A BLAST FROM THE PAST

The other day, during a mass culling of over 60k photos I have on my computer, I came across a collection that I took of a very rare Range Rover.

Around seven years ago when I wrote for Land Rover World magazine, I was asked to visit a gentleman in Cheshire who happened to have a 1978 2-Door Range Rover that was said to be in a time-warp condition. I was told that it was in fact the cleanest and most original Classic 2-door Range Rover in the UK. A bold statement, indeed.

The trouble was, we often received emails and phone calls asking us to come and look at rare and interesting green ovals, sometimes they were simply run of the mill vehicles, and other times they were a pile of rust languishing in a dark and dingy corner of a garage.

The article was subsequently written and promptly sent off for publication, but sadly a little too late, as LRW was doomed to be sold off to Land Rover Monthly, well, it’s subscribers list was, and my poetic prose was doomed never to see light of day, until now.

Well, I had my orders, and the following weekend I packed my camera, butties and set forth to Northwich hoping that it would be indeed worthy.

Upon arrival, Richard, owner of Auric Classic Cars, invited me to peruse his garage that was busting to the seams with classic cars. There were two Sierra Cosworths, a 2 door with only 3k on the clock, a 1969 Series 1 Jag and later V12 Series 3. He also had various Mini Coopers, the original ones, of course, an MGBC and a couple of VW camper vans, Richard was teasing me...

It was in the next garage where Richard kept his Range Rovers. Yes, plural. Back then he had five Range Rovers, including a CSK that is was in the middle of a refurb.

Although I was itching to go for a spin in the star attraction, amusingly Richard had misplaced the key for it, and whilst he franticly searched his office and home for it, he gave me the keys to his other Range Rover Classics.

Now the last time I drove an air sprung Range Rover it was P38 and I found the ride a bit unpleasant as it pitched and rolled everywhere, not to my liking at all. However, Richard’s late Classic, air sprung Range Rover had only done 40,000 miles, and driving it along the A49 was a dream.

Now, I’d driven ‘Classic’ Rangies in the past, in varying stages of decay, but none that looked and felt ‘as new’ as these did. All automatics, all 3.9 litre V8s and all like new. It was a very good day to be a green oval fan, I can tell you!

Arriving back with a huge grin on my face, Richard had found the keys to the 2-Door, and low and behold it was spectacular and exactly as described. From its original rust proofing still in the engine bay, to wrapped tools in the back.

Without further ado I jumped in, arranged my driving position and off I drove.

It took me right back to when I first drove my own 2-Door, a ’74 that had been really well looked after. There was the familiar, yet distant whine from the transfer box and the instantly recognisable rumble you only get from a carb fed 3.5 litre V8. My day couldn’t get any better.

Personally, I simply love driving Range Rovers. The driving position, the large windows and views that they afford? the driver and all who aboard them, is classless, in my humble opinion.

This ‘78 2-door brought a certain honesty back to driving, I loved how basic it was with no gadgets, or safety features.

The brakes, steering and gearbox were a joy to use, all just about run-in! It was a lovely day, too, so the windows were wide open and I just cruised towards towards Peckforton. In fact, I didn’t want to stop, but I was gone a while and suspected that Richard would be getting a tad anxious!

Once back I reluctantly retuned the key to Richard and we made our way to his office where we sat down, and over a brew and some biscuits told me a bit more of the vehicles history.

The original owner used to have both a works van and Series 2 Land Rover, but his wife said the van was too dirty and the Series 2 too bumpy, so he went out and bought the Range Rover, from new. Garaged for its entire 33 year life, up until that point, it was only ever used in the summer months, and judging by its original 28,000 miles, not very often.

Eventually, the owner got fed up of people leaving notes under windscreen, and even pulling him over with offers to buy it, he eventually decided to sell it to Richard.

As I mentioned earlier, all this took place around 7 years ago, and just out of curiosity I checked his website, and low and behold, Richard still has it. I knew at the time that secretly didn’t want to sell it, I mean, who would, seriously?

Here’s a dilemma for you all.

I’ve always believed that cars should be driven and enjoyed, letting them sit in a heated and dehumidified garage is a waste, in my opinion. However, when does a car become... what word shall I use, unusable? When does it pass a certain threshold in its life and become far too valuable to use and enjoy on a regular basis? Tricky question, I guess.

With enough money you can buy a rotten old Range Rover, and throw all your hard earned at it so it looks and drives like new. Then you can take it to Iceland, Morocco or wherever you chose; the question is, would you do it with something as original as this? I’m not sure I would.

There was no doubting Richard’s passion and enthusiasm for collecting such beauties, and I remember him telling me that he had had plenty of offers for the Rangie, but had turned them down, he’s most reluctant car dealer ever, but I don’t blame him!

So if you fancy an original, low mileage Range Rover, this is still available, but it won’t be an easy task buying it from Richard, and I suspect that in another 7 years or so I’ll be writing this article all over again!

more at » auricclassiccars.co.uk