The Five Hundred Quid Range Rover
Discussion
SOTW, eat yer heart out, you reckless spendthrift. None but a gadabout would spend a whole K on a car, especially when, for five hundred of your British pounds, you can own a raw and throbbing slab of Solihull tat, or, to be more precise, a 1990 Range Rover Vogue, 4 speed Auto.
Here it is, first of all, in the natural habitat of the 3.9 V8 Rangey;-
Luxo Vogue interior. Yes, people, the word is VELOUR.
Powder coated wheels, what were they thinking?
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwesome lump of awesomeness:
Home for bed.
Basically, there is nothing wrong with this car except that the bonnet is as rusty as a rusty thing. The chassis has been welded, the tailgates are nearly new. I have seen people asking 1800 quid for rotters with no MOT. These old Rangeys are fast, comfortable, and wafty. The steering is so light that you can have some exciting pilot induced oscillations on swoopy Motorway bends, or at least you can if you drive it like a dick. The engine is quiet, but the door seals are a bit shagged, so the wind noise is a bit high. I like the clonk-bonk when the electric windows go up. You can see what a revolutionary thing Rangeys must have been when they first arrived on the scene in the 1970s.
The MPG on the collection run from the West Midlands to London was about 18, I reckon, which was OK, as I did some law breaking (the thing will really belt if you let it) , and some sitting in traffic on the M40, and some of that London. I gurned at all the modern Rangey drivers that I saw, but they disdained me utterly.
I call this a well spent monkey.
Here it is, first of all, in the natural habitat of the 3.9 V8 Rangey;-
Luxo Vogue interior. Yes, people, the word is VELOUR.
Powder coated wheels, what were they thinking?
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwesome lump of awesomeness:
Home for bed.
Basically, there is nothing wrong with this car except that the bonnet is as rusty as a rusty thing. The chassis has been welded, the tailgates are nearly new. I have seen people asking 1800 quid for rotters with no MOT. These old Rangeys are fast, comfortable, and wafty. The steering is so light that you can have some exciting pilot induced oscillations on swoopy Motorway bends, or at least you can if you drive it like a dick. The engine is quiet, but the door seals are a bit shagged, so the wind noise is a bit high. I like the clonk-bonk when the electric windows go up. You can see what a revolutionary thing Rangeys must have been when they first arrived on the scene in the 1970s.
The MPG on the collection run from the West Midlands to London was about 18, I reckon, which was OK, as I did some law breaking (the thing will really belt if you let it) , and some sitting in traffic on the M40, and some of that London. I gurned at all the modern Rangey drivers that I saw, but they disdained me utterly.
I call this a well spent monkey.
The headlining at the back sags like a cheap w
e's drawers, but not as badly as it does on a Lotus Excel or Rover saloon of that era. You get a sort of "Hey, I'm in a tent" experience if you sit in the back. That's OK; I might well use this as the vehicle of choice for taking my daughter and a bunch of her mates to the Latitude Festival for a bit of glamping this summer, if I can save up enough for the petrol.
e's drawers, but not as badly as it does on a Lotus Excel or Rover saloon of that era. You get a sort of "Hey, I'm in a tent" experience if you sit in the back. That's OK; I might well use this as the vehicle of choice for taking my daughter and a bunch of her mates to the Latitude Festival for a bit of glamping this summer, if I can save up enough for the petrol. A few more snapettes, courtesy of the seller.
Renovated tailgates:
Undybitz:
Bonnet crud (top tip, readers: buy shares in Hammerite NOW)
Winner of the Detailing World OMFG Prize for 2013.
Off for a bit of rough shooting with the Lord of the Manor. OK, then, just a a bit of rough:
Renovated tailgates:
Undybitz:
Bonnet crud (top tip, readers: buy shares in Hammerite NOW)
Winner of the Detailing World OMFG Prize for 2013.
Off for a bit of rough shooting with the Lord of the Manor. OK, then, just a a bit of rough:
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 15th March 06:36
The comment about Bristols (er....) is indeed spot on.
There are two slightly frayed at the cuff 410s living in my neighbourhood and used as daily drivers. Alas, I can never own a Bristol, as I am a self made oik, and not a gentleman. This is one reason why I have an Interceptor (a car that makes the Rangey seem like an econo-box), as that is a car that is perfect for the slightly flash git who has rather less money than he wants women to think he has.
There are two slightly frayed at the cuff 410s living in my neighbourhood and used as daily drivers. Alas, I can never own a Bristol, as I am a self made oik, and not a gentleman. This is one reason why I have an Interceptor (a car that makes the Rangey seem like an econo-box), as that is a car that is perfect for the slightly flash git who has rather less money than he wants women to think he has.
I am getting some qualidee topz tipz on this thread - good as new steering for a tenner, non shagged headlining for nowt. Keep it coming, dudes. Advice such as "mate, bin it, it's shagged" is also acceptable, and no doubt highly sound, but will not be followed, sorry!
As for battery terminals, and such, any car that is not in danger of catching fire at a moment's notice is not really a proper car. Anyway, you should see the state of the coil. All I am saying about that is: Holy Feck!
Having said that, there will be some expert bodge fixage going on this weekend, as even my strictly limited bloke skills can tidy up that rig a bit.
I had a screwdriver on the thing first thing this morning, swapping out an indicator bulb. Which knob of a designer decided to put eight screws to rust into the light cover? I had to use the power of swearing in order to achieve the fix.
As for battery terminals, and such, any car that is not in danger of catching fire at a moment's notice is not really a proper car. Anyway, you should see the state of the coil. All I am saying about that is: Holy Feck!
Having said that, there will be some expert bodge fixage going on this weekend, as even my strictly limited bloke skills can tidy up that rig a bit.
