Highlights

Super-high-spec P38 Royal Edition
1 of just 500 built to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee in 2002
Finished in stunning Epson green metallic paint
18" Alloy wheels
Remarkably sound underneath & never been welded, nor does it need any
Freshly MOT tested and recommissioned as part of a private collection being reduced
Low mileage example 104,962 miles (168,920km)

The Appeal

Replacing an icon is never an easy task, but that was what Rover Group was faced with in the early 1990s when the original Range Rover was well and truly past its sell-by date.

In its 24-year life, the classic Range Rover had gone from being a more comfortable alternative to a Land Rover to being a yuppie icon. A status symbol of the upwardly mobile 1980s that was as happy plugging through the mud as it was cruising around Kensington. The replacement had to get that balance just right, as well as move the Range Rover further upmarket, with the recently launched Discovery now catering for the more leisure-oriented market.

But with a limited budget, Land Rover had its work cut out. The P38a (an internal code named after the drawing office where it was conceived) was built out of necessity on the existing Range Rover chassis, but with the addition of electronic air suspension to make it more dynamically competent. It was also pitched much higher upmarket, with all but the base trim sporting leather trim.

This one is a particularly rare and desirable example, sought-after by Range Rover collectors. It’s a 2002 Royal Edition, one of 500 made for worldwide distribution, over half of which went to Japan thanks to its Anglophile car culture. The model was only made between July and September 2002, making it one of the last P38s off the line.

It was amongst the 300 or so supplied new in Japan in August 2002. It was imported to the UK in 2019 and was sold into a private collection in February 2022. Its early history and service books etc are included and are in Japanese. Benefitting from a thorough re-commissioning and MOT and had new tyres in 2022 and has covered very few miles since.

The P38 has a full UK V5C, and all of the import paperwork was completed at the Port of Entry, so it’s fully UK road legal and good to go.

Finished in Epsom Green, a colour unique to the model, the P38 looks absolutely stunning and on closer inspection, it lives up to scrutiny. The paint is excellent all over, and aside from a few small kerb marks on the alloys, a tiny scuff on one mirror and a little laquer damage on the roof bahind the front ctreen it is in fantastic order, with a deep shine. Features unique to the Royal Edition include front and rear light guards, side window wind deflectors and a gold ‘Royal Edition’ decal on the tailgate, along with front fog lamps and mud flaps as standard equipment.

Underneath, it is in good order with no corrosion visible to the sills, boot floor or rear door shuts, which are the common areas for rust on P38s.

The cabin of any Range Rover is a grand place in which to sit, but this one is particularly special. It features lightstone leather with piping to match the exterior bodywork, along with tailored floor mats and walnut dash inserts, plus a wooden handbrake lever. It also comes with an integrated Japanese sat nav that greets you with a cheery ‘hello’ when you switch it on.

It’s a lovely place in which to spend time and is in fine condition, the only minor blemishes being a loose piece of trim on the driver’s seat armrest, which should be easy enough to fix back on, and some dull digits on the LCD odometer display.

All of the dials, switches and controls work as they should.

The area needing attention is the headlining, which ideally would benefit from replacement. Mechanically, the Royal Edition appears to be in fine fettle. It has covered 168,871km, which equates to about 104,962 miles. The big V8 fires up instantly and idles happily, responding well to the throttle.

The car reportedly starts, stops, drives and steers as it should with no knocks or bangs, and it holds a steady temperature. More importantly, the air suspension works on all of its settings, and there are no apparent gremlins with the BCU system, which is a P38 Achilles’ Heel. It is also supplied with a spare key, which the previous owner had coded to the car. The sound system has been disconnected as the vendor believes it needs a new amplifier.

Values of Range Rover Classics have grown rapidly in recent times, and it’s surely only a matter of time before the P38 will follow suit – indeed, the rarest examples are already becoming increasingly collectable.

And they don’t come more interesting than this. It’s one of the last P38S made, and its regal specification couldn’t really be more opulent. The colour, the specification and the overall condition speak volumes. It’s a car that’s fit for a queen (or king) – and well worth a bid!

Key Information

Mileage: 168,871 km (approximately 104,962 miles) indicated
Country of registration: United Kingdom (originally supplied in Japan, imported to the UK in 2019)
The vendor is happy to supply the winning bidder with a set of UK clocks if required
Technical inspection status: MOT until 30th March 2027
Technical specs: 4.6-litre V8 petrol, four-speed ZF automatic
Paperwork: UK V5C, import paperwork, early service history and books (in Japanese)

The Detail

Four new ABS sensors fitted as part of the recent recommissioning
New battery fitted
All wiper blades replaced, including headlamp wipers
Oil and filters changed
Two rear brake pipes replaced following MOT advisory
New tyres fitted in 2022, with very few miles covered since
All 4 ABS sensors replaced 2026
New battery fitted 2026
All new wiper blades including headlamp ones, oil and filters changed and the 2 rear brake pipes advised on its most recent MOT have also just been replaced
Spare key coded to the car included
18" Alloy wheels fitted as standard on the Royal edition
A few small kerb marks on the alloys and a tiny scuff on one mirror noted
The vendor reports no corrosion to sills, boot floor or rear door shuts
Headlining would benefit from replacement
Loose trim piece on the driver's seat armrest
Some dull digits on the LCD odometer display
Harman Kardon sound system included but disconnected; the vendor believes it requires a new amplifier
Integrated Japanese sat nav present
The vendor reports the air suspension works on all settings with no BCU issues
The vendor states the engine starts instantly, idles smoothly and holds a steady temperature
The odometer reads in KM but the vendor is happy to supply of UK clocks with the car if the winning bidder would like

BEFORE YOU BUY

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