Bitter, an extraordinary make of cars

1981	1982	1983
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1984	1985	1986
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1980 Prototype - 1984 Pricelist - 1985 Pricelist
Mechanically the SC retained the Senator's engine and running gear with only minor modifications. A Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection system feeding the 3 litre single overhead camshaft in-line six provided the power for the earlier cars, pushing out a peak of 180 bhp at 5800 rpm and 182 lbs ft of torque at 4800 rpm.

Erich Bitter realised early in the SC's life that his new car was lacking the performance its image and price suggested it had. In 1983 Erich Bitter approached the German tuning company of Mantzel who also carried out work for Porsche. Leaving the 3 litre's 95 mm bore untouched, Mantzel extended the crankshaft from 69,8 mm to 90,5 mm. He also modified the con rods, pistons, inlet and outlet valves and the cylinder head. Stroked out to 3848 cc the Mantzel engine produced 210 bhp at 5100 rpm and a torque of 257 lb ft at 3400 rpm. When the 3.9 litre engine was introduced in summer 1984 it was an option but it was so desirable that almost every SC from late 1984 onwards was specified with this very successful upgrade.

Coupled to either the 3 litre or 3.9 litre was a five speed Getrag gearbox or a GM three speed automatic which was a no-cost option. The Getrag unit, as fitted to the large BMW's, offered short, crisp changes with the minimum of effort. The ratios were well spaced and the clutch was surprisingly light in operation. The three speed automatic gearbox was reputed to be almost indestructible and could comfortably take the torque of the 3.9 litre engine. Only 10% of SC's were specified with the five speed Getrag manual gearbox.

SC's were available with a Ferguson Formula four-wheel drive, pioneered on the Jensen FF in the late sixties. Only two cars, both from the U.K., were converted.

During its lifetime the SC received several minor interior and body styling changes, although the bodyshell remained unchanged. Areas that have received changes are door frames and side window frames painting, bumpers, grille, front Bitter badge, rear Bitter badge, front lights, rear fog lights, wing mirrors, front and rear wing reflectors, instrument binnacle, centre console, interior trim, method of opening the boot.

At the end of production Bitter produced 462 SC Coupés, 433 LHD and 29 RHD.

ENGINE	3.0		3.9
Configuration	L6	L6	L6	L6
Displacement	181 cu in	2968 cc	235 cu in	3848 cc
Bore x Stroke	3.74 in x 2.75 in	95,0 mm x 69,8 mm	3.74 in x 3.56 in	95,0 mm x 90,5 mm
Compression ratio	9.4 : 1	9,4 : 1	9.4 : 1	9,4 : 1
Fuel delivery	Bosch L-Jetronic injection	Bosch L-Jetronic injection	Bosch L-Jetronic injection	Bosch L-Jetronic injection
Horsepower	180 hp at 5800 rpm	180 hp at 5800 rpm	210 hp at 5100 rpm	210 hp at 5100 rpm
Torque	182 lb ft at 4800 rpm	248 Nm at 4800 rpm	257 lb ft at 3400 rpm	327 Nm at 3400 rpm
DIMENSIONS	Narrow profile bumpers		American specification bumpers
Length	190.9 in	4850 mm	193.3 in	4910 mm
Width	71.7 in	1820 mm	71.7 in	1820 mm
Height	53.1 in	1350 mm	53.1 in	1350 mm
Weight (aut./man.)	3380 lbs / 3336 lbs	1535 kg / 1515 kg	3439 lbs / 3395 lbs	1560 kg / 1540 kg
Wheelbase	105.6 in	2683 mm	105.6 in	2683 mm
Track (front/rear)	57.8 in / 59.6 in	1467 mm / 1514 mm	58 in / 60 in	1473 mm / 1524 mm
Wheels (front/rear)	7 J 15 / 8 J 15	7 J 15 / 8 J 15	7 J 15 / 8 J 15	7 J 15 / 8 J 15
Tires (front/rear)	215-60 VR 15 / 235-55 VR 15	215-60 VR 15 / 235-55 VR 15	215-60 VR 15 / 235-55 VR 15	215-60 VR 15 / 235-55 VR 15
PERFORMANCE
Top speed (aut./man.)	130 mph / 133 mph	210 km/h / 215 km/h	137 mph / 142 mph	220 km/h / 230 km/h
Acceleration (aut./man.)	0 - 60 mph : 9.4 / 8.4 sec	0-100 km/h : 9,6 / 8,6 sec	0 - 60 mph : 8.4 / 7.4 sec	0-100 km/h : 8,6 / 7,6 sec