibly be.

Anyway, door cards are in excellent condition under the dirt and the dash is all there and not lifting with the only issue being a very small crack and a control bezel aspirator panel (don't ask what it does) being loose (available new from Rimmers for about 80p).

 

OK, behind the wheel. Well, the overall impression is very British – i.e. very well thought out and designed but the execution of it has been let down by accountants. Remember, the 800 was meant to compete with the big exec cars of the period – the BMW 5 series, E-Class merc, LS400, XM and 604...and even had pretensions to knock the XJ6 off its perch. In design the car competes well against everything up to about 1995. It's the occasional use of pisspoor materials that suggests design overridden by finances. This isn't unique to Rover, you get it in the French cars – however, you sort of expect it in them as they have no pretensions. It seems a bit odd to have chestnut trim (yes it is real wood under there – unlike the LS400) and quality dead cow skin but then to have egg carton spec plastics and a sunroof blind that feels and looks like it was made by Zastava. Then there is the creaking – I have driven and or owned every one of the luxury cars I quote above and the Rover is the creakiest of them all round town. This is a good indication of poor sound insulation and cheap trim clips.

 

The wheel is a horrible bulbous airbag thing that looks like a huge horrible industrial building in the middle of the rolling English countryside (only we would think such a wheel would be acceptable – I'd like to change it but it does have an airbag built in and I'd quite like to keep it (see below – Performance). All the switches are logically positioned and can be reached from the the2two position except for the Hazard warning which is below the stereo and has to be reached to press (why can't car designers put these in easy to locate and push places given how the most useful application is to warn folk when approaching a motorway hazard), electric door mirrors and seats have memory settings. The sunroof works on a one touch open which is neat but why not a one touch close? Ventilation is excellent.

 

The seats and driving position are superb – you are square onto the pedals and settling into the wonderful seats – (I prefer them to 940/XM/BX/XJ40 and Saab seats) you do feel special. The bonnet reaches away in front of you with a slight bulge you don't notice from the outside – it does feel a bit – just a bit SD1.

 

Performance

 

Starting the car and the burble of the stainless is instantly gratifying – here is a car with intent. Lower slung and in sleek it is also flipping huge – a good 6 inches longer than the BW E34. The fastback shape is deceptive – you think the car is smaller than it is until you actually look. The lines are sleek and the best angles are from behind and side on – forward it is nondescript – the grill looks a bit sloppy and out of place and the headlights are nothing special. But that makes it all the more enjoyable when the A4 in front of you can't understand why there is a 1990's Rover up his arse at 80 mph.

 

see below how much larger than the BX it is

The first thing I notice is the dreadful gear linkage – that will have to be sorted and is an easy mod. It is caused by a worn cotter pin – solution – replace pin with an M10 bolt and nylocks.

 

I get out of town and open the car up a bit – I immediately notice the superb steering and handling – this Vitesse is right up there with the 535i I had – probably more responsive on the steering. It is Jag like in it's stability on corners and the TorSen diff swings the car round corners at silly speeds and inspires huge confidence. The other thing I notice is the revs – the T series is a wonderfully efficient machine. When you consider this is a final development of the B series into the O series into the M series and then into the T series the engine already had a 40 year pedigree before they developed the T – some MGB types drop these into their cars – must make them terrifying! The car whips along at 90 mph in top gear at just under 3000 revs! In the Scoob you are doing about 4500 revs for that speed. You can see why this car does 140 mph, there is a lot of power in the bank – too much for the chassis in fact. I'm gentle with the car as I'm aware at how the torque can lunch the gearbox.

 

A road driving is more akin to a GT than a luxobarge – long legs, great handling, powerful engine, intentful looks. Respect from other motorists in newer performance cars, those who know what the Vitesse is) is evident at service stations and in town. This is a subtle sleeper of a car.

 

It's on the motorway when it really comes into its own. As accomplished a motorway cruiser I've ever driven the only gripes being wind noise from the door mirrors and the exhaust note – funnily enough the faster you go the less intrusive these become. I was disappointed there was no cruise control but actually I don't miss it – the driving position is so good that at no point does my right foot feel strained.

 

Edinburgh, 340 miles, in just under 5 hours 30 mins including a 30 minute stop over – I used about 50 quid of petrol, I have owned better MPG cars but none that are such fun to drive – hell the BX would have slurped over £70 had I driven it like this -the scoob doesn't bear thinking about even though it is non turbo.

 

Better still, on getting out of the car I feel like I have been for a restful walk n the park rather than sat in a car for 6 hours – more so than any other car I have owned including the XJ40s and the XM/CXs.

