This Viva was originally built for the Custom Car magazine Rover V8 Challenge drag race series in the early to mid nineties. Rover V8 Challenge got quite competitive and the ante was upped considerably which culminated in a few of the cars running sub ten second quarter mile times. This was one of the quicker cars and with the help of a supercharger and nitrous oxide injection ran low nines. That's quite a mover. The front end was smoothed out to aid aerodynamics and was made from fibreglass.
Eventually the Rover Challenge took a back seat to the Street Eliminator race series and little was heard from the cars, maybe with the exception of Paula Atkins' Ford 100E which still gets used now in anger. This car came up for sale a few years ago back in street trim after being a racer for a few years and minus the blower. It recently came up for sale again and here's a bit more info on it as it stands now:
1968 Pro street HB Viva,
Rover V8/4ltr, out of a TVR. Huffaker Hi Rise manifold, Holley carb, Tubular Headers. Doug Nash gearbox,street version with syncros. Hurst shifter. Prop shafts from Cadillac and Mustang. Narrowed rear axle from 1968 Mustang, rear brakes from Mustang. Front suspension from mark 2 escort, front brakes from mark 2 escort. Adjustable Spax shocks. Fully caged inside. Line locker. Bucket seats with harness. Billet fuel tank in boot. Battery cut off switch. Very fat tyres on back and body has been tubbed. Fibreglass flip front. Front screen is glass, all other windows are tinted black perspex.