Its amazing who you meet sometimes!

Anything to do with cars (non technical)

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dollysprint
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Its amazing who you meet sometimes!

Post by dollysprint » Fri Feb 03, 2017 5:29 pm

Went to pick up a set of 17in Vitesse alloys this morning, near a place where once stood a factory known as Standard Triumph, Canley. For those that don't know, Canley ceased car production around 1980/81 as the Dolomite was allowed to die and TR7 production moved to Solihull.
By 1982 Roy Axe had set up the new design studios at the Canley site so it was effectively the birth place of 800, many interesting things went on there prior to Gaydon coming on stream.
Anyway got chatting to the seller, thinking he must have had an 800 given that he was selling the alloys, no he had them fitted to a Honda Accord, same PCD. He did then happen to mention that he owned 8 800's back when they were new from 1990-98 "so you know the cars well then" I said "oh yes I was Tony Ponds engineer!" talk quickly turns to the Isle of Man. For years there has been debate about just how modified that car was and now I know. Suspension, brakes and tyres were modified, but not massively so, the engine was completely standard, in fact the engine came out of Tony's everyday company 827 a few days before! Wyn Mitchell it was a pleasure to meet you, sorry I took up a lot of your afternoon chatting!

Dave
1988 Sterling saloon 2.7 Auto Pulsar over gunmetal
1990 Sterling Saloon 2.7 Auto black over storm
1993 Coupe 2.7 auto white gold 1
2005 Ford Transit 2.4 lwb, Club van
2007 Jaguar X Type 2.2 manual Estate

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CHR15E
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Re: Its amazing who you meet sometimes!

Post by CHR15E » Fri Feb 03, 2017 7:17 pm

Small world. :)
Chris
19 Vauxhall Astra 1.6T SRi Nav Estate
08 Vauxhall Astra 2.0T Design Twintop
02 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4.7 V8 HO

Previously owned 57 800s 2000-2012
Relapse of 1 in 2021 Now Sold

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rovercoup
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Re: Its amazing who you meet sometimes!

Post by rovercoup » Fri Feb 03, 2017 7:37 pm

Agreed small, but sometimes very rewarding and interesting as Dave had the good fortune to find out today.

Look forward to hearing more on this Dave. I wonder if he could shed any light on my Vitesse which was reported belonging to a Rover test driver and very good friend of said Mr Pond.
Rover 827 Vitesse Fastback Man Mk1 89
Rover 827 Sterling saloon Auto 90
Rover 820 Fastback 2.0 MPi Auto 90
Rover 820 Coupe sport 94
Rover 827 Sterling Saloon 95 auto
Rover 820 Vitesse Fastback 98
Rover 25 2.0TD 01
MGTF 135 02
Rover 45 1.6 SE 05

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scoobyh123
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Re: Its amazing who you meet sometimes!

Post by scoobyh123 » Fri Feb 03, 2017 10:58 pm

Very interesting tale Dave - did he give you any specifics on the suspension mods? I've heard 26/21 front/rear anti roll bars, uprated and lowered springs and shocks (but only slightly over Vitesse standard of the time so probably the same as later Vitesse models) and I don't know what was done to the brakes.
Cheers,
Dave

'02 Honda CR-V SE Executive
'99 Jag S Type 3.0 V6 SE


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'94 827 Sterling saloon
'88 Volvo 760 V6 Estate
'95 827 Coupé LPG gone but not forgotten!

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neo
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Re: Its amazing who you meet sometimes!

Post by neo » Sat Feb 04, 2017 6:40 pm

He has finally sold the wheels then I spoke to him at the Longbridge meet a few years ago from what I remember he said the car was pretty much stock apart from tyre and suspension set up.
tony

dollysprint
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Re: Its amazing who you meet sometimes!

Post by dollysprint » Sat Feb 04, 2017 8:39 pm

scoobyh123 wrote:Very interesting tale Dave - did he give you any specifics on the suspension mods? I've heard 26/21 front/rear anti roll bars, uprated and lowered springs and shocks (but only slightly over Vitesse standard of the time so probably the same as later Vitesse models) and I don't know what was done to the brakes.
Dave he says he has the specs somewhere and when he finds them I can have them. Suspension tweaks were pretty much along the lines of later Vitesse spec and brakes he remembers having trouble with the 285mm discs warping but the pads were an uprated material.

Dave
1988 Sterling saloon 2.7 Auto Pulsar over gunmetal
1990 Sterling Saloon 2.7 Auto black over storm
1993 Coupe 2.7 auto white gold 1
2005 Ford Transit 2.4 lwb, Club van
2007 Jaguar X Type 2.2 manual Estate

dollysprint
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Re: Its amazing who you meet sometimes!

Post by dollysprint » Sat Feb 04, 2017 8:41 pm

neo wrote:He has finally sold the wheels then I spoke to him at the Longbridge meet a few years ago from what I remember he said the car was pretty much stock apart from tyre and suspension set up.
Yeah stickier tyres and the mild tweaks mentioned above.

Dave
1988 Sterling saloon 2.7 Auto Pulsar over gunmetal
1990 Sterling Saloon 2.7 Auto black over storm
1993 Coupe 2.7 auto white gold 1
2005 Ford Transit 2.4 lwb, Club van
2007 Jaguar X Type 2.2 manual Estate

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scoobyh123
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Re: Its amazing who you meet sometimes!

Post by scoobyh123 » Sat Feb 04, 2017 9:18 pm

dollysprint wrote:
scoobyh123 wrote:Very interesting tale Dave - did he give you any specifics on the suspension mods? I've heard 26/21 front/rear anti roll bars, uprated and lowered springs and shocks (but only slightly over Vitesse standard of the time so probably the same as later Vitesse models) and I don't know what was done to the brakes.
Dave he says he has the specs somewhere and when he finds them I can have them. Suspension tweaks were pretty much along the lines of later Vitesse spec and brakes he remembers having trouble with the 285mm discs warping but the pads were an uprated material.

Dave
That's what i thought Dave, thanks! :wink: :D
Cheers,
Dave

'02 Honda CR-V SE Executive
'99 Jag S Type 3.0 V6 SE


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'94 827 Sterling saloon
'88 Volvo 760 V6 Estate
'95 827 Coupé LPG gone but not forgotten!

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BlueRover
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Re: Its amazing who you meet sometimes!

Post by BlueRover » Tue Feb 07, 2017 6:51 pm

It also had a straight through exhaust and no rear view mirror.
Gordon:-
Only two 800's now,white 1991 820i with TWR and full special order leather (been stood for 15 years) and now a Nightfire red Tickford with 135k on the clock
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scoobyh123
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Re: Its amazing who you meet sometimes!

Post by scoobyh123 » Tue Feb 07, 2017 7:39 pm

Let's face it - he won't really need a rear view mirror at 150mph and it all saves weight. :wink: :D
Cheers,
Dave

'02 Honda CR-V SE Executive
'99 Jag S Type 3.0 V6 SE


Image
'94 827 Sterling saloon
'88 Volvo 760 V6 Estate
'95 827 Coupé LPG gone but not forgotten!

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