 

So – the car will be kept and turned into a rolling project, it makes too much sense not to as the parts are cheap and available, the car is comfortable and can be a hoot when booted. But, the overall point of the car is not to boot it – it is to know that if you are forced to you can....a bit like a Kiplingesque schoolboy hero who is a champion boxer but you wouldn't know to look at him and he never talks about it until he takes off his blazer, rolls up his sleeves and squares up Queensbury style to the huge school bully (a German exchange student) a fat lip, cauliflower ear and jelly nose for giving Fatty Jenkins a hard time about his specs and making him cry:

 

“Take that Fritz you rotter! And let that be a lesson for you! Who's for tea and crumpets at Matrons!â€Â

 

 

 

To do list:

Clean inside

Treat leather seats

clean or source replacement cone filter

clean engine bay

rust audit

leak audit

change oil (urgent)

change and flush coolant to OAT

sort small corrosion on front of roof line and wheel arch

new gear knob

new gear knob gaiter

Dunlop sports when I have the dosh

 

Long term list

paint job

chrome strips

refurbish wheels

quality bluetooth stereo

retro fit aircon (climate control controls are present)

[scooters]

shocking photos - sorry having to use mobile as Camera battery was flat.

 

Oil change now complete - be interesting to see the difference it makes, previousl owner mentioned it makes quite a difference.

 

Sadly the muppet at Uniparts sold me the wrong filter - I only reliased this after I had drained the oil so I've refilled and will use the old one with aother change in 2000 miles time - it's Unipart 10W20 so I'll replace it with castrol GTX when I replace the filter.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Interior looks nice, rare to see one of these where the dash has not ballooned up above the clocks. I would sack off that dump valve and gaylord air filter immediately, looks like the original airbox will bosh straight back on. 340 miles for £50 is over 40mpg so you're doing pretty well there. These are a nice car with one of the best driving positions of all time but they dont wear big mileages terribly well. Is that the original interior or has it been replaced?

[Lacquer Peel]

That was a good write-up. I used to go miles to collect cars on the train and bus, like when I bought a Rover 825D in Cumbria for £140. Yearning to do a tat collection mission again.

I'd love to try a Vitesse (are early R17 Vitesses that bad?) but a late 825D would be the best 800 for me, they have masses of torque with a bought-in Chrysler gearbox to cope and the VM diesel runs on various fuels that aren't touching £1.50/litre. I keep looking for them on eBay but they appear to be extinct.

[r.welfare]

Enjoyable writeup there, a bit like I'd imagine a Bill Boddy road test from Motor Sport to be if he'd consumed a full bottle of gin beforehand.

 

I've only ever tried 'cooking' 2-litre R17s and both examples were past their best - I got given an L-plate 820i fastback gratis about five years back (with 24hrs MOT and tax) but it was buggered with the usual faults (e.g. gearbox sounding like a Moulinex Magimix, electric windows only moving 1cm at a time, broken doorhandles, wheelnuts made of chocolate) so I fragged it. Then got offered a mate's T-plate 820 Sterling a couple of years later, it had been laid up on his drive for six months and all the calipers had seized so passed on it - seemed pointless sinking a few hundred quid into it to get it roadworthy to be honest given it was beginning to rot, had electrical issues, a leaky HG (oil) and electrical woes; but the leather interior was nice!

 

Sounds like the Vitesse was much better based on your impressions, and the rattlecan repaint doesn't look too bad.

[Lord Sterling]

Excellent write up sir! Good on you for putting the naysayers to rent. Whenever people think of Rover, be it a mid 70s model or a late 90s one, all they think about is the shonky build quality and strikes.

 

Yor Vitesse looks lovely, I'm glad you finally got around to buying one, there really is nothing like actually trying one out to really see what they are about. I really would like you to try my 827 Sterling one time, I'm fairly confident that if you like comfortable cruisers you'll certainly like this one.

[scooters]

Interior looks nice, rare to see one of these where the dash has not ballooned up above the clocks. I would sack off that dump valve and gaylord air filter immediately, looks like the original airbox will bosh straight back on. 340 miles for £50 is over 40mpg so you're doing pretty well there. These are a nice car with one of the best driving positions of all time but they dont wear big mileages terribly well. Is that the original interior or has it been replaced?

 

 

interior is retro fitted from a different car hence the ful leather and the sterling dodr cards. Car has done 120k and is just lacking a bit of TLC - T series engines are good for 200k - the P1 gear boxes need to be watched but once you have upgraded the bearings should be ok. I've had worse at that mileage - just need maintenance I suppose -

 

I'll be retro fitting the box and removing the dump valve as suspect the power is down because of them

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I know all about the PG1 gearboxes having rebuilt my own, the diff bearings go in them due to having bearing cages made out of reconstituted horse KAKA. If yours is quiet now theres nowt for you to worry about there really.

[Skizzer]

Well bought and well written, my friend.

 

Mrs Skizzer is now a bit grumpy with me as she's worked out this means the ex-Wuvvum Rover 75 will be sticking around here for the time being instead of moving on to you in Edinburgh. (She quite likes driving round in it, but the drive and road are now very full.)

