Description
CLASSIC SHORT WHEELBASE 2-DOOR 1980 RANGE ROVER 3. 5 V8 FINISHED IN 'MASAI RED' ~ SUFFIX G ~ FOR RESTORATIONIncreasingly rare, original and very enjoyable late 'Suffix G' model with desirable power steering and overdrive. Starts, Runs & Drives. No Service History but a Haines Owners Manual, V5(c), recent receipts and full tool set - starter handles, jack etc. This car is a UK registered right-hand drive 3. 5 Litre V8 model showing a low mileage of just 46, 594 miles, which checks with it's last MOT in 2010 (please note the early odometers in these cars cannot physically record past 100k). Presented in an attractive original and period colour of 'Masai Red'. SEE VIDEO AT : - details above : The Rover V8 3. 5 Litre engine starts and runs well and revs freely, pulling through all gears, including reverse. It has an unusual 'twin battery' set up. The engine has been well maintained but not run regularly for many years. The vehicle revs well and starts on full choke. Recent oil change shows good condition and no signs of emulsification on oil filler cap, dipstick or anywhere else. No oil or fluid leaks showing under the car. Brake fluid levels fine and brakes, clutch and gears all work okay. Overdrive and Diff-Lock go in and out okay. Has had new starter motor, ignition and starter relay fitted under my ownership and has clearly had recent new distributor and HT leads just prior to my ownership. Please note that when I purchased the car in 2024 the rear brakes were locked solid and so the rear propeller drive shaft was unbolted to allow the brakes to unbind. It has been running with the diff-lock on and in 2WD (hence the sharpish clutch and gear changes in the video). Now the rear and front brakes both all work fine, but I have not re-installed the rear propellor shaft (between transfer box and rear diff - an easy job I know, but I just cannot be bothered. INTERIOR : No engine, oil or any dash warning lights come on when running and the car. It and has a new ignition key (old set of keys come with car on separate keyring). The interior is all there and comprises cloth seats, with the rear bench seat okay but fronts needing repair and these have the tilt, slide and fold-back functions working properly. There is an original vinyl tan base floor covering with remains of brown carpet. Plastic trims are largely present but brittle in places and some have broken or split completely. The early Range Rover 'Airfix' dashboard is original and intact and has all the gauges present : heater controls all work, emergency flasher, indicator, windscreen and lights stalks all present and work in part (rear lights all come on, one front headlamp plus side lights and some indicators), horn works and cigarette lighter socket present (no lighter), original ashtray present and all knobs, rubbers and levers for Overdrive, Diff Lock, Gearknob, Brake and High / Low present. Vents all intact and dash has no cracks or damage. Low Fuel, High Beam, Oil, Engine and Indicator lights on main dash all appear to work. The cloth roof lining has been removed and the car would benefit greatly from a new carpet set, replacement headlining, some trim and front seats recovering. All this is available from Exmoor Trim, Myrtle and Famous Four amongst others. Seatbelts present and function. Original Steering wheel present and in good condition for year. Pedal rubbers in very good condition consistent with mileage. EXTERIOR : Outer aluminium body is in generally good condition but when I purchased the car it was strongly faded in many places so the original paint was sanded, primed and long-bristle brush-finished with top-quality 'Paintman' Coach Enamel to original LR378 'Masai Red' specification. The front quarterlightts and rubbers are perished an require replacement and soes the windscreen (cracked) and some other new body rubbers would help too. There was evidence of a tree branch or similar hitting the top rear nearside roof and whilst this has been pushed out as far as possible, please note that a virtually new short wheelbase roof comes with the car to replace this part as and when required. Bumpers front and rear are dent-free and doors close and open and tailgate is not suffering from significant rust (though it has some issues staying locked, which is a common RR fault). The front windscreen motor is jammed/ seized. The rear wash and wiper (with intermittent wipe function as well) works fine. The lights, lenses, side indicators and rear leanses are all in good condition and the front headlamps have been replaced with new lamps and have new chrome outer rings - though the headlamps probably now need adjusting. There is only one plastic side sill strip present. A very good