Any Range Rover Classic Experts Here?

vbrad26 · Oct 17, 2022

The wife and I are on the hunt for an RRC.
This all started back in 2019 when her lease was maturing and we were in the market for a new car.
At the time, we had a 1 year old, and were planning on another.
She'd always loved the old boxy RRC's - in fact when we first starting dating, she drove a Discovery II.
We started looking at the Classics, but quickly realized that it would not be the best idea to have a roughly 30 year old car as the mom-mobile...for various reasons.
Anyway here we are a few years later. And she's brought it back up.
I think we are a little more serious this time around, so I have already started looking into these things a bit harder.
But I figured I'd put a feeler out there (here) and see if anyone here has any insight, opinions or advice.
I personally want a 95. Has the Classic exterior with a more modern interior, but I'm open to older ones.
Also has to be a short wheel base. I'm also expecting to buy a bit of a project, as she wants to make it her own.
So again, if there is anything I should be looking out for in particular, I'd love to hear it!

Foo2rama · Oct 17, 2022

Has 100k miles and is not leaking.

also if the suspension has been swapped to an old man emu then I would except it. Stock suspension is run.

vbrad26 · Oct 17, 2022

Seems like a majority of these trucks have ditched the EAS for a spring/shock combo.I don't care much either way. Everyone seems to prefer the ride of the EAS but the ease of getting rid of it (or maintaining it) is outweighed.
Of course the big thing that makes me nervous is rust. So I'm trying to figure out all the "good" places to look.

Foo2rama · Oct 17, 2022

vbrad26
Seems like a majority of these trucks have ditched the EAS for a spring/shock combo.I don't care much either way. Everyone seems to prefer the ride of the EAS but the ease of getting rid of it (or maintaining it) is outweighed.
Of course the big thing that makes me nervous is rust. So I'm trying to figure out all the "good" places to look.

Look in SoCal. Rust doesn’t exist here. It can’t pay the rent.

JwRosenthal · Oct 17, 2022

Foo2rama
Look in SoCal. Rust doesn’t exist here. It can’t pay the rent.

In LA, these were the soccer-mom car of the 90’s as the Grand Wagoneer was in the 80’s. But 30 years on you will have to pay the hipster premium for anything running.

X350 XJR · Oct 17, 2022

I thought I was brave driving an 18 year old Jaguar. Although in all honesty our two non Rs, a 2004 X350 and a 2008 X358 did just shy of 200k each and it was the transmissions that finally let go on them.

Whatever you do a PPI by a competent specialist is a must.

JwRosenthal · Oct 17, 2022

I think your best bet, if you are serious, is to jump into the forums and get to know the people there. When I was hunting for my E34 M5, I soon discovered that the good ones never made it to being listed publicly- they just stayed among the collectors.
The Land Rover crowd is a level of insanity beyond anything we can imagine here (I’m sure some of them are here). Many of these guys have multiples so you may find someone trimming down the herd. Plus you will know which shops and parts sources are the ones you can trust.

vbrad26 · Oct 18, 2022

Yeah I'm on a couple of the Land Rover forums just lurking around and doing some research.
My main outlet for shopping has been Bring A Trailer, but that can be so over priced.
I also want to find something somewhat locally, and all those trucks are either up north or out west...

JwRosenthal · Oct 18, 2022

vbrad26
Yeah I'm on a couple of the Land Rover forums just lurking around and doing some research.
My main outlet for shopping has been Bring A Trailer, but that can be so over priced.
I also want to find something somewhat locally, and all those trucks are either up north or out west...

I would be hesitant to buy anything that has lived its life along the gulf coast or hurricane alley. We’ve had a good 1/2 dozen since those cars came out and lord knows how wet they may have gotten.

Foo2rama · Oct 18, 2022

vbrad26
Yeah I'm on a couple of the Land Rover forums just lurking around and doing some research.
My main outlet for shopping has been Bring A Trailer, but that can be so over priced.
I also want to find something somewhat locally, and all those trucks are either up north or out west...

Try cars and bids. Doug’s platform seems to not have a premium.

collector1946 · Oct 18, 2022

I re-commisioned my 1984 4 door Vouge 3.5i Manual... found out from Landrover it was one of 20 RHD prototypes they should have all been crushed.. it was about 20 years ago, I bought it off a farmer for £400 Reg no A890 HEC, had a few series 3, Discovery's, 90's 110s....... all i will say to you is they take a lot of up keep and are very much a hobby vehicle, you will always have jobs to do on it using it as an everyday car will be a challenge, rewarding too, parts are cheap, plenty of hobbie experts about... I know an awful lot about them.... good luck, I think the production Injection 4 door Vogue was available from 1986 onwards

vbrad26 · Oct 18, 2022

JwRosenthal
I would be hesitant to buy anything that has lived its life along the gulf coast or hurricane alley. We’ve had a good 1/2 dozen since those cars came out and lord knows how wet they may have gotten.

