Nothing quite ignites a PH forum discussion like an ex-press car. Those who wouldn’t touch a car thrashed by dozens of ham-fisted hacks meet those intrigued by a car that’s been on front covers and enjoyed the very best in manufacturer care. It’s usually a well-mannered, reasonable debate on the car for sale, as is typical for PistonHeads…
Time to revisit the discussion, only with something a little different. This Land Rover Discovery is an ex-press car, though its time being driven by media ended a quarter of a century ago (!) once the launch of the then-new Disco 2 was finished. So it’s hardly like you’re still going to find crisp packets in the glovebox or mud in the engine bay, fresh from the last magazine loan. To show off just how hardy the Discovery 2 was - and how much more capable it was than the original Disco - Land Rover held a launch for journalists that traced the route of Hannibal’s journey across the Alps. Because of course they did. This was one of those original Discovery 2s from 1998. So already its story is more interesting than most.
With upgrades to the chassis, suspension, and body, the Discovery 2 was a lot more of an update than its familiar look suggested. The selling dealer of this particular one is a fan of the styling (they surely can’t be alone, either), and actually acquired it a few years ago. Recently subjected to a raft of upgrades, it’s now surely the best Discovery 2 out there. The best V8 Discovery full stop, in fact.
Yes, you read that right, this is a 4.0-litre Land Rover Discovery. Or was, rather - we’ll return to that point. As is press car lore, this launch vehicle was a top-of-the-range V8 ES, with seven seats, two sunroofs, electric heated leather seats and a Harmon Kardon stereo. So already it’s a pretty desirable old thing, for those that can afford the fuel, given how rare the petrol engine is and with the press car provenance.
But it gets better from there - a whole lot better. At 83,000 miles (or 12,000 miles ago), the Disco was subjected to what might almost be termed the restomod treatment, albeit without any cosmetic changes. The Land Rover was upgraded here and there to make it more usable in the 2020s, and the result looks spectacular. It now has a 4.6-litre John Eales V8, with more power and torque than standard, a rebuilt automatic gearbox, upgraded brakes, better suspension and improved cooling. It’s said that £30,000 has gone into making this the Discovery into the car it is today. Add those mechanical upgrades to a flawless (yet unrestored) interior and gleaming green paintwork and the Discovery looks better than ever. It’s the PH family car dream, with space for seven, a V8 burble, and that iconic, unmistakeable Discovery silhouette to admire on the drive.
It won’t come cheap, mind, the asking price of this one £42,250. But then with the best Discovery 2s already commanding more than £15k, without the upgrades or the history, it’s a bit easier to see how that price has been reached. Certainly, there’s not going to be another like it for sale anytime soon. And that might well be good enough for some. They best get planning a rerun of Hannibal’s trip...
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