Highlights

A great deal of maintenance over the years ensures this Range Rover is an immensely presentable and usable example
In very fine condition for its age and mileage
Equipped with a dual fuel multi injection LPG system allowing the car to run on petrol or LPG as required

The Appeal

The original Range Rover was always going to be a tough act to follow and Land Rover’s Styling Director at the time acknowledged “Recreating a classic like the Range Rover is a great challenge – but not an easy one”. Despite the enormity of the challenge, the P38, remained instantly recognisable as a Range Rover. It may have added curves and greater luxury to its boxy and utilitarian predecessor, but the basic DNA remained exactly the same.

Here we have an immensely well presented 1997 4.6 HSE that benefits from a lifetime of judicious maintenance. Finished in a great colour and with that powerful V8 under the bonnet, it’s a pleasure to live with and has great potential as an everyday, usable modern classic. The Epsom Green metallic paintwork looks fabulous next to the Sandstone leather and it presents really well for its age inside and out.

The History and Paperwork

MOT valid until October 2023
Three previous owners
159,087 miles from new (which shall increase slightly as the car is still in use)
Substantial and detailed paperwork file showing all works from 2002 to 2023
Collection of invoices for servicing, repairs, replacement of parts and various upgrades
Old MOT certificates and tax payment information present
The current owner was advised when sourcing that higher mileage P38s were the most reliable as any issues with original components would likely have been discovered and repaired - many P38 parts deteriorate through age rather than wear and low mileage vehicles often therefore present hidden issues
The second owner had the car for 20 years from 2002 to 2020 and we’re informed that they garaged and maintained it impeccably throughout their ownership
On purchase in 2002 from Wimbledon 4x4, the second owner had the front lights upgraded to the 2002 specification, with guards fitted
High End Multi Valve Injection LPG system from Green Fuels fitted in 2004
The current keeper has owned the car for 14 months and has maintained the car with Rutland Prestige Garage
From its Rutland base the car has reportedly been to Yorkshire, Cambridge, Nottingham and Gloucestershire on extended trips and has driven around the gravel trails and fields of a Yorkshire shooting estate without issue
The current owner has used the vehicle as a daily driver covering approximately 9,000 miles in the past 14 months

The Interior

Sandstone leather, carpeting and headlining
Walnut veneers complete the luxurious ensemble
The leather upholstery exhibits little wear when you consider the car’s mileage
The radio unit was reconditioned by Clarion (the original manufacturer) in 2020 and so it now is said to perform perfectly
Clarion also added an auxiliary input so it can be connected to mobile phones
The present owner has fitted new OEM rubber mats
The carpeting presents well, with no excessive wear
The woodwork and plastic surfaces are all in really good condition
The headlining has been replaced recently and so is in very fine condition
The inside of the pillars have been smoothed to plastic for a cleaner look than the worn part coated look that some now have with age
Forward and reverse camera fitted
The rear parcel shelf rests on plastic edges on either side which have some small cracks and a slight hole
All the switchgear is said to function correctly, as are the dials and digital displays
The electric seats, windows, sunroof and mirrors all reportedly work perfectly, as do the various steering wheel functions
The boot space is clean and smart
An OEM load liner is included

The Exterior

Epsom Green Metallic paintwork
Original paint in very good order for its age
There are a few scuffs, scratches and small dents commensurate with the vehicle's age along with some small areas of worn paint on the bonnet
The light patina looks good on this sort of vehicle and we really like this Range Rover’s appearance in its current condition
The underside appears in good order, with just some light corrosion to the chassis and running gear
No notable blemishes on the alloy wheels
We understand the tyres to be in good order
All the lights present well
2002 spec headlamps with guards fitted in 2002

The Mechanics

4.6-litre V8 engine
Top hat liners fitted from Turner Engineering at approximately 125,000 miles and while there’s no paperwork to confirm this, it has reportedly been confirmed by two mechanics subsequently
Automatic gearbox selecting gears smoothly and kicking down correctly
Converted to run on LPG or petrol
95-litre LPG tank
All electrics reportedly work as they should.
Suspension is said to move to all heights correctly
The vendor reports that it runs well in LPG and Petrol modes with excellent acceleration
Sport mode and Low Ratio mode function as they should
On service inspection pre-MOT in October 2022 it was noted that the rear half of the exhaust system including catalytic converter needed replacing and this was done before the MOT which now stands to October 2023

Summary

Seldom do we see a P38 Range Rover in such good condition. With some tasteful upgrades and a rich history of continual maintenance, this is a great example that we’re sure has many more years and miles of service yet to give.

BEFORE YOU BUY

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