Range Rover Classic - Restore or sell?
Discussion
Hi all,
Looking for some advice from the collective.
My 1995 Range Rover Classic has been a trusty steed for the last 5+ years. Bumbling around locally and being nothing short of awesome in the snow and ice. However he (yes, i am that attached) is now showing his age and I've bought a L322 Supercharged to replace him (the MPG is an improvement on what my classic gives me!).
Common sense would say now is the time to move the classic on but I'm debating whether to park him up in a barn at my folk's place and treat him to a restoration in a few years time. The question is, is it worth it? Would I be better selling the classic as it currently is (quite a lot of niggly and rust issues but engine, gearbox, air susp, air con, power steering etc all perfect) and moving on or is there going to be any future in having kept it about?
I've no idea how much a restoration costs (I would be paying someone to do it) and have never kept a car to restore before. I don't even know if there are places that can do a decent restoration on a classic and if you can still get the bits you need to make them perfect (some bits in the interior have the odd crack etc.)
It's not like its a 2 door from the 70s that seem to be sought after already, but it is what I think a potentially great `modern classic` of the future.
I really can't decide which way to go. Any advice from people who have considered the same or done a restoration before?
If I did decide to do a future restoration, what should I be doing now to avoid the car getting any worse whilst in languishes awaiting money to be spent?
Here's a picture of old and new together.
Looking for some advice from the collective.
My 1995 Range Rover Classic has been a trusty steed for the last 5+ years. Bumbling around locally and being nothing short of awesome in the snow and ice. However he (yes, i am that attached) is now showing his age and I've bought a L322 Supercharged to replace him (the MPG is an improvement on what my classic gives me!).
Common sense would say now is the time to move the classic on but I'm debating whether to park him up in a barn at my folk's place and treat him to a restoration in a few years time. The question is, is it worth it? Would I be better selling the classic as it currently is (quite a lot of niggly and rust issues but engine, gearbox, air susp, air con, power steering etc all perfect) and moving on or is there going to be any future in having kept it about?
I've no idea how much a restoration costs (I would be paying someone to do it) and have never kept a car to restore before. I don't even know if there are places that can do a decent restoration on a classic and if you can still get the bits you need to make them perfect (some bits in the interior have the odd crack etc.)
It's not like its a 2 door from the 70s that seem to be sought after already, but it is what I think a potentially great `modern classic` of the future.
I really can't decide which way to go. Any advice from people who have considered the same or done a restoration before?
If I did decide to do a future restoration, what should I be doing now to avoid the car getting any worse whilst in languishes awaiting money to be spent?
Here's a picture of old and new together.
Restorations are pretty expensive, especially if you're paying for someone else to do it. What do you want to keep it for? If you want to keep it for the sake of it then you might resent the amount of money you'd need to plough into restoring it.
And what do you want from the restoration? Nut and bolt rebuild down to just fixing all the existing problems?
If you are going to park it up then leave it on axle stands, disconnect (or preferably remove) the battery and get some silica beads (lots of them) to put in the interior (a pillow case full of them will keep the inside dry). Then you need to thoroughly lubricate anything that moves and underseal/wax everything ferrous.
It might even be worth draining the coolant to ensure it can't find it's way into the engine bores.
Probably tons of things I haven't thought of but leaving a car to stand and wanting to return to it in good condition means lots of work!
It's worth pointing out I'm in the progress of reviving a range rover classic that had been left to stand for 6 years (outside, without any prep) and its fair to say there's a lot of work to do. Luckily I used to be a mechanic so will do plenty of the work myself or with the help of friends.
And what do you want from the restoration? Nut and bolt rebuild down to just fixing all the existing problems?
If you are going to park it up then leave it on axle stands, disconnect (or preferably remove) the battery and get some silica beads (lots of them) to put in the interior (a pillow case full of them will keep the inside dry). Then you need to thoroughly lubricate anything that moves and underseal/wax everything ferrous.
It might even be worth draining the coolant to ensure it can't find it's way into the engine bores.
Probably tons of things I haven't thought of but leaving a car to stand and wanting to return to it in good condition means lots of work!
It's worth pointing out I'm in the progress of reviving a range rover classic that had been left to stand for 6 years (outside, without any prep) and its fair to say there's a lot of work to do. Luckily I used to be a mechanic so will do plenty of the work myself or with the help of friends.
Edited by Nick1point9 on Tuesday 16th April 20:58
Looking at your profile and the fact that you have storage it seems unlikely that the £1500 or so you will get for it would make a difference to you so keep it. If you change your mind in a year or two I doubt you'd be much out of pocket.
If you want to restore it have a read here http://www.kingsleycars.co.uk/
If you want to restore it have a read here http://www.kingsleycars.co.uk/
Thanks all, and especially for that link to Kingsley Cars.
I would love to be able to drop my classic off there and ask them to do a full resto. I reckon it would be a good way to burn through a lot of money quickly though.
I do worry that if I park it up at my folk's place it will just rot away and become a bit of a disaster but on the other hand I think if I do sell it I could well be regretting it in 10 years time when I'll be wishing I had it still to drive around in. They are much classier than the new Rangeys.
If I do decide to keep it I guess I could look to get the rust sorted now so it at least doesn't get any worse sitting unloved in a barn.
I would love to be able to drop my classic off there and ask them to do a full resto. I reckon it would be a good way to burn through a lot of money quickly though.
I do worry that if I park it up at my folk's place it will just rot away and become a bit of a disaster but on the other hand I think if I do sell it I could well be regretting it in 10 years time when I'll be wishing I had it still to drive around in. They are much classier than the new Rangeys.
If I do decide to keep it I guess I could look to get the rust sorted now so it at least doesn't get any worse sitting unloved in a barn.
DKL said:
Looking at your profile and the fact that you have storage it seems unlikely that the £1500 or so you will get for it would make a difference to you so keep it. If you change your mind in a year or two I doubt you'd be much out of pocket.
If you want to restore it have a read here http://www.kingsleycars.co.uk/
Nice website If you want to restore it have a read here http://www.kingsleycars.co.uk/
Classic Range Rovers are still the nicest in my book.
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