True. But at least I'd be able to SEE the rust in person lol. Being on the Florida Gulf coast, I know how that could potentially be an issue.
I was just on Copart the other day checking out all the flooded cars from Ian!

Foo2rama
Try cars and bids. Doug’s platform seems to not have a premium.

That's my next stop after BAT lol. Check those two every day.

collector1946
I re-commisioned my 1984 4 door Vouge 3.5i Manual... found out from Landrover it was one of 20 RHD prototypes they should have all been crushed.. it was about 20 years ago, I bought it off a farmer for £400 Reg no A890 HEC, had a few series 3, Discovery's, 90's 110s....... all i will say to you is they take a lot of up keep and are very much a hobby vehicle, you will always have jobs to do on it using it as an everyday car will be a challenge, rewarding too, parts are cheap, plenty of hobbie experts about... I know an awful lot about them.... good luck, I think the production Injection 4 door Vogue was available from 1986 onwards

This would not be a daily. And luckily, we are sort of looking for a project.
Pretty cool you had that prototype! I always love stories like that.

Since we're here...this is the one I am keeping my eye on this week...

1990_land-rover_range-rover-classic_img_0995-9-97330.jpg

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990-land-rover-range-rover-classic-9/

Foo2rama · Oct 18, 2022

Thats an aggressive tire fitment!

that has to rub up front.

vbrad26 · Oct 18, 2022

Foo2rama
Thats an aggressive tire fitment!

that has to rub up front.

I'd probably ditch the lift and find some of these...

Or maybe just those wheels with a slightly smaller tire.
We're looking for mostly OEM anyway. One way or the other.
So I'd really prefer a truck that hasn't been modded.

JwRosenthal · Oct 18, 2022

vbrad26
I'd probably ditch the lift and find some of these...

Or maybe just those wheels with a slightly smaller tire.
We're looking for mostly OEM anyway. One way or the other.
So I'd really prefer a truck that hasn't been modded.

I passively hunt for Jeep XJ’s and TJ’s (used to have an XJ and have regretted selling it since the new owner drove it away), and it is getting near impossible to find those unmodified. I wouldn’t even mind a subtle lift and 31’s, but they all seem to get the rock crawler treatment.

vbrad26 · Oct 18, 2022

Yeah this thing would not see an ounce of dirt. 100% mall crawler lol. Might have to get through a couple feet of water in order to get me out of my neighborhood from time to time though.
But I don't know, there happen to be some pretty good trails about an hour north of me, could be fun to take it out...

Foo2rama · Oct 18, 2022

vbrad26
I'd probably ditch the lift and find some of these...

Or maybe just those wheels with a slightly smaller tire.
We're looking for mostly OEM anyway. One way or the other.
So I'd really prefer a truck that hasn't been modded.

Those 5 spokes are oem.

I just think they went a little large. I prefer the look of an AT tire on the classics. Streets and muds are to far in the other directions.

BFG AT’s and Bridgestone AT’s are a good compromise between ability and low road noise and on road behavior. Ie tram lining.

dsio · Oct 18, 2022

vbrad26
I'd probably ditch the lift and find some of these...

Or maybe just those wheels with a slightly smaller tire.
We're looking for mostly OEM anyway. One way or the other.
So I'd really prefer a truck that hasn't been modded.

Those wheels are the coolest part of the classic Rangie absolutely love them

JwRosenthal · Oct 18, 2022

Foo2rama
Those 5 spokes are oem.

I just think they went a little large. I prefer the look of an AT tire on the classics. Streets and muds are to far in the other directions.

BFG AT’s and Bridgestone AT’s are a good compromise between ability and low road noise and on road behavior. Ie tram lining.

Falken Wildpeak AT’s are another great tire with similar characteristics and snow rated. I plan on a set of those for my countryman when the all weathers wear out.

janice&fred · Oct 18, 2022

X350 XJR
Although in all honesty our two non Rs, a 2004 X350 and a 2008 X358

For someone who is stuck in the 70's car-wise, what are these things you speak of? 😀

Any Range Rover Classic Experts Here?

vbrad26

Foo2rama

vbrad26

Foo2rama

JwRosenthal

X350 XJR

JwRosenthal

vbrad26

JwRosenthal

Foo2rama

collector1946

vbrad26

Foo2rama

vbrad26

JwRosenthal

vbrad26

Foo2rama

dsio

JwRosenthal

janice&fred

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