tow bar with twin electric take-off is fitted (not tested). No range Rover or Land Rover decals anywhere on the car. Currently fitted with a set of 5 'Vogue' alloy wheels but comes with 4 of the original 'Rostyle' steel wheels. When I purchased the Range Rover in 2024 I was told the car had previously been owned for 18 years by a mechanical engineer from Kent. He left it on a farm shortly after its last MOT in 2010 due to a personal health issue. When he died in 2024 his son sold it to me (I have the receipt of payment to Mr Allen). Since I have owned the car it has been thoroughly cleaned, hoovered and jet-washed several times and then been garaged and taken out on sunny dry days only. IN SUMMARY :THE 'GOOD' BITS : - Original Condition early 2-door classic Range Rover- Original 5 figure numberplate 'XSF 2W' registration comes with the vehicle and matches V5(C)- Chassis matches V5(C)- Engine starts, runs and revs sweetly (though currently needs full choke)- Engine appears to be the original one (cannot access rear bell housing)- No exterior damage (except small roof dent at rear)- Jack, tools, starter handles (and extensions), spare tyre, owners manual, spare S/ W roof present- 4 x 'Rostyle' original steel wheels (no tyres fitted)- Brand new Kuhmo 'Road Venture' AT52 205/ 80 R16 (110) 8 Ply tyres fitted to 'Vogue' three-spoke Range Rover alloys (plus spare with tyre)- Spare Vogue Alloy with tyre present- Early 'Airfix' dashboard in great condition and all gauges, dials and controls present- New headlamps, chrome rings and front indicators with both rear light lenses replaced- Overdrive and Power Steering as standard- Rear wash-wiper works as do rear lights and 'flip-down' numberplate lights; front headlamps and indicators/ side lights part work- Heater controls work, High-Low beam, Indicator stalks work and twin-air horns (very loud)- Historic status as now 46 years old (so Tax and MOT free)- Unusual but accurate mid-mounted rev counter (as well as the standard period dash mounted rev counter) present - not working but appears wiring needs attention. No squirrel damage to wiring loom or other areas- Showing just 46k miles on the clock (definitely only 30 miles in the last 16 years since 2010)THE 'BAD' BITS :- One metal sill need completely replacing, while the other side is good- Surface rusting over the underside from 15 to 16 years stood in Kent field (though only small rot areas on small part underside of rearmost chassis leg, some small holes in rearmost part of front inner wheelarches and two areas in rear wheelarches (see photos) plus lowermost part of door 'A pillars' is rusting allowing doors to drop slightly before closing- Electrics need fiddling with as not everything works - in particular the front wiper motor has seized / jammed and may need a complete replacement. I have not spent any time getting every single light and the indicators working (need bulbs ?) or the interior lights (bulbs ?)- Paintwork is a coach enamel painted finish and not a respray. The base metal (aluminium) is good condition; rear tailgate has been filled and painted at lower side but is solid- Interior needs new carpets, some trim, interior headlining and seats re-covering- Quarter light rubbers shot, side window rubbers could benefit from replacement and front windscreen and its rubber surround needs replacing- Exhaust is blowing on one joint (needs a tigher connection and exchaust wadding) - but stainless steel silenvcer(s) are in good conditionViewings are welcome and you can take a test drive on private roads and tracks around my property. Currently around 3 gallons of fuel in the tank. Please send me any questions you have and I will try to answer them as fully as I can and as soon as possible for you. However, please note that I run an active property firm and am not always at my computer and available immediately. These are wonderful motor cars to drive, admire and own. I have owned two now - a very early Tuscan Blue 2-door Suffix A and a later Camel Yellow Suffix F, with the later car is (in my opinion) being the better choice having Power Steering and the Overdrive - that in itself makes for significantly better MPG I have found. The old 2-door Range Rovers are superb and make for an enjoyable motoring experience with very clear vision on today's roads and these really are Proper 4x4's with a Proper high up driving position and a Proper 3. 5 litre V8 growling away beneath you. Yes, you could 'make money' restoring this car, but you could just as easily enjoy a fairly straightforward project - much as I did some years ago with a Camel Trophy Yellow Suffix F - and that was not in as good condition as this vehicle when I bought it prior to restoration.
