Monday 30th July 2012

Spotted: Range Rover three-door

The Evoque's not the only Rangie that can be had in three-door form...

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While the Range Rover Evoque - the latest addition to the PH fleet - represents a move away from traditional RR values in certain respects, our car's three-door layout does at least have some proper provenance.

We're talking, of course, about the very first Rangie, the car that took the four-wheel drive workhorse off the farm and onto the driveways of the well-to-do. And which, like the Evoque, had just three doors.

In fact, if you follow the argument that the Range Rover created the whole idea of the luxury SUV to its logical conclusion - a pseudo 4x4 that's as much fashion accessory as it is off-roader - then you might well arrive at something very similar to the Evoque.

But the Evoque's great-great grandfather had a rather different idea of 'luxury' to what we expect in a 21st century Rangie. In fact, the original idea of the Range Rover was to create more road-biased version of the Land Rover, so the interior was still a Spartan hosedownable affair with vinyl seats and rubber floors.

But that was in 1970. By the time we'd got to 1981 and the production of this particular Masai red Range Rover, things were far more swish inside, and this car sports leatherette seats and luxurious carpet (though this is a recent addition; the vendor says the original rubber mats are still there underneath).

That is about all you get though, which for £11,500 is a pretty low kit count. Then again, you do get a woofly 3.5-litre V8, a whole ruck of service history, a relatively recent full restoration and a brand spanking new fuel tank.

And nobody will ever accuse you of not driving a 'proper' Rangie...

If all this has whetted your appetite for a Rangie, then they are available in many shapes and sizes via the PH classifieds...

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RANGE ROVER
Engine: 3,532cc V8
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Power (hp): 135@5,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 185@2,500rpm
MPG: You're bothering to ask?
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1981
Recorded mileage: 57,000
Price new: £1,998 (1970)
Yours for: £11,500

See the original advert here.

[firebird350]

The coolest of Range Rovers bar none! As driven by Edward Woodward in the 1974 film version of "Callan", although his was white - check it out on dvd. Not so much a car chase 'per se' but, when you watch it, you'll see why only a Range Rover would do the job!

[ecs0set]

Would rather spend a little bit more for a CSK:
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...

http://www.rangerovercsk.com/technical.html
Mmm!

[Liquid Knight]

Like an Evoke only with head room and most likely driven by a man. I've seen a few van conversions as well for mountain rescue.

[ZesPak]

Sorry, didn't follow the Evoque in detail, but is it marketed as a "Land Rover" model "Evoque" or "Land Rover" model "Range Rover Evoque"?

Of course, what's in a name, but I was just curious.

[thewheelman]

£11.5k that's ambitious.

[McSam]

ZesPak said:

Sorry, didn't follow the Evoque in detail, but is it marketed as a "Land Rover" model "Evoque" or "Land Rover" model "Range Rover Evoque"?

Of course, what's in a name, but I was just curious.

Range Rover Evoque.

Anyway, while we're at "what's in a name", how hard is it to get an article name correct? That's twice in a week..

[don logan]

There is a dealer in Knightsbridge (yeah yeah Knightsbridge, I know) that sells these early ones for RIDICULOUS money!!!!!!! (I mean ridiculous)

[tomoleeds]

thewheelman said:

£11.5k that's ambitious.

its not ambitious its ridiculous, i thought it was £1,500

[mister.t]

I have been to see this Range Rover, and it is possible the worst restoration job of a car I have ever seen, everything about it was simply dreadful. It's been for sale for about 2 1/2 months, good ones at this price sell within days.

Looks like it has been resprayed using a brush and roller, the hinges fell off when opening the tailgate, and the floor mats were crudely chopped to fit over the originals. There is more, but I lost interest after 20 seconds.

It's not even worth £3k despite the history, it needs a total rebuild.

[Trusty Steed]

I am trying to find something like this myself to add to my collection, there is plenty of rusty old things around that are now starting to creep up in price... that is the only way the prices of these things will go. There are CSK's out there that are now going for £75K.... Even the last of the soft dashes are on the up....

Need to keep looking!!!

[bobzilla7]

Why oh why did I bobtail my 72 model?!!! I could have earned some serious dosh by just leaving it in the garage!

[Trusty Steed]

bobzilla7 said:

Why oh why did I bobtail my 72 model?!!! I could have earned some serious dosh by just leaving it in the garage!

Yep......

[thewheelman]

Trusty Steed said:

I am trying to find something like this myself to add to my collection, there is plenty of rusty old things around that are now starting to creep up in price... that is the only way the prices of these things will go. There are CSK's out there that are now going for £75K.... Even the last of the soft dashes are on the up....

Need to keep looking!!!

That's a nice collection you have in your profile picture

[Trusty Steed]

thewheelman said:

Trusty Steed said:

I am trying to find something like this myself to add to my collection, there is plenty of rusty old things around that are now starting to creep up in price... that is the only way the prices of these things will go. There are CSK's out there that are now going for £75K.... Even the last of the soft dashes are on the up....

Need to keep looking!!!

That's a nice collection you have in your profile picture

Thank you! wonders if its an addiction!!

[Mr_Yogi]

firebird350 said:

The coolest of Range Rovers bar none! As driven by Alf Stewart in "Home and Away".

Get your facts right man

[Trusty Steed]

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...

Makes the one found above look cheap!!

[suffolk009]

I've been trying to persuade my lovely wife that we need one for years now. She's not budging, especially now the prices are rocketing.

Two stand out features - the yard of carpet on the gear lever, and that unmistakeable shimmy they do going round corners. Nothing else corners the same way.

[thewheelman]

Trusty Steed said:

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...

Makes the one found above look cheap!!

I see the price was £62,500 & it has sold.

[Mike Gill]

Not a huge fan of Range Rovers but this oozes class.

[Garlick]

Yes please.

Pretty please.