RE: Harry Metcalfe talks JLR Special Ops

[andyps]

Saw Project 7 at Le Mans yesterday, it us fabulous. May go for another look and your with Harry today if I get chance.

[Pistachio]

NomduJour said:

How about a Range Rover for English people rather than Albanian drug lords - less tinsel and glitz (no sparkly chicken wire grilles), proper tyres on wheels that don't look like they belong on Cribs, some decent solid colours. Call it "County" or something.

I think thats called a Discovery :-)

[NomduJour]

Pistachio said:

I think thats called a Discovery :-)

Not since the Discovery 4 facelift it isn't.

[rj1986]

I would like to see:
- An in-house made Bowler style Defender/Evoque
- A slightly less hardcore version of the above to go to Waitrose in

[DonkeyApple]

NomduJour said:

Pistachio said:

I think thats called a Discovery :-)

Not since the Discovery 4 facelift it isn't.

Stick a hose inside that and you might as well throw it in the bin. However they spin it, once the Defender goes there will be no utility/practical product from JLR.

[Pistachio]

DonkeyApple said:

NomduJour said:

Pistachio said:

I think thats called a Discovery :-)

Not since the Discovery 4 facelift it isn't.

Stick a hose inside that and you might as well throw it in the bin. However they spin it, once the Defender goes there will be no utility/practical product from JLR.

True, very true
so a back to basics run out Disco would be cool
It is funny that the original Range Rover looks no less classy than todays, it just does not have all the glitter.

[DonkeyApple]

Pistachio said:

DonkeyApple said:

NomduJour said:

Pistachio said:

I think thats called a Discovery :-)

Not since the Discovery 4 facelift it isn't.

Stick a hose inside that and you might as well throw it in the bin. However they spin it, once the Defender goes there will be no utility/practical product from JLR.

True, very true
so a back to basics run out Disco would be cool
It is funny that the original Range Rover looks no less classy than todays, it just does not have all the glitter.

I'm hugely biased towards old Rangies. So many memories of a youth spent sitting in the boot, in the rain, watching various Motorsport events or being thrown about on shoots.

I completely understand the economics of using any capacity to build high rather than low margin cars but it will be a little sad when JLR no longer sell a house-out wagon, unless it's a dogging special edition for Cheshire!!!

With some Classics now breaking the £100k level there could be justification in rolling out a few hundred specials, akin to the CSK or the Olympic. 6 speed manual behind an AJ 5.0 NA and a bare bones interior. Having watched the huge demand in central London by English wanting a Rangie that doesn't look like a Russian's staff transport wagon, I suspect they could peddle them out for more than a fully loaded new Rangie.

[NomduJour]

Ultimately the Range Rover occupies a more rarefied position than it ever has done; the Discovery has also moved upmarket. Not going to change and that's why you never see an L405 attached to an Ifor Williams at the market - suspect the actual level of demand worldwide for something which doesn't look like a council house at Christmas is tiny; for a manual stripped-out RR single-figures. The hose-out thing is probably a bit wishful (I don't even do that to my old 109) but things like the L405 optional rubber mats seem to suggest that LR just aren't interested - they stop under the pedals on the driver's side so everything from your boots still ends up in the carpet. Pointless.

Aside from hoping the basic versions of next Defender aren't just a glitzier version of a Kia Sportage, it would be good to see the option (even dealer-fit) of brightwork in a low-key finish, proper mats that cover all the floor and the tunnel sides, tyres which can cope with the average UK field etc. Even if just to retain a pretence of credibility.

Not really Special Ops though - so a 4.4 TDV8/ZF 8HP Defender, in all the body styles (but absolutely no diamond-stitched leather, SVX-style grilles etc.).

[Pistachio]

NomduJour said:

Ultimately the Range Rover occupies a more rarefied position than it ever has done; the Discovery has also moved upmarket. Not going to change and that's why you never see an L405 attached to an Ifor Williams at the market - suspect the actual level of demand worldwide for something which doesn't look like a council house at Christmas is tiny; for a manual stripped-out RR single-figures. The hose-out thing is probably a bit wishful (I don't even do that to my old 109) but things like the L405 optional rubber mats seem to suggest that LR just aren't interested - they stop under the pedals on the driver's side so everything from your boots still ends up in the carpet. Pointless.

Aside from hoping the basic versions of next Defender aren't just a glitzier version of a Kia Sportage, it would be good to see the option (even dealer-fit) of brightwork in a low-key finish, proper mats that cover all the floor and the tunnel sides, tyres which can cope with the average UK field etc. Even if just to retain a pretence of credibility.

Not really Special Ops though - so a 4.4 TDV8/ZF 8HP Defender, in all the body styles (but absolutely no diamond-stitched leather, SVX-style grilles etc.).

I have seen a Range Rover (2104) towing a twin axle trailer with a Tractor on it on the Hampshire West Sussex border.
Maybe thats a new thread New Range Rover spotted doing 4X4 land rover stuff :-)

[TheDeadPrussian]

A quick update.

I heard back from Jaguar after submitting my LOI at the Goodwood FOS – and I have been allocated a car. I have paid my deposit and am now waiting to hear about the next steps…

After seeing the Project 7 at Goodwood, I then went to take a look at it again at the Le Mans Classic the following weekend – this time it was parked next to a D-Type and the two cars together looked spectacular.
As Harry alluded to in his earlier post the Project 7 and the D-Type both took part in a number of Parade Laps and both sounded fantastic!

So at the moment I am waiting for further news (my dealership – Westover Jaguar in Poole - have been excellent by the way) and am considering colours – the choices are: green, black, blue, red or white – I’m a fan of blue, but the green does look so good in the metal…

I am aware of at least one other PH member who has been allocated a car as well; if anyone else has one coming feel free to contribute!

[andyps]

TheDeadPrussian said:

A quick update.

I heard back from Jaguar after submitting my LOI at the Goodwood FOS – and I have been allocated a car. I have paid my deposit and am now waiting to hear about the next steps…

After seeing the Project 7 at Goodwood, I then went to take a look at it again at the Le Mans Classic the following weekend – this time it was parked next to a D-Type and the two cars together looked spectacular.
As Harry alluded to in his earlier post the Project 7 and the D-Type both took part in a number of Parade Laps and both sounded fantastic!

So at the moment I am waiting for further news (my dealership – Westover Jaguar in Poole - have been excellent by the way) and am considering colours – the choices are: green, black, blue, red or white – I’m a fan of blue, but the green does look so good in the metal…

I am aware of at least one other PH member who has been allocated a car as well; if anyone else has one coming feel free to contribute!

I didn't realise it at the time but having read an article in the current issue of Motor Sport magazine the D-Tpe parked next to Project 7 at Le Mans was the prototype car. Made a nice link with the prototype project 7.

Enjoy your car when you get it!

[David87]

JLR Special Operations has bought James Hull's collection of 543 classic British cars. They were up for £100m.

http://www.classicandsportscar.com/news/general-cl...