montytom Posted May 8, 2021 Share Posted May 8, 2021 I thought I'd do a thread on this as I have not done one on it before. The reg is not covered up for any other reason that they took the plates off to clean it. The reg Number is T588STA It all started at the end of 2015. I was looking on facebook when a rover vitesse came up on the owners page asking for offers of what it was worth. I sent a message offering £700 (I think) due to no MOT and being off the road for about 4 years. Anyway I was refused and thought nothing of it. A few weeks later I had a message back saying people were offering over £2000 but never getting back. They said if I could come and pay the £700 it was mine. I agreed then worked out how to get the car home. They sent me some more pictures and I started to get excited. We then saw the car. It was alot better than we thought. I then bought it and got my friend to transport it home. I put it in for an MOT and it passed so I got the garage to do the cambelt,tensioners and water pump. timolloyd, 83C, mercedade and 34 others 37 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montytom Posted May 8, 2021 Author Share Posted May 8, 2021 I then set about getting the speakers sorted. My dad was really impressed doing this We then just drove it. We took it to a car show and the gentleman rushed over and said are you showing your lovely Rover then guided us to the show ground. MarvinsMom, outlaw118, 155V6 and 17 others 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montytom Posted May 8, 2021 Author Share Posted May 8, 2021 The car started to get a few rust spots one of which was the rear sill which unfortunately had gone soft so my dad has just cut out the rot and welded a nice new bit of metal in. When the weather is better then he will paint it. The MOT will be done as soon as I can then we will be bringing it to festival of the unexeptional. HMC, Lacquer Peel and Shite Ron 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crackers Posted May 8, 2021 Share Posted May 8, 2021 That's basically a brand new car for £700, excellent purchase! montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave j Posted May 8, 2021 Share Posted May 8, 2021 That looks brilliant! montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMC Posted May 8, 2021 Share Posted May 8, 2021 Amazing car @montytom I’ve had the privilege of being driven in this and it’s stunning. montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsuncog Posted May 8, 2021 Share Posted May 8, 2021 Wow, that is a bit special. The liftback shape is nicely enhanced by the Vitesse kit, and I always reckoned the facelift models looked a bit more elegant than the more boxy original 800. And only 33k on the clock? Nicely bought! montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2flags Posted May 8, 2021 Share Posted May 8, 2021 Lovely car. Well bought sir. montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus Posted May 8, 2021 Share Posted May 8, 2021 That's an absolute steal at that price. montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieInExile Posted May 8, 2021 Share Posted May 8, 2021 That is beautiful. Always liked these and yours looks like a great example. montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthernMonkey Posted May 8, 2021 Share Posted May 8, 2021 Lovely. montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montytom Posted May 9, 2021 Author Share Posted May 9, 2021 14 hours ago, Crackers said: That's basically a brand new car for £700, excellent purchase! Thankyou I bought it in 2015 but even then it was cheap. 13 hours ago, dave j said: That looks brilliant! Thankyou it still comes up well to this day 12 hours ago, HMC said: Amazing car @montytom I’ve had the privilege of being driven in this and it’s stunning. Thankyou @HMC It was a pleasure and lovely to chat with you 10 hours ago, Datsuncog said: Wow, that is a bit special. The liftback shape is nicely enhanced by the Vitesse kit, and I always reckoned the facelift models looked a bit more elegant than the more boxy original 800. And only 33k on the clock? Nicely bought! Thankyou it has nearer 70000 miles now so I have used it as intended. I've always loved the vitesse and I agree regarding the MK2 10 hours ago, 2flags said: Lovely car. Well bought sir. Thankyou it's one of my better purchases that's for sure. 9 hours ago, Quintus said: That's an absolute steal at that price. Thankyou it was and I'm glad they accepted 8 hours ago, GeordieInExile said: That is beautiful. Always liked these and yours looks like a great example. Thankyou it still comes up very well 6 hours ago, NorthernMonkey said: Lovely. Thankyou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRi05 Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 £700 looks like a ludicrous bargain for that. Stunning car montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montytom Posted May 9, 2021 Author Share Posted May 9, 2021 Just now, SRi05 said: £700 looks like a ludicrous bargain for that. Stunning car Thankyou I bought it back in 2015 but even then it was cheap but was all I could afford. I've since seen the son at Pol and he got some pictures of the car and he's happy so I'm happy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacquer Peel Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 Lovely car. I have a soft spot for 800s and lusted after one of these when I had an 800 diesel. montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montytom Posted May 9, 2021 Author Share Posted May 9, 2021 The other day I was looking on eBay as you do and spotted a scrapyard with a vitesse in. So I went and bought some bits. I bought a set of wings(I thought they would easily fit in the car) it really is surprising how long the wings on these cars are. I also bought a wasted spark engine and gearbox with type b LSD in. Exactly what I have in mine. I thought I'd best as if never find them again. The engine is getting delivered this week somewhen. Their is nothing wrong with the engine and box in mine just it's nice to have a spare set. Dick Longbridge, timolloyd and Mrs6C 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montytom Posted May 9, 2021 Author Share Posted May 9, 2021 2 minutes ago, Lacquer Peel said: Lovely car. I have a soft spot for 800s and lusted after one of these when I had an 800 diesel. Thankyou I don't know what it is about the 800 range but they