1985 Rover SD1 Vitesse
Highlights
- Subject to copious recent improvements to the suspension, brakes, cooling system as well as a major service
- Numerous invoices for all new parts amidst a large collection of paperwork
- Flagship ‘Vitesse’ model with a 190bhp fuel-injected 3.5-litre V8
- Highly original and very well-preserved for its age
- Advisory-free MOT until August 2025
The Appeal
Yum. That’s what it says fore and aft of this Rover and we of Car & Classic agree. This is one tasty motor - as they used to say back in the day…
British Leyland’s answer to the Ferrari Daytona, the SD1 was designed in-house by Rover Group legends David Bache and Spen King. An executive saloon-cum-continental grand tourer, it was a revolutionary concept, signalling the start of a new era for the firm. SD1s were a mainstay of TV car chases in period, often seen power sliding through piles of cardboard boxes in the New Avengers and Professionals. It was a very cool car.
Today, vanishingly few Rover SD1s survive so we’re very excited to offer this 1985 example. It’s the 3.5-litre Vitesse model - the one to have both then and now. It’s a great example in commendably original condition for its age and the vendor has lavished a great deal of expenditure on the mechanicals, ensuring it’s supremely driveable. In fact, they were just using the car the other week fot a 100-mile jaunt on which it reportedly performed faultlessly. These cars like being used and we can say with some certainly you’ll very much enjoy driving this Rover.
One of the exhaust boxes has been removed, making that fuel-injected V8 especially vocal and, (remarkably for a British car from the 1980s), the electrics are said to be in good working order. That alone tells you this is a very well-sorted example!
Following a major service and the fitment of numerous new components, the Rover passed MOT with no advisories in August 2024 confirming that it’s ready for the road.
The History and Paperwork
- Apt registration ‘C789 YUM’ included in the sale
- 23,347 miles indicated on the six-figure odometer - the vendor suggests the unit may have been replaced at some point
- Known mileage history back to 2007 via MOT record (16,157 miles indicated at 2006 MOT)
- Eight former registered keepers
- UK-supplied RHD example
- V5C present
- MOT until 30th August 2025
- Accompanied by a large collection of invoices for all parts fitted recently
The Condition
- Period ‘Silver Birch’ over Grey cloth upholstery
- OEM alloy wheels retained and in very smart order
- We’re informed that all tyres have ample tread remaining
- Very straight bodywork with good door fit down both sides
- Some signs of corrosion apparent around the car such as the wheel arches and lower bodywork
- As the photos show, there’s some bubbling to the leading edge of the bonnet and a few other isolated areas
- The underside presents well for a car of this age
- Some small marks to the plastic bumpers/trim as to be expected
- The paint has various small blemishes but presents well overall
- The cloth upholstery has worn very well, with only moderate signs of age and a few small marks
- No headlining is presently fitted
- The vendor points out some warping to the dashboard but this is not especially noticeable
- We’re informed that all electric windows and the sunroof operate well
- The central locking can be temperamental but this is likely not complicated to remedy
- The vendor notes that all the instruments and switchgear seem in good working order
- New Kenwood DIN stereo with DAB, Bluetooth and handsfree
- DAB aerial affixed to the windscreen
- Motamec sports steering wheel - original supplied also
The Mechanics
- 3.5-litre Rover V8 with fuel-injection
- Five-speed manual gearbox
- No MOT advisories
- One exhaust box removed for enhances sound (standard system) - the removed item accompanies the car
- The vendor notes that the fuel economy is surprisingly reasonable
- The vendor notes that it sometimes pops out of first gear
- We’re assured that overall, the SD1 drives very well indeed
The vendor provides the following list of recent work:
- Spax adjustable shock absorbers all round - set to 20mm (standard Vitesse height)
- Uprated springs all round from Rimmers
- Goodrich hoses all around
- Fully polybushed including the remote gear selector
- New distributor and coil
- Full service inc plugs, leads, oil, and filters
- Cone-type air filter fitted
- Gearbox and diff oil replaced
- Vendor has noted that it does pop out of first gear from time to time
- Very good tyres all round
- Recent new brake new pads and shoes - front callipers tested and exercised to check for sticking
- New brake master cylinder
- New alloy radiator from Coolex (£420)
- New antifreeze, ECU, temperature sensor and new electrical plugs to both sensors (as these become brittle)
- New battery
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..
✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand.. If requested, we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected]
Vehicle specification
- Year 1985
- Make Rover
- Model SD1
- Colour Silver
- Odometer 23,448 Miles
- Engine size 3500
Listing Details
- Seller type Private
- Town Hornchurch
- Location Essex
- Country United Kingdom
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