Rover Vitesse (1983)
Every Thursday, we’re tracking the values of the most popular classic cars on the UK market. Thanks to our friends at Classic Car Weekly, we can focus on one car and compare its values from 2005 to today – and then anticipate where they will be in 2025. This week, we analyse the Rover SD1 Vitesse – the best version of David Bache and Spen King’s brilliant (but flawed) executive fastback. Classic Car Weekly’s editor David Simister explains.
ROVER SD1 VITESSE – THE CURRENT SITUATION
When an ex-police SD1 that’d been restored on For The Love of Cars sold for a record £11,505 it raised plenty of eyebrows – but the truth is that prices for Rover’s 1980s express, particularly the performance versions, have been quietly creeping up.
We’re looking specifically here at the ‘Twin Plenum’ Vitesse versions because they’re the ones most sought-after by marque followers, which back in 2005 were fetching around £4000-5000. These days, you’re looking at nearly twice that – and we’ve seen minters selling for considerably more than that between private collectors.
ROVER SD1 VITESSE VALUES – SLOW, STEADY NOW IMPRESSIVE
Rover Vitesse (1983)
The Rover SD1 range as a whole has been a slow burner, but are now heading well into five-figure territory for the very best examples. They’re easy to fix with good parts supply, so make great classic cars, which enthusiasts have now switched on to, now the baggage of its poor reliability and build quality has been lost. As the halo model of that range, the stylish Vitesse is leading the charge.
ROVER SD1 VITESSE PRICE TRACKER
The days of SD1s being relegated to shoddy bangerdom are long gone – and predictably, it’s the more desirable performance versions that have crept up in value first. We reckon that, depending on how the classic market responds during and after the pandemic, there’s sufficient appetite for Vitesses for values to climb a little higher still.
Below are the typical prices for a Condition 2 example between 2005-2025.
2005 £4400
2010 £5000
2015 £5000
2020 £7500
2025 £9500 (anticipated)
Rover Vitesse (1983)
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