certainly feel special Lacquer Peel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuboy Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 lovely car fella.. montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 On 5/9/2021 at 9:38 AM, montytom said: Thankyou I don't know what it is about the 800 range but they certainly feel special They do, don't they? I had an 820 after a 75, and although the 75 had a nice interior for a modern, the light airyness of the 820 was much more to my taste. I very quickly didn't mind having two fewer cylinders, and I'm a great believer in having at least 6 at my disposal. This one looks like a brilliant buy, well done. montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montytom Posted May 10, 2021 Author Share Posted May 10, 2021 10 hours ago, stuboy said: lovely car fella.. Thankyou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montytom Posted May 10, 2021 Author Share Posted May 10, 2021 7 hours ago, eddyramrod said: They do, don't they? I had an 820 after a 75, and although the 75 had a nice interior for a modern, the light airyness of the 820 was much more to my taste. I very quickly didn't mind having two fewer cylinders, and I'm a great believer in having at least 6 at my disposal. This one looks like a brilliant buy, well done. Thankyou I fully agree. I love the 75s and would love another someday but the 800 holds a special place for me. RoadworkUK 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadworkUK Posted May 10, 2021 Share Posted May 10, 2021 That's just lovely, and it evidently has a good home. I must have a go in a Vitesse at some point. My only fear is liking it more than I do the KV6. montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercedade Posted May 10, 2021 Share Posted May 10, 2021 Cracking that, and I reckon in 2015 you paid about right. I couldn't sell my fully MOT-ed S plate Vitesse in 2017 for £600, even with a bagful of spares. I sold it to scratch an MG Zt190 itch which was a lovely, solid feeling car, that sounded great, felt planted....but was never fast. Didn't have the same excitement as the 800. So now I'm back in an R plate Vitesse and can't see me selling it. Lack of spares for an unloved classic will be what kills it eventually (especially things requiring T4, like turning off SRS lights...) but yours looks a cracker. The bodywork on mine is unbelievable for an 800 - practically zero rust underneath or on the sills, which is why I went for it. But it's a lux-pack Vitesse and I don't really like the interior - I want grey Recaros again. A lot. montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montytom Posted May 11, 2021 Author Share Posted May 11, 2021 19 hours ago, RoadworkUK said: That's just lovely, and it evidently has a good home. I must have a go in a Vitesse at some point. My only fear is liking it more than I do the KV6. Thankyou. I love the kv6 in the 75. Never tried it in the 800 before but the T series turbo I've found is much more torquey than the kv6 feels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montytom Posted May 11, 2021 Author Share Posted May 11, 2021 18 hours ago, mercedade said: Cracking that, and I reckon in 2015 you paid about right. I couldn't sell my fully MOT-ed S plate Vitesse in 2017 for £600, even with a bagful of spares. I sold it to scratch an MG Zt190 itch which was a lovely, solid feeling car, that sounded great, felt planted....but was never fast. Didn't have the same excitement as the 800. So now I'm back in an R plate Vitesse and can't see me selling it. Lack of spares for an unloved classic will be what kills it eventually (especially things requiring T4, like turning off SRS lights...) but yours looks a cracker. The bodywork on mine is unbelievable for an 800 - practically zero rust underneath or on the sills, which is why I went for it. But it's a lux-pack Vitesse and I don't really like the interior - I want grey Recaros again. A lot. Thankyou yours wasnt the green fastback was it? The recaros seem to be fetching a pretty penny nowadays. I hope that you can find some. mercedade 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercedade Posted May 11, 2021 Share Posted May 11, 2021 6 hours ago, montytom said: Thankyou yours wasnt the green fastback was it? The recaros seem to be fetching a pretty penny nowadays. I hope that you can find some. Yep, BRG fastback. The bodywork was a curious mix of mint (the wings, doors etc) and the pretty poor (rear arches, rear strut mounts). The lad I sold it to (an old family friend) drove it for a while, but it was too fast for him. Crashed it into a curb, bent a LOT of things, so he scrapped it. Got some cash for the seats, the engine and box, but not much else. What I wouldn't give for the two side by side and an afternoon with a socket set. montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimH Posted May 11, 2021 Share Posted May 11, 2021 Shit the bed that's a nice one. montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WillCarter Posted May 11, 2021 Share Posted May 11, 2021 I don't think there's many cars which have aged quite as well as the Fastback 800, such a lovely design. I nearly bought an 827 Sterling Fastback a few years ago, was such an impressive thing to drive but when I got to see it one side was painted nearly the same colour as the other and the electrics started to shit the bed while we were looking around it and subsequently locked us out. I'd got them down to £300 at that point and part of me wishes I'd just taken the hit on it but my senses told me that I was in for a whole world of pain with it though. Certainly didn't dampen my want for one though, just never been right place right time. montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimH Posted May 11, 2021 Share Posted May 11, 2021 I'd prefer an early one without the daft grille, fluted leather and horrid steering wheel but beggards can't be choosers. I suspect the Rover 800 was the last product which wore a Rover badge that was actually forward looking and as such it has aged very well. montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Hunt Posted May 11, 2021 Share Posted May 11, 2021 Clucking Bell that is one nice motor. I drove a few of them back in the day in Vitesse form and they were so comfy with those Recaro's. montytom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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