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Jeremy and Vicky Go Racing
We can't give too
much away, but, its a Christmas Video with probably the world's fastest
V8-powered SD1. Well, at least Jeremy Clarkson and Vicky Butler-Henderson
seemed to think so.
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The Story Begins.
From humble
origins to [until now] retired Scrap-Yard destitution, this 1979 SD1 gets a
unique chance to make it to the limelight. It's seen only 31,000 miles in 21
years, but sadly the moths had caught up with it.
It's Brown. It's Rusty. It's
Dirty. 'It's Perfect' he said, 'just what we need'. So this
tired old lady was dragged up to London to have it's As it was
pictures and video taken.
After lying as scrap
for 6 months and near dormant for 20 years, I'm sure that, if she could have
spoken, she'd have said 'Let me be'.
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| The std. 31,000
mile V8 was no use to us. If Jeremy wants a 5.2, he can have one. |
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So, now it's time
to come out. In fact the whole transmission is also replaced with a Quaff LSD
and a new R380 Gearbox. |
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| With the engine and
transmission removed the body is painted in British Racing Green. |
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The New 5.2 Engine
is starting to take shape,
That Alloy Plenum will soon be replaced with a
78mm carbon-fibre one. |
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Soft compound tyres, Spax shocks, Quaff LSD, and gold painted
Vitesse wheels, it's taking shape for sure.
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At this stage
(pictured) we have missed out about 150 hours of work
on this vehicle, but here you can see the 5.2 engine with carbon fibre plenum
and Magnacore leads adding that touch of class, and the performance edge of our
5.2 power plants.
The complete transformation of this car took place
in only 4 weeks.
Looks good, Yeah? |
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A
closer close-up of the engine is what's needed.
This 5.2 litre
360bhp V8 held above 300ft/lb torque all the way from 1000 to 6000 rpm.
Why give up all that excessive wheel-squeaking torque for unusable high rpm
power that destroys the boundless torque / bhp of a well-sorted V8 Rover
engine? |
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Now the Job is done.
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If I say so myself, it's looking good and ready to leave. From a scrap car to a
high-performance street and track racer in just 3 weeks.
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The long haul to Castle Combe Race Track begins from Norfolk. It's
about 280 miles, so finding this traditional 17th-Century Ale House and B/B was
just what was needed . . . some ale and a long rest preparing
for the next day's events.
Towing the
race car and trailer behind an LPG-powered RPi 5.2 Range Rover is not such a
bad thing, and very cheap on fuel costs too.
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Castle Combe looked like a nice place, but soon it was
obvious that we could not race there.
Our SD1 was just too loud! '100db is all that is allowed',
they said, and that's at 4000 rpm too. So at 3000rpm we were hitting 114db, and
I am sure the official took great pleasure in spoiling or attempting to spoil
our day_ |
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| No
worries, we had a contingency plan, so a trip to a private airfield just 30
minutes away was needed. This turned out to be a very good move, as the SD1
with so much torque was happy with the the 3 mile runway. After all, corners
were never the SD1's good point, and we build engines, not suspension and brake
systems. |
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Part 2 is coming online now! 'click'
Jeremy Clarkson
tests the delights of an SD1 with our 5.2 power plant built specially for him.
Check out the Christmas video 2000 'At Full
Throttle' available now from us for £POA with a free RPi T-shirt (if you ask & state size) Extra Tees at £POA each. Extra Videos at £POA each (inc. VAT).
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