• Mazda 3.5 litre diesel engine swap

• Incredibly clean underside 

• Long, advisory free MOT

When introducing the 2 door range rover to market in 1969, Land Rover really bucked the trend for what an SUV was. Prior to this, the term SUV was synonymous with rugged, very capable, yet simple and basic vehicles such as the Series 1, however throughout the years it became apparent that there could in fact be a market for a highly capable 4x4 that was more lavishly equipped, with finer amenities. 

Labelled “a car for all reasons” the Range Rover combined a spacious, comfortable interior, with a top speed of 100mph and a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes and most notably, a revolutionary permanent four wheel drive system. 

The new Range Rover was an instant hit with the motoring press and public alike, it was arguably better than the competitors of the time at being a car for “all reasons”, succeeding in both the comfort of more urban environments, and rugged off road terrain. 

Investigation suggests that this Range Rover has spent a great deal of its life in the Leeds/Bradford area, with documentation for works undertaken supporting this notion. Previously, the car has spent time under the ownership of a Mr Marsden who, along with general servicing and MOT’s, appears to have commissioned the swapping of the original engine for a Mazda 3.5 litre turbo diesel motor. This being a common engine swap to do, at the time the transplant occurred, around 1992.

This fine example was purchased by its current owner earlier last year from the Leeds area; they then drove the Vehicle back to Hampshire with nothing but praise. Under its current ownership it has been excellently maintained and cared for, they have purchased some replacement engine oil and filters which accompany the vehicle. 

The vehicle is accompanied by a selection of paperwork detailing the various works that have been performed prior to its current ownership. Most notably we find an invoice from Simmonites Land Rover specialists for the Mazda engine swap in 1992, as well as some other suspension and gearbox work. 

In addition to prior MOT certificates, also from Simmonites, the Range Rover holds a current MOT, valid until August 2022 with no advisories listed. Although being a 1979 model, the vehicle can be registered as MOT and tax exempt by filling out the relevant DVLA forms. 

The current owner possesses the Haynes workshop manuals for cars and a folder containing the manual for the Mazda engine that has been installed. 

The V5 registration document is also present.

Opening the doors and glancing into the cabin we find a quintessentially 1970’s interior. A sea of plush brown carpeting and velour upholstery, the Range Rover is a truly lovely place to be. 

The upholstery on the seats, front and rear is of a very good standard, and presents well, there is some general wear and signs of marking to the cushioning, most notably to the driver's seat. The seat bases themselves, also finished in a shade of brown, are of a similarly good standard. 

Unfortunately, the grey plastic dash does have some issues, with some cracking to be seen at both ends, in addition to the radio aperture, which is also cracked. There is also some cracking to the upholstery aside the rear bench seat. Above is a light, well trimmed roof liner, which is in good condition apart from a few minor blemishes to the fabric. 

A great deal of the surfaces in the cabin are draped in a beautiful thick brown carpet, whilst showing general signs of age and patinal it is still rich and full of colour, however it is noticeably worn in the drivers footwell. 

The boot is also trimmed in the same brown carpet including an upholstered cover for the full size spare wheel. The jack and wheel brace for this are stored under the drivers seat, however these are non original.

Finished in an excellent shade of white, the Range Rover looks marvellous from the outside. The iconic, classic shape suits the colour perfectly. 

The paintwork itself is in largely good condition providing a wonderful shine, however there are some general signs of patina, with some markings to be seen. Most notably there is some micro blistering scattered across the bonnet, however this does not detract from the look of the car. 

The rubber trims and seals on the exterior do look to be showing some signs of age, looking slightly worn and damaged in some places, including the top of the front windscreen and seal around the rear window. 

At the rear, the iconic Range Rover split tailgate functions fully with ease, and looks great when open. The front grille and bumpers are finished in a deep black and are in great order. 

The car sits on 4 steel wheels which, like the tyres, are in very good order. It is believed that at some point they have been resprayed in a non original colour. 

Now we come to the party piece of this particular Range Rover, the 3.5 litre Mazda motor. More specifically, the engine under the bonnet is the Mazda SL35TI, it fits excellently in the engine bay and looks almost as if it were a factory fitted option. At the time of the engine install in 1992, heavy duty springs and a rebuilt high ratio gearbox were installed, coming to a cost of £7082.90, around £15,000 in today's money.

The engine fires into life effortlessly, providing a booming tone through the exhaust at rear. The current owner reports that the drive is superb, noting the comfort and capability to handle consistent motorway speeds with ease. The engine bay itself is remarkably clean as well. 

The driver and passenger door latches and mechanisms may require some adjustment or attention, as there can at times be difficulty shutting or locking them. There is also a faulty oil gauge, the current owner has diagnosed the gauge in the dashboard as the issue with this. There are also some intermittent issues with the rear window washer and heater electrical connections. 

Underneath the Range Rover is remarkably clean, the metalwork, sills and suspension components are clean and fresh. The car also boasts the earlier style front axle and what are believed to be the original chrome finish swivel pin balls, both of which are in exemplary condition.

For those in on the lookout for an incredibly stylish, capable, yet usable classic 4x4, this is an incredible opportunity. An excellently maintained well cared for example of the “car for all reasons”. This is a highly capable off roader that is equally at home on the city streets. 

The addition of the Mazda turbo diesel suggests this can be driven anywhere with confidence and in comfort.