Range Rover Classic (5-Door)

This rare, pre-facelift 1983 Range Rover (4-speed manual) is an outstandingly original, low mileage, low owner car that has been well cared-for and cherished its entire life. This car was ordered new by the owner of a Peugeot/Talbot dealership and kept by him for over 38 years, completing just 27,000 miles in this time. Today, the car has completed little over 28,600 miles at the hands of just two registered keepers and is ready for the next chapter of its life, whether that be as part of a Land Rover collection or used and enjoyed as intended.

Amazingly, all of the original books (including service book), pricelists, brochures and bill of sale are still with the car; the pricelists even have various options circled prior to the car being ordered. In terms of options, the car is very highly equipped from factory with: ‘Vogue Blue’ metallic paint, wood trim, armrests front & rear, rear headrests, tailgate carpets, alloy wheels, power steering, mudflaps and more. The Bronze ‘teddy bear’ interior is completely original and in near-immaculate condition, even down to the original Goodmans radio. It’s clear from its condition that this classic Range Rover has never been used as a farm tool as many were, and better yet, has never fallen into the wrong hands. The bill of sale also states that the customer supplied his own number plates, any keen-eyed Lotus Sunbeam fans will find the ‘DAC—Y’ reg number to be very familiar as the original owner of this Range Rover also owned and distributed twelve of the very last Lotus Sunbeams registered.

Due to the inherit susceptibility of single-stage light blue metallic paints to fading and peeling, the Range Rover was re-painted some years ago, but it is a good quality job and as such, isn’t immediately noticeable. The car is totally rust free with only a smattering of surface corrosion on underside and engine components. It has never been welded/repaired or tarnished with underseal or any other thick coatings. Thanks to this, all of the original metalwork and components underneath are still visible - extremely rare on a classic Range Rover. When we purchased the car, we immediately sent it to a classic Land Rover specialist for checking over, they were amazed by the originality of it and ensured us it should be left completely as-is. In-fact, their only note was for us to purchase and fit the correct Blockley tyres for it, which we now have. We would be more than happy to pass on their details to any potential buyer in order to discuss the car and all of its original details.

We believe the interior is this car’s highlight: it’s completely undamaged by sun, usage or wear; the carpets still have a rich colour throughout with no staining, as do all the plastics and seat fabrics; the headlining isn’t sagging; the original jack, tools and foot pump are still in their designated holders with little signs of use; everything works as it should, including the radio. Being a 43-year old, unrestored Land Rover there are a few marks around the car and surface corrosion on some components, notably where paint has worn away over the years; however, we believe it would do injustice to the provenance of car to change any of this. Of course, if the new owner would prefer, we can protect the underside with clear wax of their choosing.

As you would expect from the mileage, the car drives and performs perfectly with no unwanted noises or sensations. The gear change is tight and precise, as is the suspension with the car riding and handling exactly as it should. The 3.5-litre V8 starts up easily and runs very sweetly with great oil pressure, there’s no smoke while driving and it doesn’t overheat in traffic. It’s clear from the above (and from its MOT history) that the car hasn’t sat dormant for years on end, it has always been used sparingly in some respect, unlike the majority of low-mileage cars. 

Being a 1983 registered car, it is registered as a historic vehicle and is therefore MOT, tax and ULEZ/LEZ exempt. 

The car is located at our studio in Bicester, please contact Greg for more info or to arrange a viewing.