HIGHLIGHTS
- 1987 Range Rover Classic 3.5 V8
- Just two owners from new
- Rare Kestrel - LHML version
- Air conditioning
- Overhauled
- A rare Range Rover Classic V8 with manual gearbox in special trim, with a well-preserved interior and solid, well-maintained mechanics
THE APPEAL
The idea of a more comfortable off-road vehicle with good road performance to complement the frugal Land Rover was born in the early fifties, but only in the mid-sixties, faced with the success of the Ford Bronco, the International Scout and the Jeep Wagoneer in the United States, Rover decided to develop the new Range Rover, intended to combine the comfort and on-road performance of a Rover sedan with the off-road capabilities of a Land Rover.
Featuring wide-travel suspension for both on-road comfort and wheel articulation, permanent all-wheel drive and a lightweight all-alloy 3.5-liter V8 licensed from General Motors, the Range Rover adopted the construction technique of the Land Rover, with a boxed steel frame and aluminium outer panels.
After a couple of years of extensive testing in Europe and North Africa, the first three-door Range Rover was revealed to the press in 1970, gaining immediate acclaim and between 1971 and 1972 it was the star of the famous British Trans-Americas raid, during which two Range Rovers were driven from Anchorage in Alaska to Tierra del Fuego in Argentina, tackling forests and swamps until then thought impenetrable.
With these credentials, the Range Rover immediately became very fashionable, increasingly desired even by those who had no intention of using it for extreme off-roading and was therefore progressively refined, with increasingly luxurious and well-equipped interiors.
In 1981, together with the new five-door bodywork, the first limited edition Vogue with particularly refined interiors was launched, and in the following years leather and wood fittings, electric seats and sunroof were introduced.
In 1994 the original model, renamed Classic, was joined by the new Range Rover P38 only to be definitively replaced two years later, after twenty-six years of production.
This 1987 Range Rover Classic, equipped with the powerful and desirable 3.5 liter V8 engine, is a rare Kestrel – HLML version, with more refined specifications.
Sold new in Italy, it has only had two owners and is in very good condition, with an intact and attractive professionally polished bodywork, an excellently preserved and equipped interior and fine-tuned mechanics.
With prices on the rise and good examples increasingly difficult to find, Range Rover Classics are among the most sought-after and desired modern vintage cars, due to their versatility that makes them easily usable on a daily basis and for their timeless charm.
This very well presented example, equipped with the rare and desirable top-of-the-line engine, represents a precious opportunity to fulfill the dream of getting behind the wheel of one of the undisputed protagonists of off-road history.
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
- Sold new in Italy
- Only two owners since new
- Valid MOT
Sold in Italy in 1987, this Range-Rover has had just two owners, has been lightly used and has always been maintained with the utmost care.
Equipped with its original updated registration document, it has been recently MOTd and has received a thorough service.
THE INTERIOR
- Interior in very good condition
- Velour seats in good condition
- Air conditioning
- Electric windows
- Stereo system
- Electrically adjustable rear-view mirrors
- In-depth detailing
The passenger compartment of this Range Rover is well equipped and quite similar to the Vogue version, with comfortable velour seats in good condition, wood trim on the door panels, electric windows and rear-view mirrors and efficient air conditioning.
The dashboard is in very good condition, complete and clean, without any signs of wear. The instrument cluster is well preserved and the complex central console shows intact, fully functional controls.
Maintained with the utmost care over the years and having received an in-depth professional detailing before sale, the interior of this Range Rover does not show its age and appears tidy, welcoming and comfortable.
The only notable flaws are some cracks on the armrest between the two front seats and signs of wear on the headliner, which is otherwise intact and undetached.
THE EXTERIOR
- In very good overall condition
- No visible damage
- Professionally polished before sale
- Headlights in excellent condition
- Repainted alloy wheels
- Original roof rails
- Fog lights
- Clean underbody
With its unmistakable, iconic and still extremely current design, the Range Rover does not go unnoticed and despite the widespread diffusion of large SUVs born in its wake, it stands out from all other cars for its refined and discreet charm.
The attractive and shiny bodywork in the original metallic silver paint has been professionally polished before sale and reveals intact panels with no visible defects.
This Range Rover is enriched with very fascinating details, such as the beautiful original recently repainted three-spoke wheels, the wraparound bumper with integrated fog lights introduced since 1986 and the roof rails that are part of the refined Kestrel trim.
The underbody is in very good condition, clean and without any trace of oxidation or leaks.
The frame has received an anti-corrosion treatment to preserve it over time.
THE MECHANICS
- 3,528 cc V8 engine with 135 hp
- Electronic fuel injection
- Five-speed gearbox
- Full-time all-wheel drive
- Disk brakes
- Overhauled mechanics
- Always maintained with the utmost care
This Range Rover features the glorious 3.5-litre Rover aluminium V8, a mainstay of the British automotive industry for decades, which has powered sports cars, luxury sedans and custom-built low-production exotics from various manufacturers. Derived from the Buick 215 V8 of the early sixties, it is proverbially reliable and extremely light, compact and robust and guarantees high power and torque.
Having been driven for just 112,000 kilometers in over thirty years, this engine still has a lot to offer and represents an important added value for this car.
All the mechanics are in good condition, having always been scrupulously maintained and having recently received a thorough service which involved the replacement of the engine and gearbox oil and filters, the overhaul of the injectors and the overhaul of the entire fuel system.
The tank, float, float seals and fuel pump are new.
The air mass flow meter has been overhauled and comes with a one-year warranty.
All spark plugs are new and a new battery has just been fitted.
The seller guarantees that the car is in excellent condition and ready to drive.
SUMMARY
Today the Range Rover is a refined luxury car, but when it was launched it was decidedly more spartan and rustic, although decidedly superior in nature and characteristics to the previous Land Rovers
Always charming, the Range Rover Classic can be a perfect multi-purpose classic: practical, spacious and easy to maintain, it enjoys a huge availability of spare parts and accessories that allow it to be customized and adapted to every need.
Always charming, the Range Rover Classic can be a perfect multi-purpose classic: practical, spacious and easy to maintain, it enjoys a huge availability of spare parts and accessories that allow it to be customized and adapted to every need.
The values of the Range Rover Classics have increased significantly in recent years and their fundamental role in the history of the automobile as the first true luxury off-road vehicles suitable for road driving and daily use makes them extremely current and fashionable.
This Range Rover Classic, with an attractive, very well presented bodywork, an interior in very good condition and carefully fine-tuned mechanics, represents a very interesting opportunity for the brand expert looking for a special vehicle and for the enthusiast who wants to fulfill the dream of getting behind the wheel of one of the most remarkable and admired off-road vehicles ever.
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Feel free to write a message to one of our consigners directly by clicking here!
Feel free to write a message to one of our consigners directly by clicking here!
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes. On request, Car & Classic may refer you to a third-party shipping company. For more details, email [email protected]. Prices start at €150+VAT within the same country or €400+VAT for moves across borders.
