Highlights
• New MoT
• Lots of remedial work completed
• Lots of new parts fitted
• Ideal resto candidate
Background
The first generation Range Rover was produced between 1970 and 1996.
The original car was not designed as a luxury-type 4x4; while certainly up-market compared to preceding Land Rover models, the early Range Rovers had fairly basic, utilitarian interiors with vinyl seats and plastic dashboards designed to be washed down with a hose.
Up market interiors featuring luxuries such as power steering, carpeted floors, air conditioning, leather seats, and wooden interior trim all appeared later.
The original car was not designed as a luxury-type 4x4; while certainly up-market compared to preceding Land Rover models, the early Range Rovers had fairly basic, utilitarian interiors with vinyl seats and plastic dashboards designed to be washed down with a hose.
Up market interiors featuring luxuries such as power steering, carpeted floors, air conditioning, leather seats, and wooden interior trim all appeared later.
History
Owned until recently by an elderly lady the Range Rover is being offered for sale as she has decided to give up driving. Looking at the MoT history it has averaged about 2,000 miles a year since 2006.
Parked and unused for some time it was sent to a local garage to be serviced and given a fresh MOT. Whilst the work was being completed she offered the Range Rover to the garage that had cared for it, and they completed the work and it passed the MoT in May, so it’s valid until 6th May 2022.
Parked and unused for some time it was sent to a local garage to be serviced and given a fresh MOT. Whilst the work was being completed she offered the Range Rover to the garage that had cared for it, and they completed the work and it passed the MoT in May, so it’s valid until 6th May 2022.
The Paperwork
The history file is a bit thin as it is thought there were more invoices and receipts on file, but they may have gone missing. What is there includes the Owners Pack, with a Service book showing Main Dealer servicing to 1994 when it had covered 51,446 miles. There are a couple of further invoices but not a lot else.
The Interior
The interior is upholstered in Brogue Brown cloth, the standard interior material for 1990. The seats are in presentable condition, but the driver’s seat has a small tear in the base, and some of the piping is coming adrift.
The passenger and rear seats are in better condition, but all would benefit from a good clean. The brown carpet has been protected by Range Rover mats, so they are in reasonable condition. The roof lining has been removed and the roof is badly stained as there may have been water ingress through the sunroof during its time off the road.
The tilt ‘n slide sunroof is currently neither as its taped shut. Other areas that could benefit from attention are the electric window button panel on the console that is detached, but all four windows were working correctly. The gaiter on the automatic shifter panel has degraded, but generally there isn’t much around the interior that you would not expect to see on a car of this age.
The passenger and rear seats are in better condition, but all would benefit from a good clean. The brown carpet has been protected by Range Rover mats, so they are in reasonable condition. The roof lining has been removed and the roof is badly stained as there may have been water ingress through the sunroof during its time off the road.
The tilt ‘n slide sunroof is currently neither as its taped shut. Other areas that could benefit from attention are the electric window button panel on the console that is detached, but all four windows were working correctly. The gaiter on the automatic shifter panel has degraded, but generally there isn’t much around the interior that you would not expect to see on a car of this age.
The boot area is clean, with a spare wheel in place fitted with an older tyre, and the bottle jack and handle are present. All four door panels are intact, although a good clean would help but there are some age related cracks in the door capping veneer.
The Exterior
On the outside the Range Rover is generally solid, with only minor signs of corrosion. The Chamonix White paint has dulled in places and there are some issues here and there, but especially on the passenger side rear quarter as can be seen in the photographs.
There is a large scrape on the passenger side rear door, and evidence of repairs to the door shut area near the sill. The leading edge of the bonnet and base of the windscreen pillars are areas that will also need attention. The glass is all intact, as are the lights, except the nearside tail light is broken on the inside edge.
The white painted wheels all have matching Bridgestone Dueller H/T tyres which only lightly worn.
There is a large scrape on the passenger side rear door, and evidence of repairs to the door shut area near the sill. The leading edge of the bonnet and base of the windscreen pillars are areas that will also need attention. The glass is all intact, as are the lights, except the nearside tail light is broken on the inside edge.
The white painted wheels all have matching Bridgestone Dueller H/T tyres which only lightly worn.
The Mechanics
The Seller tells us that quite a lot of work has been completed to get the Range Rover through its MoT including welding to the tailgate area, inner wings and the passenger side sill has been replaced.
It has also received new bump stops, a new battery, exhaust, spark plugs, leads and coil. Under the bonnet the 3.9 litre V8, although a bit grubby, seems to be leak free.
1990 was the first year for the larger 182bhp 3.9 litre engine, enlarged from the original 3.5. It started easily, and ran smoothly as we manoeuvred for the photographs, with the gear selector operating smoothly with no delay or clunking sounds.
It has also received new bump stops, a new battery, exhaust, spark plugs, leads and coil. Under the bonnet the 3.9 litre V8, although a bit grubby, seems to be leak free.
1990 was the first year for the larger 182bhp 3.9 litre engine, enlarged from the original 3.5. It started easily, and ran smoothly as we manoeuvred for the photographs, with the gear selector operating smoothly with no delay or clunking sounds.
The Appeal
Original shape Range Rovers, or Classics as they were called from 1989, have a strong following. More comfortable and refined than the early versions, but more tough and hard wearing than the later P38A, the originals are still sought after by those “in the know”.
This one is essentially a solid running example with some of the work already completed and is a good candidate for a simple restoration.
This one is essentially a solid running example with some of the work already completed and is a good candidate for a simple restoration.
Notice to bidders
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