• 1990 2 door built to CSK spec

• 3.9 litre V8 and 5 speed manual gearbox

• Vogue SE interior

• Fully restored and very usable

Drawing inspiration from stateside developments towards what we would now recognise as an SUV, the iconic Range Rover was launched with the slogan ‘the car for all reasons’ in 1969. 

Originally designed with a two door bodyshell, Charles Spencer (‘Spen’) King and his team engineered a car which was very capable both on and off road, driven by a carburettor-fed 3.5 litre V8, and setting the template for a whole genre.

By the late seventies, there were several independent companies offering four door conversions to cater for a growing market demand and in 1981 the more practical option was offered from the factory. 

By 1984, the two door was discontinued in the UK though production for left hand drive markets ran right through to 1994.

To celebrate the achievement of building 250,000 Range Rovers, in 1990 the Range Rover CSK special edition was conceived, taking the initials of its designer. 

In order to differentiate it from the usual offerings, it used the two door bodyshell and also featured a variety of luxury and performance improvements including a 3.9 litre fuel injected version of the V8, stiffer suspension and an interior from the upmarket Vogue SE model. 

At the time the decision to go with only two doors was somewhat derided but, with the benefit of hindsight, there is a purity to the original design that was lost with the addition of the extra doors and, indeed, the early cars are highly sought after for precisely that reason. 

What the early cars lack however is the interior and chassis developments that took place in the intervening years.

With production of the CSK edition limited to just 200 units, prices have headed off into the stratosphere and so the owner of this car decided to recreate the experience by assembling his own.

When looking for a donor car, the priority was to find a two door example with a manual gearbox and as little corrosion as possible. The search led to the dry climate of Spain and this 3.9 litre V8 model. 

After importing it in 2017, the owner, working in partnership with 2010 Engineering, has completed a full restoration including a right hand drive conversion, the installation of a Vogue SE interior including electrically adjustable seats and a thorough overhaul of the drivetrain and suspension.

The list of work is extensive but the most obvious change (aside from putting the steering wheel on the other side) is the panels-off respray in the classic Land Rover colour of Marine Blue, chosen so as not to ape the CSK directly but staying true to the brand heritage. 

The engine hasn’t needed much attention but the gearbox and transfer box have been rebuilt and there are new diffs front and rear and a new power steering box, while some welding was needed to the floorpan on one side. 

The suspension has been polybushed and has new shocks all round. There are also new brake disks all round and new callipers at the rear. The parts for the air conditioning system are partially fitted, with the remainder provided and so if required this can be installed and gassed up.

A lot of effort has also gone into the cosmetics with many new parts being sourced to make sure that it looks as fresh as possible. So, having very successfully achieved what he set out to do, why the sale? The answer is that there is a version 2.0 on the way with a 4.6 litre V8 that promises to be even better and with it due to arrive shortly, the garage space is needed.

Sadly the Spanish manuals and history for the car did not come over with it but there is a full set of invoices for the work which 2010 Engineering carried out, a V5 showing no previous UK owners and an MOT that expires on 26 June 2022.

Sourced from a Vogue SE, the grey leather interior was selected for its good condition and, although slightly patinated, the seats are all in very good condition and remain supremely comfortable. 

Electric adjustment puts them one step ahead of the CSK and the passenger seat has been engineered to automatically slide forward and tilt to allow access to the rear seats, which is a nice touch. 

There is a fresh set of carpets and the wood veneered dash has been sanded down and French polished for a matte finish which to our eyes looks a good deal better than the original. 

Other improvements include a perforated leather retrim for the steering wheel and passenger grab handle and aluminium gear knobs.

The headlining is clean with no sagging and has LED interior lights. There is a CD player installed with four speakers and a Bluetooth adaptor for streaming. In the boot is a full size spare of original Rostyle design and a neatly installed fire extinguisher.

The first time you set eyes on the car, the colour really stands out. As a classic Land Rover colour it suits a Range Rover very well and, combined with the two door shell, conspires to give a period feel. 

The finish, however, is far better than would have been achieved in the seventies and, despite looking hard, we couldn’t find any flaws in the paintwork. 

That detailed inspection did reveal a couple of small issues: some small indentations on the roof (not visible from ground level) and a tiny crack in the rear nearside indicator lens, neither of which detract from a very well presented vehicle. 

The attention to detail in finishing the exterior has paid dividends here, with very smart alloys, original mud flaps, new lights and driving lights (switched, and wired to come on with main beam), new bumper ends and a matching set of tyres with plenty of tread. Underneath has been painstakingly waxoyled and looks in great condition. 

The overall effect is subtle but very cunning: to casual onlookers it looks like a well-preserved early car but the cognoscenti will be able to spot the cues that mark it out as a later car, despite the number of doors.

If you notice something unusual before you climb into the driver’s seat, it’s probably the number of pedals in the footwell. For yes, manual gearbox lovers of the world rejoice, it’s a manual V8 Range Rover! 

The engine fires up first time with an encouraging exhaust note and, although it’s not known whether it has been breathed on at any point in its life, 2010 Engineering report that it goes ‘better than average’.

Certainly on our test route it pulled very well and, on stiffer springs and fresh dampers, could be hustled down A and B roads with surprising pace. The brakes are strong and there are no untoward noises, just a lovely exhaust note which makes itself heard under load and fades into the background when cruising.

In fact, the whole car has a real feeling of integrity which is also demonstrated by a brief (intentional!) off road excursion when there are no rattles or squeaks. If the quality of the build can be equated to the size of the smile on the driver’s face then it surely will not disappoint.

Two door Range Rovers are very much in vogue right now but if you want to be in a factory spec Vogue two door then you’re going to need a special edition CSK and they’re comfortably into six figures for an example in this condition. 

But here we have all the fun, just without the badge and, yes, the black paint job but the Marine Blue gives it a unique twist.

As a sort of restomod take on the current high-riding performance car trend, this very special Range Rover has a great combination of style, performance and usability. 

There is the option to develop it further but the hard work is all done so you can simply take it away and start enjoying it. 

Either way, if you want a classic Range Rover that you can really have fun driving then get bidding now.