This year (2020) the Range Rover turns 50. The first generation was kept in production for a whole 24 years! In 1970 there were almost no competitors to the Range Rover concept. I think the closest competitor must have been the Jeep Wagoneer. Jeep and Land Rover have had many similarities, but the Jeep Wagoneer was probably too American and expensive for the Europeans. The far more stylish Range Rover, on the other hand, was not sold in the USA until 1987. If one were to point out a challenger to the first generation of the Range Rover, it would have to be the Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen, which first appeared in 1979.
Model follow-up
- 1970 Launch of the 3.5 V8 – the engine Land Rover bought from Chrysler in 1967 – which was introduced in the Rover P6.
- 1981 Range Rover participated in a photo shoot for women's magazine Vogue. Limited Edition "In Vogue" was launched.
- The 1982 Range Rover was now delivered as a 4-door model.
- 1984 Vogue launched as top model. Lucas injection introduced and the number of HP increased from 130 to 155.
- 1986 2.4 Turbodiesel introduced.
- 1987 Range Rover is launched in the USA.
- 1988 New Borg-Warner automatic gearbox with visco-coupled center differential.
- 1988 ABS introduced.
- 1990 The 3.5-litre had its displacement increased to 3.9 for the top model and the turbodiesel increased to 2.5 litres.
- 1992 Engine displacement increased to 4.2 liters for the Vogue model which also had the wheelbase extended from 100 to 108 inches. Electronic Traction Control was introduced.
- 1994 Last year of the first generation.
Rising prices
There are currently 437 Range Rover Classics registered in Norway, first registered between 1970 and 1994. If we include all cars in the car register – even those without plates – the number is 906. There are probably many cars around in poor condition. On Finn.no there are 3 cars for sale for under 50.000 – in poor condition.
If you own an early Ranger Rover, you may be sitting on a gold mine. The yellow car in the main picture is currently for sale for 149.000 GBP in London. I think interest in original, early Range Rovers is growing – perhaps more in Europe than in Norway. On the website mobile.de There are 99 cars for sale. The most expensive at 1.6 million kroner, the second most expensive is 1.4 million. Roughly speaking, car prices are divided into the following equal quarters (in Norwegian kroner): Over 400′, 200-400′, 100-200′ and under 100′.
Rust in the transitions between aluminum and steel is a well-known problem – and I don't know how the injection system from Lucas has worked? It can It might be profitable to keep an old Range Rover – either in dry storage or to undertake a full restoration. Perhaps Europe will scour Scandinavia for early Range Rovers in the same way they came to retrieve old Volkswagen buses from our forests?
New or old?
A restored Range Rover can cost as much as a new one – or relatively new. The new Range Rover is a good car - but few raise their eyebrows when they see one. Large four-wheel drive vehicles have become commonplace throughout the western world. Real class is – without a doubt – arriving at the pub in a Range Rover Classic!
About the pictures
The yellow car in the main photo is a 1975 model suffix D. It has had 1 owner, been driven in Scotland, has only 56000 miles on the clock and has had a full technical overhaul of the original engine and repairs to the interior and bodywork. It was presented at the London Classic Car Show 2020 by an authorized dealer. The price tag was 149.000 GBP (about 1.8 million Norwegian kroner at the current exchange rate). The white car is from 1970 and completely renovated to factory condition. It was like new, and will probably come up for sale eventually. The black 4-door version is from 1994, the last year of production for this series. It is the top model Vogue LSE with an extended wheelbase and wider rear doors. The red car is a 1979 model with a 2.5 turbodiesel. It was photographed at Rud outside Oslo. The blue car with mud on the tires was photographed in Céret, France. The white one with the extra lights is a 1983 model photographed in Bærum. The yellow car with 4 doors and air intakes above the roof was on display at a meeting at Brooklands Museum, England.
Sheer Rover
Sheer Rover is the term for Range Rover conversions carried out by the coachbuilder Wood & Pickett. The work was done to order from customers, and the results were consequently influenced by the customers' taste. The Range Rover as a convertible is not a bad idea. But the hood did not make this car particularly cool. I agree with someone who exclaimed that it is so ugly that it is cool.
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