﹒Recently returned to the road after a decade on a private estate
﹒2.5 TDi with manual transmission, air-con and factory sunroof
﹒Replacement tailgate fitted and all welding done
﹒Fresh MOT for the new owner

When the original Range Rover first appeared over 50 years ago, little did Land Rover know that it was the birth of a future icon, and a car that would undergo a sensational metamorphosis from practical 4x4 estate car to global luxury icon.

It was a shift that started in the 1980s, after the introduction of a five-door Range Rover opened up its appeal to a broader church of buyers. That and the introduction of the ‘Vogue’ specification, intentionally named after the luxury lifestyle magazine of the same title, helped lift the Range Rover from functional to aspirational. 

It soon became the car of choice for the upwardly mobile. The perfect accompaniment to a horse trailer thanks to its unparalleled towing ability and upmarket status, the equally perfect car as a shooting or hunting companion, or simply something imposing and brimming in status for exploring the inner city limits. 

By accident rather than design, the Range Rover became Land Rover’s most profitable model – a move that led to it hastily developing the less opulent Discovery off the same platform, which would allow it to compete with a new influx of cheaper Japanese rivals while also giving it the perfect excuse to move the Range Rover further upmarket.

The Range Rover was a serendipitous spin-off from the Discovery’s development. Until then, if you wanted a diesel Rangie then the only option was a bought-in engine from Italian maker VM, which was neither reliable nor a great performer. The new direct injection Land Rover engine was faster and much more economical, and perfect for those who wanted a Range Rover without the running costs of a V8. 

And that’s what we have here. A 1993 Range Rover Vogue dating from the final year of production before the Range Rover P38A appeared. It’s a manual with velour trim, an unusual combo, and has just been put back on the public road for the first time in a decade, having been recommissioned to the vendor’s own specification.

A total of four owners since 1993 shows consistent long-term ownership, with the last keeper having kept hold of the Range Rover for over a decade, using it around a private rural estate in more recent years, hence the gap in its MoT history. It has actually been driven fairly frequently.

The car was bought in 2019 by the current owner who has recommissioned it to his own specification, as a car designed for woodland wildlife activities, hence its rather unusual colour scheme. The vendor is a motor mechanic and has recommissioned the Range Rover ready for a fresh MoT, which will come with it. The work has included welding and a full service, along with replacing all consumables.

There isn’t a huge amount of paperwork with the Range Rover – a V5 in the name of the current owner and receipts for the service parts purchased for it by the vendor as proof of its recent recommissioning are included, along with a printout of all previous MoT tests since 2005.

If you’re looking for a Range Rover with an immaculate interior, then look away now. This is a car that has been designed for use and has also been used. 

It’s by no means a disaster, but just don’t turn up expecting it to be showroom fresh. All of the velour trim is in good order save for sagging door pockets, but it’ll need a new headlining if such things bother you, there’s no boot carpet, one of the interior door handles is missing its trim and there are a couple of bits of minor trim missing. Nothing insurmountable, but jobs to add to the list if you want to improve it.

By far the coolest thing about this Range Rover is its paint job. If you’ve read this far then you’ll have already decided if you like it or not and are also unlikely to be an originality buff, so the matt green and olive woodland pattern will no doubt appeal to you already.

Up close, though, it’s a work of art. The owner has used a combination of airbrushing and printing techniques to give the truck a pattern that emulates sun bursting through shady woodlands, and when you view it from a distance you can see how effective it really is. Up close, it’s the detail and artistry that stands out – this was no rush job. 

Otherwise, it’s a good, solid Range Rover that has been welded in all the usual places, but to a decent standard. So both sides of the boot floor have been replaced, as have the inner rear arches, while the underneath has seen repairs to the outriggers and rear chassis rails. But all of the repairs are strong and well executed. 

The vendor also tracked down a rot-free tailgate for the Range Rover and has recently fitted it for added peace of mind.

 

The engine beneath the Vogue's bonnet is typical of the breed, settling to a steady albeit far from silent idle and proving both tractable and competent through the gears. The mileage of just under 185k is nothing for a Tdi and it also benefits from a recent full service.

Let’s start with who this Range Rover won’t appeal to. Those who like their trucks original and shiny. The end. 

For those looking for something a little bit different, that has been created with passion and with a completely unique presence, we adore this. It’s a really interesting interpretation of the classic Range Rover look and also benefits from the most reliable and efficient engine combination. It’s neither quick nor refined, nor especially luxurious. But it is seriously, seriously cool. 

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