‘It's the real deal, but I only paid a few hundred quid for it’

1990 Rover 827 Vitesse Barry Vincent, Dorset

Is this really the Vitesse driven by Tony Pond in the TT Challenge?

'Yes, it is. It’s registered G333 CVC, although the word ‘inspection’ was on the number plates used for the run, and I have the log-book showing that the

Ian Taylor Racing School at the Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire acquired it exactly six months after Tony made the famous 102mph-average lap of the Isle of Man TT circuit. Ian raced Rovers, so that may be the link. The Vitesse was used as an instructor vehicle for ARDS courses (Association of Racing Drivers Schools) for pupils working towards their race licences. It was also a ‘family ride’ car.'

So how did you end up owning the legendary Rover?

'I used to work at Thruxton and in 2001 I was told that the Rover and a BMW were surplus. The BMW went immediately but the Rover sat for six months, the grass growing up to the roofline, so my friend said I really ought to buy it. I only paid a few hundred quid for it.'

The big question then, was it really almost standard spec?

'Well, I was in parc fermé at Brands Hatch some years ago when a guy came up to the car and said he knew it. Sadly, I don’t know who he was, but he rattled off the VIN number perfectly off the top of his head without being able to see it (I was under the bonnet at the time). He told me that it went down the production line as a special order, so it didn’t have underseal or a sunroof, but it did have fully adjustable rose-jointed suspension, stiffer springs, a modified air-filter-box with big holes in the bottom to let in more air, and other mods. When Tony set the record, the car was fitted with a roll-cage, safety harnesses and racing seat, along with uprated brakes and slick tyres, a raised front engine-mount and straightthrough exhaust so the marshals knew he was coming.'

What are your plans for it?

'I don’t really know. When I first prepared and raced the car in the early Noughties, it still had the electric windows and interior, but the seats weren’t in good condition, so I fitted Lexan windows and turned it more into a dedicated track-day car. I’ve not raced it for some time, and I still have most of the important bits, so I could put it back to the way it was…'

Barry rescued the Vitesse from the weeds in 2001 and continued to race it.

Barry has the original 2.7 V6 engine; T16 Tomcat unit used for racing.

What's next? We'll see...

In case there was any doubt.