1996 Rover Vitesse sport Fastback

Tasty looking R800 man, I really think the fastback worked better looks wise all the way through the model's life, but especially after the mid-life face-lift!

It is always good to see a straight R800 Vitesse out and about. They are a lovely car to get comfortable in.

Welcome to RR anyway chap .

Very nice car in whats looks top shape.
Iam glad Rover got a few thing right .

Pics???

I've recently bought a Vitesse sport saloon, although mine looks a little rougher than yours! I can't wait to see how it will look lowered on BBS style wheels, perhaps unsurprisingly that was my plan too

I do like the hatchback versions of these they look so purposeful.

Haha! Old Man's car! Thats exactly what my sister said when she saw my Saab!
Very nice Rover btw!

Sweet

Many a year ago I bought a black 2.0t Vitesse, my Giddy Aunt could that thing fly!

I used to drive between North London and Oxford, M25, M40, A40 plus some cross country back roads to base.

I used to leave the house at 6.00am and be back at night circa 8.00pm. One eve I was running late coming out of London and came up the M40 at some fair leptons. For those of those who might know the High Wycombe section through the "cut" you will know the terrain.

I came up behind a BM, and after waiting patiently enough I flashed him to move over (cough ) Well I think the red mist must have decided to descend because a cough or whatever from his tailpipes and he was away....or rather he thought he was!

Dropping down from 5th into 4th easily saw me catch him up in a couple of hundred yards and the hunt was on lol!

Now I have to say I'm not boy racer but prior to this Rover was a Cossie, a TVR, a TR8 - well you get the drift ;D

The cool evening air played well to the T16 turbo and the downhill past High Wycombe saw the clock "allegedly" running off the clock to the stop

There is a lay-by to the left as you drop down through the "cut" where sometime BIB park up but that eve I flashed past with scant fear.

Now I do know that a certain Mr Tony Pond exercised his R800 Vitesse quite quickly around the IOM so I did have a fair inclinkling that the speedo might have a degree of truth in it.

The thought of my little lad and "We Wifey" waiting at home made me decide however that enough was enough and after some five miles or so harassing this defenceless BM, I let the equal mental BM driver plough on and I backed off.

I've run the TR8 to 130mph and the Cossie at 140mph and both displayed engineering integrity that was somewhat lacking in the scuttle shake and wandering steering displayed by the Vitesse that night which further endorsed my decision to not award myself a Darwin Award.

I often mused on the R600 T16 but time has moved on and today a Volvo S60 and an old Jag sit in the garage; my black Vitesse still holds a special place though

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