I had a screwdriver on the thing first thing this morning, swapping out an indicator bulb. Which knob of a designer decided to put eight screws to rust into the light cover? I had to use the power of swearing in order to achieve the fix.
Cheers, I will stop by to say hello. I have owned a Landy in the past, so have some familiarity with the evil schemes and cunning ruses of the dark forces of Solihull.
I grew up a stone's throw from the Landy factory, and my Dad worked in almost all bits of the West MIdlands car industry, including Lucas, Rootes-Chrysler, Unipart, and amost all the main manufacturing divisions of BL, but never, strangely, at Land Rover. For reasons that I have never enquired in to very closely, my mum tells me that the reclining seats in the very early 1970s Rangeys were quite comfortable. NB: My Dad never owned, borrowed, or rented a Range Rover. 1970s, eh?
I grew up a stone's throw from the Landy factory, and my Dad worked in almost all bits of the West MIdlands car industry, including Lucas, Rootes-Chrysler, Unipart, and amost all the main manufacturing divisions of BL, but never, strangely, at Land Rover. For reasons that I have never enquired in to very closely, my mum tells me that the reclining seats in the very early 1970s Rangeys were quite comfortable. NB: My Dad never owned, borrowed, or rented a Range Rover. 1970s, eh?
John the Car, of the Two Johns Garage, Corsica Street, Islington (very highly recommended local garage), has given the car the once over and declared it to be a megabargain. He was, by the way, working on a spotless Sierra XR4i when I rocked up to show him the Rangey. Other John the Car wasn't in this afternoon.
When new in 1990, this Vogue V8, with options of auto transmission, sunroof, tow package, and aircon would had a list price of around £29,400 ish.
Adjusted by reference to the RPI, 1990 to 2013, that is £54,650 at today's prices.
http://www.range-rover-classic.com/Home/land-rover...
http://www.measuringworth.com/ukcompare/relativeva...
Adjusted by reference to the RPI, 1990 to 2013, that is £54,650 at today's prices.
http://www.range-rover-classic.com/Home/land-rover...
http://www.measuringworth.com/ukcompare/relativeva...
stuttgartmetal said:
Take a look at this beauty.
Spotless leather, on the H
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-LAND-ROVER-RANGE-RO...
That might well be worth a look, but NB:Spotless leather, on the H
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-LAND-ROVER-RANGE-RO...
eBay advert said:
Needs some repairs for the MOT including welding in many of the usual places, but the main chassis itself apears to be solid. This is not rocket science but a little time consuming - ideal for someone with the time/facilities to do this. Other than that it appears to be mechanically fairly sound ...
"Many of the usual places" might be problematic, as the usual places on these heaps are quite numerous. I would have a look, then maybe bid low, but budget a modest four figure sum for the MOT. At least his coolant sensor is knackered, same as mine!
Meanwhile, I am pondering my crusty red bonnet (er.....). Would it be better if the big old red thing that sticks out in front of me were green?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RANGE-ROVER-CLASSIC-LAND...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RANGE-ROVER-CLASSIC-LAND...
What would happen if it even turned blue.....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Early-range-rover-classi...
When I had a series III Landy, it had four different colours of brushed on paintwork. Classy.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Early-range-rover-classi...
When I had a series III Landy, it had four different colours of brushed on paintwork. Classy.
Replacement bonnet bought for sixty quid. Now for some bonnet and tailgate lettering. HANG ON, eighty quid for a set of original style lettering stickers? OK, no lettering, then.
On second thoughts... Daughter! Come over here, and bring that sticky backed plastic and scissors with you.
On second thoughts... Daughter! Come over here, and bring that sticky backed plastic and scissors with you.
I shall be swapping the battery tomorrow.
Tonight, Ruby the Rusty Red Rangey (Christened thus by my daughter) is parked about three miles from its place of birth, as I am visiting my parents here on the Solihull, Birmingham borders.
Ruby is showing 141,000 miles. There is some fraying on the front seat edges.
I bought this car via Autoshyte, a most wonderful website, which, it may be said, is "not just Pistonheads for poor people".
Tonight, Ruby the Rusty Red Rangey (Christened thus by my daughter) is parked about three miles from its place of birth, as I am visiting my parents here on the Solihull, Birmingham borders.
Ruby is showing 141,000 miles. There is some fraying on the front seat edges.
I bought this car via Autoshyte, a most wonderful website, which, it may be said, is "not just Pistonheads for poor people".
I have bought this car because I am about to move to a house in the Chilterns, up a steep hill, with a very steep driveway, which will be impassable in severe winter weather unless I have something rugged. Well, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
Here is the jalopy outside the new shack (which is actually a shack, at least sort of, being clad entirely in wood), with wife and daughter trying to do circa 1990 advert blah.
Also, even though Ireland lost today, tomorrow is St Patrick's day, and there may still be gold at the end of the rainbow - the view below being one of the reasons for moving. The car is just visible in this shot.
No cars in this one - view down towards new pad, with Vale of Aylesbury beyond, taken from the treehouse in the garden. My daughter went crazy about this when she saw it. I could tell you that there is less moss on the Rangey's window seals than there is on the roof of the house, but I'd be lying.
Here is the jalopy outside the new shack (which is actually a shack, at least sort of, being clad entirely in wood), with wife and daughter trying to do circa 1990 advert blah.
Also, even though Ireland lost today, tomorrow is St Patrick's day, and there may still be gold at the end of the rainbow - the view below being one of the reasons for moving. The car is just visible in this shot.
No cars in this one - view down towards new pad, with Vale of Aylesbury beyond, taken from the treehouse in the garden. My daughter went crazy about this when she saw it. I could tell you that there is less moss on the Rangey's window seals than there is on the roof of the house, but I'd be lying.
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 16th March 22:30
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