Range Rovers were first introduced to the public in June 1970. With the slogan “A Car For All Reasons”, it boasted a top speed of 100 mph, a towing capacity of 3.5 tons, ample accommodation for five occupants, hydraulic disc brakes on the front and rear, and a groundbreaking four-speed gearbox with a permanent four-wheel drive system. For the first 10 years, the Range rover was produced as a two door body until 1981, when the four door body was introduced.

Like other Land Rover vehicles, most of the Range Rover's bodywork skin is constructed from lightweight aluminium, except for the two-section rear tailgate and the bonnet, on all but the earliest models. Rolled from a single sheet, the Range Rover used aluminium panels hung on a steel 'safety frame'. This allowed the bodywork of the Range Rover to carry much greater structural strength, while retaining the corrosion-resistant and easily repairable aluminium outer panels.

The Range Rover is fitted with the popular 3.5 litre V8, being fueled by two SU carburetors producing 135 bhp and 185 lb ft torque. Range Rover broke away from the classic suspension set up of the then common leaf springs, and moved over to coil springs to give a more comfortable ride.  

This 1978 Range Rover Two-door Suffix F, was supplied to Western Australia in January 1978, where it was sold to a gentleman who used the British classic to take on adventures with his family, some of the photographs can be seen in the gallery. He enjoyed the Range Rover so much that he was the only keeper until it was exported back to the UK in 2020. 

With the 4 x 4 now back on UK soil, the current seller spent approximately 6 months having the 1978 classic recommissioned to ensure that everything is in good order, and then 6 months using it to see if any issues arise. It would be wrong to say nothing has arisen, but what has is quite minimal considering the age and originality of the vehicle. 

The V5 is present and shows that there are 0 previous UK keepers, and the car was registered in the UK on 1st September 2020. 

Included with the vehicle is the original Australian Range Rover Owners manual, together with the Leyland Australia Passport showing the original owner, date of sale and 14 service stamps.

A factory record certificate has been sourced from the British Motor Heritage Trust showing the vehicle was built on the 12th January 1978, and exported to British Leyland Australia on the 25th January 1978 to begin its life in the sun. 

The seller has also put the Range Rover through an MOT, which it is now exempt from, along with road tax, and it passed with no advisories to mention.   

Part of the recommissioning has involved replacing the interior which had faded a little due to the Australian sun. Luckily, the dashboard has escaped any cracking and so this is the original and in very good condition. The instruments are reported to be working as they should, with the odometer showing a reading of 45,851 Kilometres (28,490 miles). This is believed to be 145,851 Kilometres (90,627 miles) looking at the service history log. 

The seats, both front and rear, carpets throughout, and the headlining have been replaced by Land Rover specialists and TV famous Nationwide Trim, based in Redditch, who have over 30 years experience in restoring Rang Rover interiors, so it’s safe to say that this has been done to an exceptionally high standard. 

The only thing to point out in the cabin is that the interior light covers are missing, but with that said, these are readily available so there shouldn’t be any issue in sourcing them. With regards to the switchgear, everything is reported to be working as it should, the only comment being that the choke cable is a little stiff, but does move to apply some choke. 

In the boot area, the spare wheel is present and has been refurbished and finished in Silver, with a new period-correct Brockley tyre. The wheel cover is also present along with the wheel brace.   

Bahama Gold is undoubtedly the best colour for a two-door Range Rover, they just look so cool amongst today's modern black, green or grey 4x4’s. The whole combo of the classic Range Rover looks and the colour work so well to create this retro, iconic 4x4. 

The Range is wearing the original Bahama Gold paint it left the factory with in 1978. Yes, there are a few age related dings and dents to mention around the 4x4, and there is patina showing through where it’s been chipped or faded in the sunshine, but all this all adds to the overall retro look and feel of the vehicle. 

The paint work has been hand polished and the patina preserved by a paint specialist to show and emphasise it has nothing to hide, and you becoming the new owner can decide to enjoy it as it is (definitely the cooler option), or take it to the next level by having it resprayed. Either way, it’s still going to look fantastic whichever way you go. Looking around the vehicle, the panel gaps line up nicely and everything opens and closes as it should with a firm hand. 

The lights around the vehicle are the originals and may have the odd little age related spit in the plastic indicator lenses, but there don’t appear to be any cracks. Below those, the bumpers are reported to also still be wearing the original paint, which is in good order with the odd bit of patina showing.

10 windows make up the glass in the Range Rover. The rear and rear quarter windows are in good condition with no noticeable scratches to mention, as are the front door windows. The front quarter windows have been replaced, along with the seals, and also the front screen, which has had a Triplex XXX screen fitted with new rubber, as per original spec. 

The original wheels have been given the same bright silver finish as the spare, and are again fitted with period-correct Brockley tyres. 

This 1978 Range Rover Two-door Suffix F, is fitted with Rover’s popular powerhouse, the 3.5 V8, which is coupled to a 4-speed manual gearbox and permanent four-wheel drive system. This is a matching numbers engine to the chassis vehicle, which can be seen on the original documentation.  

The Range Rover has been given a full engine service, including the fitment of an electronic distributor to ensure a good spark and reliable starting, and it has also had the carburettors stripped, cleaned, rebuilt and set up. With the engine taken care of, new fluids were put into the gearbox and differential, and keeping you on the straight and narrow is a refurbished steering rack and steering box. Now the engine fires up as it should, and with a new exhaust fitted the vehicle is reported to drive nicely and sounds fantastic.

Bringing the Range Rover to a halt, the brakes have been refurbished to the original specification by Classicar Automotive in Macclesfield, who specialises in restoring and supplying brake parts for classic cars. 

It is the underside which shows just how well this Range Rover has been preserved. After being thoroughly cleaned it has then been given a coat of clear Waxoyl to preserve it, and being clear it is quite easy to see that there is nothing to hide.

After 6 months of use there have been some small notes the seller was keen to point out, which although don’t cause any issue, do need to be mentioned. Firstly there is a slight clunk noise when pulling off in first gear, thought to possibly be coming from the propshaft, but it is ok in the other gears. Secondly there is a slight oil leak coming from the front differential. Other than that the seller has not come across any other issues. 

   

The two door Range Rover is an iconic vehicle of the 1970’s and early 80’s, a great all rounder and more luxurious than Land Rovers of the same age. The prices of them continue to rise, and finding one in such original condition as this is becoming much more difficult as time goes on. 

What more could you ask for? It’s spent all of its life until 2020 in the dry climate of Australia,  recommissioned in 2021, so it is now running beautifully, fitted with a new interior to give you the luxury and comfort it had when new. The preserved patina just enhances the look of this 1978 two-door Range Rover, without hiding anything. Definitely a usable 4x4, oozing style, luxury with a retro feel, and looks, that never fails to turn heads.