1990 Glenfrome Portway Range Rover

Highlights

• Rare and unique ultra-long wheelbase model
• Professionally modified by Glenfrome Engineering
• Low mileage
• In good mechanical condition
• Lovely original interior
• Magazine-featured
• Full year’s MOT

Overview

When it comes to first generation Range Rovers most are au fait with the standard and long wheel base models – coming in at 100 inches and 108 inches respectively – but what if you wanted a little extra space? What if you wanted to go full send and opt for a whopping 136 inch wheel base with a few extra seats and a couple more doors to boot? Well, you turn to legendary Range Rover fettlers Glenfrome and ask them to make you one of their famed Portway conversions, naturally.

Now the original Range Rover, built between 1970 and 1996 (such was its popularity and indeed capabilities) is a large car by anyone's standards but the Glenfrome Portway version, coming in at a gargantuan 5.4 metres long, is entirely next level, and what an utterly fascinating thing it is. The company, sadly now defunct, rose to prominence in the '80s for its radical modifications to Range Rovers. From convertibles to six-wheelers and pretty much everything in between if you wanted your Rangey radically reshaped then Glenfrome were the guys to do it and the Portway was one of its most revered conversions.

Far from simply stretching a standard Range Rover by 36 inches the Portway was a study in craftsmanship. From the expertly finessed extra doors to the lavishly appointed interior full of cream leather and wood veneer, an additional row of seats and laden with all the tech of the era, the Portway is a rather special machine.

Featuring a standard 3.9-litre V8 with electronic fuel injection powering all four wheels via a four-speed automatic gearbox the Portway isn't about performance. This isn't an Overfinch creation with a focus on speed and power, rather an elegant and exclusive statement piece for the discerning four-by-four fan who wants to arrive in style, and with a large group of friends in tow.

In current ownership for the past 17 years this particular 1990 Range Rover Portway is ready for its next chapter and comes complete with a recent full service as well as a full year's MOT. Still looking every bit the show-stopper from whichever angle you view it from, the car retains its lavish interior and has even been featured in Land Rover Life magazine.

A true star then and one that will turn heads wherever it goes, if you're after a unique slice of great British engineering eccentricity then this Glenfrome Portway Range Rover could be just the ticket.

History and documentation

• 1990 model year
• V5C present and correct in the vendor's name
• First registered 27 Feb 1990
• In current ownership since 14 May 2012
• Spare keys included
• Invoice for latest full service care of marque specialists Range Rover World dated 30 Oct 2023
• Featured in issue number 4 of Land Rover Life magazine
• New shocks and springs fitted by Range Rover World as part of the last service
• Please note that the private registration is not included in the sale and the car will revert to an age-appropriate plate
• MOT until 05 Dec 2026
• HPI clear
• 27,978 indicated miles

Interior

• In great condition throughout for its age
• Well maintained with minimal wear and tear
• No signs of any major damage
• Cream leather with blue piping presents well
• Wood veneer trim is in great shape
• Carpets appear to be clean and dry
• Headlining is free from marks and has not sagged
• No reports of any faults or warning lights on the dash
• Electrically adjustable front seats
• Three rows of seating
• Folding tables on second and third rows
• Original Sony Trinitron TV/Video-8 VCR combo between the front seats
• Pioneer CD audio system in the rear and Alpine head unit up front
• In-car telephone system
• Cobra alarm system
• Rear luggage space is clean and tidy and comes complete with two fully upholstered jump seats
• Engine bay presents well, commensurate with the car's age

Exterior

• The bodywork presents well overall
• Some cosmetic and age-related marks to the paintwork
• Some small areas of bubbling to the paint and light surface corrosion in places to note
• Colour-coded vinyl roof looks to be in good shape
• Custom four-light grille has a small piece missing on the nearside
• Full-length steps on both sides
• One piece top-hinged tailgate functions as it should with recently replaced struts
• Tinted windows all appear to be free from any issues
• All shut lines look good
• No evidence of any major damage or repairs
• Boomerang telephone antenna plus additional antennas for communications
• Anti-slip footpad on rear bumper
• Two-tone Vogue 16” alloy wheels present well but with some light marks here and there to note
• All four Goodyear Wrangler AT/S tyres were fitted in October 2023
• The vendor informs us that the underneath reflects the age of the vehicle, corroborated by two MOT advisories for corrosion

Mechanical

• 188bhp, 3.9-litre V8 engine
• Four-speed automatic gearbox
• Two-speed transfer box
• Four-wheel drive
• Two-piece rear propshaft
• Replacement shocks and springs
• Twin batteries
• No mechanical issues to report
• The vendor informs us that the car sounds OK and runs well

Summary

Not for the shy and retiring, this Glenfrome Portway Range Rover is basically a 4X4 limo that’s guaranteed to get attention, but it's the nodding in approval, happy wave from passers by kind of attention that warms the heart. It's not a museum piece in concours condition and, granted, it may require a little cosmetic TLC, but it’s a charming and inherently usable vehicle that stands as a testament to past engineering glories, back when cars possessed a flair of individuality and weren't simply created off the back of marketing campaigns, focus groups and current trends. An approach that should be cherished and protected at all costs, just like this Portway.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Newark, Nottinghamshire.