Tuesday 1st June 2010

Video: 40 Years Of Range Rover

Land Rover reminds us why we all love the iconic Rangie

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LRX arrives in 2011, with 2- and 4-wd

The Range Rover celebrates its 40th birthday on 17 June, 2010, and Land Rover has issued this video to celebrate.

There have been three generations of Range Rover so far, with another - the LRX 'baby' Range Rover (pictured right) - on the way soon. The original, now known as the Classic, went on sale in 1970 and continued in production, with numerous upgrades and a multiplicity of variants, for just over 25 years. The second-generation vehicle, known as the P38a, went on sale in 1994 and was replaced in 2001 by the current model.

Like many performance car enthusiasts, most of us here in the PH office have a thing for Rangies, and the fabulously 70s beige 'Classic' that kicks this video off would definitely be given space in our fantasy garage.

In fact, given how far the Ranger Rover and Defender models have come in the past decades, it would be interesting to stage a 'back to back' challenge between an early Rangie like the one in the video and the new Defender on the PH long term fleet. And much as we like the latest models, can that original angular style ever really be beaten?

 

[R66STU]

Cool Video. will be interesting to see the Range Rover in 40 years time.

[PascalBuyens]

Cool

[soad]

Cracking video, loved it - big thumbs up!

[Mr Gear]

What's an "SUV"?

Is it anything like an "off roader"?

[GTO Scott]

I had to sell my P38a a few weeks ago. A fantastic car, better in every way than the classic 3.5 Vogue SE I had previously, except one: the styling. I really don't think the Spen King-designed original (in either 2- or 4-door form) will ever be beaten. I plan to buy another Rangie in the next 6-12 months, though i'm torn between a late 3.9 Vogue SE Classic or a nice P38a SE.

In my opinion the Range Rover will always be the daddy of the non-utilitarian 4x4's. Stuff like the ML's, Cayenne's, X5's and Q7's will only ever be pretenders to the Rangie's throne. And the utilitarian king? That'll be the Defender.

[soad]

Mr Gear said:

What's an "SUV"?

A Sport Utility Vehicle. Americanism, I believe.

[bob1179]

I'd love a new Rangie.

They are an absolutely wonderful 'do anything' luxury car.

Just need to save up a little longer...

[Danny S]

soad said:

Mr Gear said:

What's an "SUV"?

A Sport Utility Vehicle. Americanism, I believe.

Correct

Lovely video!

[Justayellowbadge]

Mr Gear said:

What's an "SUV"?

Exactly. Ugh.


Very PH the way the piece has to chosen to completely ignore the Sport.

[Mr Gear]

soad said:

Mr Gear said:

What's an "SUV"?

A Sport Utility Vehicle. Americanism, I believe.

Sport:

Utility Vehicle:

Ahh, I understand now. As you were

[chunkymonkey71]

Enjoyed that!

[cronk-flakes]

At 00:29 in that video, is the Pope flipping the bird??

Great video, none-the-less!

[The Wookie]

Mr Gear said:

soad said:

Mr Gear said:

What's an "SUV"?

A Sport Utility Vehicle. Americanism, I believe.

Sport:

Utility Vehicle:

Ahh, I understand now. As you were

Excellent sir

[Mr Gear]

The Wookie said:

Mr Gear said:

soad said:

Mr Gear said:

What's an "SUV"?

A Sport Utility Vehicle. Americanism, I believe.

Sport:

Utility Vehicle:

Ahh, I understand now. As you were

Excellent sir

[S3_Graham]

Justayellowbadge said:

Mr Gear said:

What's an "SUV"?

Exactly. Ugh.


Very PH the way the piece has to chosen to completely ignore the Sport.

had an arguement with one of mates about which we would prefer the other day. He maintains he would rather have a sport than the real deal, whereas i still prefer the bigger, better original!

[Chris-R]

Sport Game...




Sport!

[monthefish]

the actricle said:

There have been three generations of Range Rover so far, with another - the LRX 'baby' Range Rover (pictured right) - on the way soon.

The LRX/Baby range rover will not be the fourth generation. A new generation would replace the old generation, and the LRX is not going to replace the Range Rover.

There have been 3 generations of Range Rover, with the third generation having a 'spin-off' Range Rover Sport model (although strictly speaking it is far more closely related to the Discovery than the Range Rover) and the Range Rover range will soon have a Baby Model in the LRX.

The fourth Generation Range Rover is something entirely different.

[gforceg]

That's a fantastically stirring promo film.
I have two early Rangie memories that have stuck with me all my life and why I still love them despite disliking all other pretenders.
1. In the early 70s I saw my first RR haring through the early morning mist outside a hotel in Cairnryan near Stranraer.
2. Watching my father been loaded into a RR ambulance after doing his back in while moving house. My brother and I were so excited about the type of ambulance we didn't worry much about the big guy.

One other memory is tail ending a RR at a junction. In my old Gordini...ahem.

[torchy6]

I fell in love with the first Rangie and bought one second hand in '72 it was an amazing piece of kit, I used to rally it and see off MG B's on the road. Trouble was it didn't stop so well and one day I rounded a blind corner to find everybody stopped there was just room up the middle for me totally locked up until I sideswiped a Paddy builder's van - he didn't even care! Biggest mistake ever was selling it, the 3.5 V8 was great. The car even cured my daughter's car sickness - a true icon.

[Manks]

The music reminds me of dealing with Land Rover after-sales. It's irritating, gives me a headache and sounds like I am hearing the same thing over and over again without anything really happening.

Manks