Rover SD1 Stage rally/Drift/Hillclimb/Sprint/Race unfinished project V8

Hi everyone. and welcome to my auction. It is with great regret and sorrow that I am having to sell my project that I have been building for the last 4 years or so. I will try my hardest to describe it as accurately as I can. but I am bound to miss something as there is far too much too mention. so here goes.

1984 Rover SD1 Vitesse (genuine Vitesse). which has been built as a competition car. what you choose to compete in is up to you. but I originally intended to use her for stage rallies. but with some pushing and goading from a mate. I then changed direction slightly and was going to go do the British Drift championships. So. I searched for the best shell I could possibly find. and this car was a corker with very little rot. and suprisingly no welding done or required. I firstly removed the roof and fitted a genuine Rover Non-Sunroof skin. done to factory specs (I have access to proper equipment for this job). The only part that was any thing like sucuming to rust was the bukhead panel. this was properly removed and replaced using a genuine Rover part.  Whilst the shell was bare. the cage was fitted. which is a fully welded in. triangulated multi point MSA approved cage. which ties into the shell and is very stiff. The shell was stripped of all seam sealant and underseal and fully seam welded. Also I fitted proper weld in Seat rails. The shell was then painted in a couple of gallons of blue and white paint (Correct shades for Computervision cars) and looks stunning. The car has a very rare fibreglass bonnet and tailgate. and is also fitted with North American spec "Quad" headlamps. these were what the "works" cars ran and there is also a spare set included. (more on the spares later). I replaced all fur doors with brand new. genuine items from Rimmers. as the ones on the car were getting a little scabby. and to be fair. I am a bit of a nerd. These have the centres removed for weight loss. I used all brand new door seal rubbers and door catches/striker plates.

 Now to the good bit. I have converted the rear end and I have 6 linked it as the Factory Rally cars from the Middle east were (Actually those cars were 5 linked with a panhard rod. this has been adapted to run a Watts linkage for even better axle location). also the rear was turreted and I have used twin dampers on each side. again. as the Saudi cars were. This was all done to exacting specifications by myself. and is all dimenionally correct. but also every mountiing point has three positions to enable height changes. The dampers themselves are Group A Sierra magnesium Bilstiens. and are fitted with brand new collars. springs and top mounts. The top mounts are bespoke made and use readily available bushes. The link arms are all bespoke made and very strong. and of course. rose jointed (brand new).

The axle is extremely strong. based on a Salisbury 4HA axle. I have re-tube it with thick. CDS tubes. and used an Atlas Fully floating Group 4 set up at the end. this is all again off the shelf stuff. but is quite expensive. I had the half shafts specially made so they fit the F/F flange at the hub end. but are 19 tooth at the other end to fit into the plated LSD unit. The Diff ratio is 4. 67 at the min. but I have a couple of alternate ratios that will be supplied with the car.

The rear brakes are 320mm AP racing dsics and brand new Alcon 4 pot calipers with Ferodo DS3000 pads.

All in all. the rear axle alone stands me at the best part of £3500.

The front suspension. again. brand new 2 1/4 Bilstien coilovers built by myself. with brand new springs. collars. top mountings and 300/120 long inserts. I have used a compression strut set up. as used on a Mk2  Escort and is all rose jointed and fully adjustable in situ. again. all brand new. The front hubs are all alloy are bespoke made from billet and have been anodised red. along with a screw on bearing cap (works of art). and I have had these made so as they can take a 4 stud wheel. with a 4x108mm  PCD. on a group 4 stud. this make wheel sourcing much easier with wheels being readily available anywhere. The brake discs are 368mm AP racing WRC items. and are massive. they really require some 8 pot WRC calipers but I hadn't got around to getting these yet as they do command a high price. The front cross member is lowered in the middle and I have made some engine mounts for a Rover V8 (Dry sumped) to sit as low and as far back as possible. these use a chassis mounting bracket.

It currently sits on 8x18 raceline RL-7 wheels which are from an Escort Cosworth Tarmac car.

Other things to note. I have made a bias pedal box. to use twin cylinders with a bias bar. It has a proper Momo suede wheel with a bespoke boss. and a brand new vertical hydraulic handbrake.  and the bit I am most proud of. every bracket. bolt. nut and washer that could  have been replaced or re-made in aluminium has been. weight is ovbviously a big factor with these cars. so I have been very anal about weight saving. also all the bracketry and sundries I have re-made have been anodied in red.

So. onto the spares that come with the car. there are two more sets of doors (good). a big box of lights and lenses. a spare set of Group A mag Bilstiens (fully built with new springs. collars and top mounts). the spare NAS lamps as mentioned. some spare front top mounts. front spoilers. etc etc. Also. a spare set of front alloy hubs and bearings and brake discs.

Worth a mention. all the bespoke parts that have been made have been made at a good friend's engineering factory. and he holds all the drwings on CAD file. so they can be re-made at any point. Also. with the car being quite special to me. I will work with the new owner in any build issues they have. I won't just pass the car on. I will be on hand to help if you required any information or tips on how "I was going to do it".

So. anyone worth their mettle will see that I have spent a lot of time. and masses of money on the car so far. I reckon I have spent the thick end of £12. 00 on it. but it is time to cut my losses. I am not out for the sypathy vote here at all. but I have to go into hospital soon for a very large Hernia operation. resulting in me having to have 3 months off work. unfortunately. something has to give to be able to pay the bills. so. :-(

My fingers are getting tired now. so the best thing to do. f you are serious about the car. please come and have a look. it is well worth a look. as whilst there has be MASSIVE amounts of work done. I won't lie that there is still a hell of a lot still to do. but I am NOT going to give her away.

The bit I hate.

As I said if you are serious about the car you will come and have a look. if the car is bought BLIND. i. e. you do not view the car before winning the auction. the car is yours and the transaction will go ahead. regardless of when you come to collect the car. you disagree with my description.

Please bid to buy. if item is won. and no attempt is made to make contact or complete the transaction within 7 days. item will be re-listed and ebay notified.

99p start and sensible reserve so a bargain may be had!!!!!!!!

I forgot to add. to get a full gallery of pictures fro the start of the build. check out this forum. Take no notice of the writing too much as the spec changed a few time. but the pictures give you an idea of the amount that has been done.

http://www. turbosport. co. uk/showthread. php?t=158925

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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