Wednesday 14th July 2010

Driven: Range Rover 'Naked'

PH meets the first generation Rangie in its (not our) birthday suit

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A 6x4 Carmichael fire truck conversion

Jetting-off to Portugal to play with the stonking new Range Rover TDV8 on- and off-road takes some beating as far as days out of the office go. But the team at Land Rover must think we bore easily, because they also entertained us at the launch with a fantastic sideshow to celebrate the Rangie’s 40th birthday.

Nestling in the shade of some citrus trees at launch HQ (an upmarket vineyard/estate in Portugal) assembled hacks were offered the keys to an evocative collection of early Range Rover metal.

From emergency services vehicles like the police motorway patrol car, Wadham Stringer bodied ambulance and a six-wheeled Carmichael International fire truck retired from the Swiss railways, to one of the famous Darien Gap expedition cars and even the open-backed Range Rover used by Her Majesty on occasions of state, for anyone with a soft spot for Rangies it was a lot like being let loose in a toy store.

Chris-R dreams of reviewing the next Sunday Service...

A personal highlight was driving a ‘naked’ Range Rover chassis from 1971, one of three built as motor show and dealer showroom demonstrators, but never really meant to be used in anger. I could have spent all afternoon bimbling around the vineyard perched on its driver’s seat and watching the suspension and propshaft in action – in spite of the choking dust and extreme heat from the unshielded V8 up front.

The MKI's ground-breaking chassis

Early turbodiesels were represented

But that would have meant not driving the six wheel fire truck, which interestingly had only four driven wheels, although others versions were built with full six-wheel drive. The extra axle in this case was simply there to support a great weight of water, but the off-road performance was diluted (geddit?) over rough terrain if the powered middle axle came off the ground. Still, it was great to have a go, especially as I see an old 6x6 Range Rover fire truck through the fence every day at Shoreham Airport.

It also came as a bit of a surprise to realise that old Rangies used to have a hand-start facility. I had to have a go, but being used hand-starting my little marine diesel engine with its decompression lever, I wasn’t prepared for the force required to turn over a big petrol V8. In fact, it felt as though the spindly crank handle was going to bend in my hand, so I gave up (wimped out!) before giving it the full benefit of my well-toned biceps…

1971 Range Rover - Naked

How (not to) hand-start a Range Rover

Have you got a Range Rover itch that needs scratching?

[cheesyblob]

a big collection of rangies there!

[HowardB]

me, me, me, I want that job, I am the child, and that really would have been some sweet shop!!

All fantastic, the lot of them

[Ed.]

Wish I could have those at my birthday
Would really like a tuscan blue range rover

[FourWheelDrift]

Ed. said:

Would really like a tuscan blue range rover

I've been looking at this one for the last 15 minutes - http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C168838/

[soad]

Those photos do tell a story or two - superb!

[vintageracer01]

FourWheelDrift said:

Ed. said:

Would really like a tuscan blue range rover

I've been looking at this one for the last 15 minutes - http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C168838/

Don't look at it. BUY IT !!!! (Great colour, too)

[carinaman]

A very good friend arranged a weekend on the Arran Isles on the west coast of Ireland about 8 years ago.

There was a discarded Carmichael 6X4 fire truck Ranger Rover parked up there.

Edited by carinaman on Tuesday 13th July 22:20

[Jem0911]

My job sucks. End of.

[Zumbruk]

Jem0911 said:

My job sucks. End of.

You and me both, mate.

[300bhp/ton]

Landy's are great in any shape or form





And some Range Rover's that don't look like Range Rovers

[TRUENOSAM]

To the Range Rover I salute.

One of the British icons

[robm3]

What a brilliant PR weekend!

Very envious

[IPAddis]

A friend of mine has a RR CSK:

http://www.rangerovercsk.com/gallery.html

I'm very jealous!

Ian A.

[infradig]

Unbelievable that Land Rover let a bunch of journalists loose in their Crown Jewells! I'm obviously jealous but can you imagine if for instance the Darien Gap car was damaged by some unworthy,overpaid,pampered,freeloading hack(no offence),just to promote an ugly new bumper!
As for wimping out on hand cranking,when I was about 12 my dad used to let me and my brother take turns with the starting handle on the family series 1-he was too tight to buy a new battery,character building of course.

[Psimpson7]

Awesome... especially the Darien Gap car...

[Peppka]

Many years ago in 1975 I had a K reg Range Rover with my first farm manager job. Battery went in winter and for a while I hand cranked it to start first thing in the morning - only just managed it. It was OK once it was warm then it would start but getting the V8 to turn over when cold was a challenge to say the laast.

[tim milne]

When I was a kid, my best friend's parents bought a Range Rover when they first came out, 1971, I think. His mum was a bit, er, unusual and she delighted in driving around the Watford one-way system–whilst it was still under construction!

Maybe my memory's playing tricks, but I thought they had a special no-carpets / hard vinyl seats / hose-down interior, but all of these seem to be quite luxurious with velour seats and carpets. Am I getting confused?

[jay140285]

I had a 1978 orange/brown 3.5v8 when I was about 16.

Blagged it off a drive down the road as a non runner FOC of course, got it running and used it to mess about in the fields at my folks place. did some sensible things with it like harrowing the fields etc.

Wish I hadnt of sold it when I passed my test and Got my Defender, I would have been a great platform for creating a off road play thing.

[Trusty Steed]

This looks a fantastic day out to those who like the green & gold badged vehicles. Very sad I know, but here are two of my 4 current landies.

[Peppka]

tim milne said:

When I was a kid, my best friend's parents bought a Range Rover when they first came out, 1971, I think. His mum was a bit, er, unusual and she delighted in driving around the Watford one-way system–whilst it was still under construction!

Maybe my memory's playing tricks, but I thought they had a special no-carpets / hard vinyl seats / hose-down interior, but all of these seem to be quite luxurious with velour seats and carpets. Am I getting confused?

Correct my red '71 K reg had light brown vinyl seats and rubber floor mat and could be hosed out. Only a 4 speed box with hi-low lever and electric centre diff lock. Very thirsty 18 mpg tops.