Description
1986 RANGE ROVER LHD low mileage and significant early history.
- Recorded at the Solihull factory with the nickname "Aquila".
- LHD Vogue EFI Home Market used during 3 years as a development vehicle.
- Very low mileage, stored 25 years, just completely overhauled and serviced.
- 3 private owners from new.
- A nice original Classic ready for everyday use or Continental trips.
Thanks to its low mileage and to the fact that it has been sheltered for a total of 25 years protected among other from solar UV rays, this Range had practically only wear parts replaced to regain a very good running condition.
Here is the list of work that was carried out while preserving as much as possible all the original elements:
- Brake system refurbished (master cylinder, all calipers, flexibles, pads).
- Cooling system (thermostat, senders, expansion cap tank, water hoses).
- Fuel system (fuel pump, filter and deep cleaning of injectors).
- Ignition (distributor cap and wires, spark plugs, coil, battery).
- Suspensions (4 new shocks - Boge in front -, reinforced rear springs.
- Steering damper "Terra Firma" (High perf).
- 4 new tyres, alloy rims "silver" replaced by two-tones in like new aspect.
- All fluids and all filters have been replaced (Auto gearbox, coolant
engine, brake fluid, engine oil, axles and transfer case, as well as the front bowls and including the oil in airco compressor).
- Airco dryer and bringing up to current refrigerant gas.
- Inside only the headliner needed to be redone. It is now brand new!
The result is a blank record on the French technical document (20/ 01/ 2026).
Of coursewe are talking about a 40-years-old that has never been restored. The paintwork (70% original) is still very glossy and looks good. However, due to age, it has some minor imperfections which are common on Classic Range aluminium bodies.
The interior is particularly well preserved. All components look fresh, as the upholstery, the dashboard or the wood trim, the fabrics or the carpets. It smells clean! Set of tools is present as the owner's manual (1987).
The undercarriages show oxidation common to many classic Range Rovers, but there is no serious corrosion and all elements are solid and rather clean without the need for welding.
All silent-blocks of chassis, engine, gearbox and body are originals
and in real good condition, showing no cracks or deformations. It can also be noted that this Range, thanks to its low mileage, shows little overall wear: transmissions and steering are free of play and cluncking. Idem for the accessories as wipers mechanism or electric windows that slide quickly and effortlessly. It is also remarkable that until now there is no traces of leaks under!
All interior and exterior bodywork rubber seals are originals in very clean condition (only the external seal at the base of the passenger window has some cracks).
I should point out that everything on board works as it should, with the exception of the central locking system and also the revcounter not accurate.
Radio is a Blaupunkt Heidelberg model from the period and works good as the four speakers.
This Classic is ready to go all distances, quite everything having been done for that.
ABOUT THE MILEAGE:
In a written, official and signed document (see photo), Land Rover specifies that they changed the odometer in 1989 at 015941 miles. When they sold it just after, the new odometer displayed 000498 miles so in total 016439 miles.
When I bought it end of 2016, before to store it again for the next 8 years, the odometer then displayed 020009 (see photo). The vehicule had therefore actually travelled 036449 miles.
After it was put back into service in mid-2025, the odometer stopped working after 101 miles - 020110 miles (see photo). Fortunatly I was able to buy from a specialist a correct speedo but graduated in kilometers and which displayed zero kilometer!
Since then and as of today, I have driven 000828 km (see photo).
Therefore, to date, the Range has covered just over 037000 miles. The original odometer graduated in miles will of course be included and I suppose can be fixed. All photos and docs are avalaible to prove these claims. Recorded as "Aquila" (eagle in italian) in factory records, D956DAC was used immediatly upon leaving the factory (31-10-1985) and until its resale (16-03-1989) by "The Land Rover Engineering Development Department". Bristish Motor Heritage certificate and an official Land Rover document (see photos) confirm the fact. Likely intended for experimental road tests in Continental Europe (LHD) several clues confirm that various tests were conducted, as evidenced by the discovery of a sticker printed "sample prototype"
around wire loom under the center console as well as various paint stripes on the front and rear axles.
Certainly, other things remain to be discovered. Perhaps some more information could also be obtained from the factory archives.
This is therefore one of the very very first 1986 model year examplars in the Vogue version and LHD with sought after options as airconditioning and ZF automatic transmission.
In the classic Range Rover lineup, the 1986 models are remarkable and in my opinion highly collectibles since they combine, and only in that year, the past and the future.
Last year for the vertical bar-style metallic grille, exposed doors and hood hinges, full opening hood, external and visible gas cap, tailgate door with outside opening lever...
However, this is the first year for fuel injection (+40 cv) and ZF 4 speed modern automatic gearbox. Wrap around bumpers and front spoiler including quartz halogen lamps.
Inside, this is also the last year for the very styled four spokes leather covered steering wheel, the separate front and rear headrests and the rear bench that fold down via a central lever in the back. First year for the radio location in center of the dash...
THE CHAIN OF OWNERSHIP.
The good news, and it is not so common, is that all different owners are known:
Land Rover, first owner, has sold D956DAC in the spring of 1989 through Hexagon, the famous LR London dealership (still written on the original registration plates still present). Sold to second owner, a private individual from London (name on the LR document -photo-) who kept it until march 1992. It was then acquired by the third owner, another londonian gentleman, rather elderly, who wisheed to travel around his secondary residence in France (Dordogne). Then a document from DVLA dated october 2014 (photo) precises that the vehicule have been SORN (off the road) since 1999. The reason is unknown (owner too old to drive such a large vehicule or maybe economical reason)... Anyway the Range have been parked in a barn on the Dordogne's property.
I bought this Range in November 2016 from the son of the last user
(V5C under his name done in 2014 for inheritance reasons). It was still garaged in the barn seated on 4 flat tyres with half a centimeter of opaque dust covering the whole body... I knew that getting it roadworthy again would be long and after cleaning it, I put it away again in storage for still 8 years until I finally found the time to undertake by myself the resurection! I am equipped for that and have the knowledge and know how.
This 1986 Range Rover classic is ready to go all distances, quite everything having been done for that. I am selling it because several other projects which are waiting in their turn to go back on the lights... This Classic offers a real enjoyment to be driven and for sure it will satisfy the true collector enthousiast as well as the nostalgic of the 70'-80's and even the travellers for contiental trips or off roads week-end (obviously the transfer box works nicely).
Almost a time capsule behind the wheel of which I have just driven
more 1000 km without any worries to report.
I must point out that the parcel shelf is missing. The Range was also equipped with a bull bar and rear grilles on the tail lights that I had removed but still have.
About documents, I have the copy of the V5C and the original V5C/ 2. However for a EU buyer, it can be sold with a french registration document (carte grise) in my name, immediatly available.
More photos and explanations given after serious requests.
I am located at 50 mn from Bergerac airport (Roumanière), and
40 mn from Agen train station and can arrange pick up.