[scooters]

Lol..tell SWMBO that the 75 is very welcome in Edinburgh when you need to move it on as all our cars whilst mechanically sound look really ropey and I can see the sweat break out on the brows of clients I visit!

[eddyramrod]

You can rely on Autoshite for a quality write-up on some tat-collecting mission! Great stuff Scooters, nice to see someone not only happy with his purchase, but at the same time, happy with an old Brit barge! This is the life.

[Shep Shepherd]

I really like this car. If it were mine, I'd leave the bodywork as it is (albeit thoroughly Waxoyled), but I would get everything on it working properly, give it a Shepherd Superservice*, clean the interior, fit an OE Rover stereo with CD autochanger, fit a set of decent tyres and use it to scare drivers of modern BMWs and Audis on my daily commute

 

 

 

*A full service, plus the bits that most garagistes leave out

[scooters]

Lol...

 

It will be run along those lines for the foreseeable future as paint is out of budget. Most important is getting the rubber sorted. It deserves qualify tyres.....tempted to anthracite the wheels and upgrade the brakes ....mind you i am used to the BX brakes which are of the splat your eyeballs on the windscreen school!

[scooters]

Lol...

 

It will be run along those lines for the foreseeable future as paint is out of budget. Most important is getting the rubber sorted. It deserves qualify tyres.....tempted to anthracite the wheels and upgrade the brakes ....mind you i am used to the BX brakes which are of the splat your eyeballs on the windscreen school!

[RoadworkUK]

I rather like that, for fairly obvious reasons. I always fancied a go in a T-Series. Enjoy your 320D baiting!

[scooters]

Did the Fife Circuit today...took Mrs S with me and the Rover...Edinburgh to Auchtermuchty, then Ladybank, St Andrews, Anstruther where we had lunch in the marvelous Anstruther chippie...haddock so fresh you had to hold it down to cut it. Then onto Eile, Largo and Kirkcaldy then home. About 160 odd miles.

 

The air filter is definitely affecting the top end ommph and I suspect the dump value is actually dumping pressure that should not be dumped! So the cone filter will be dumped in the bin and the dump valve dumped on eBay tout suite.

 

Car ngot the Mrs s seal of approval though!

[KruJoe]

WINNAR!

 

... anthracite the wheels ...

 

I'm not a fan of dark coloured wheels, but last year I did an old set of alloys in black Hammerite, just so they'd hold air for new snow tyres.

They needed minimal preparation (3-4 mins per rim with wire brush in the drill), one coat of hammered finish (applied with by dabbing with an old bit of sponge) covered a multitude of sins, sticks really well and looks champion. Piece of pizz.

I left them for a week in the warm boiler cupboard for the paint to harden before slipping the new boots on. It's hard when they stop stinking.

[CreepingJesus]

Did the Fife Circuit today...

 

Quality trip in a car like that; not a gatso anywhere , just the odd camera van. Like the one that was sat between Ladybank and Freuchie yesterday, probly wondering why everyone went by at about 30...

I'll keep an eye out for you, and your marvellous steed. Or an ear out, p'raps. These bloody boy racers and their dumpy vulvas...I dunno...dribbledribble...yoof of today...

[Pete-M]

I hope you enjoy it.

[garethj]

Nice!

 

If you get a good one, these 800s are a comfy way of getting around. My boss had an 820 when new and I handed him his arse on a twisty B road in my MG Midget, but the Rover was quite relaxing to travel moderately quick in. You can get cool air to your face and warm air to your feet which is nicer than changing switches, relays and fuses to make the windows work.

 

The fastback is also vast inside when you fold the rear seats down.

 

I’ll bet these were in the top 10 for the scrappage scheme, whilst being in the bottom 10 for JD Power surveys. It’s the textbook Autoshite car

[scooters]

Well, I'vedone about 1500 miles in this since collecting it and it is proving to be a very capable car. I have noticed that whilst it returns excellent MPGs on a motorway run - this is not the case on A and B roads!

 

On the advice of the tuning chaps on Rovertech forum I have removed the crappy aftermarket OMG TURBOZ chod - the cone filter and the dump valve - which was, incidentally, plumbed in wrongly - and refitted the OEM airbox with a stock filter adding quality new vacuum hoses. The car is much faster now and quieter.

 

I have a huge to do list to get it up to spec, one benefit is that these seem to be pretty easy to work on unlike some of my recent PSA chod. Rover seemed to still have the idea of the 'gentleman motorist' running one of these things like an old giffer running a Riley in the 50's¬ now where did I put my string backed driving gloves?

[ashmicro]

Great write up sir, and excellent pics too. Rover's of this era are generally quite easy to work on, so if you can find one that's not been too neglected or messed with, you can get yourself a nice machine for not too many £££. I rally fancy a K engine R8, but finding one is difficult (and I've no room)

 

Top work.

[tonedepear]

Good work!

[KruJoe]

How's the alternator holding up mate?