I’ve wanted an old Land Rover for a very long time. Before I ever owned my Montero, my dream shopping list included things like the FJ60 Land Cruiser, Discovery Is and IIs, a Defender 110, and the OG, the Range Rover Classic. I’ve managed to acquire one, and, much like myself, this website, and every single other vehicle I’ve ever owned, it’s far from perfect.
But damn do I already love it.
How I Found My Range Rover
My daughter asked if we could join a local daddy-daughter camping organization called Adventure Guides. Our local group is called the Big Thunder Spirit and features many like-minded families who enjoy spending time outdoors and doing fun stuff. On the first trip we attended, I met another dad also on his first outing with the group. As is often the case, especially once people find out what I do, the conversation turns to cars.
This fellow mentioned that he has three Land Rovers and needed to get rid of two of them. One, a nicely built LR4, was cool enough but not for me. The other, however, was a 1992 Range Rover. The seller said it was mechanically in great shape, but the interior needs to be reassembled.
That’s because the seller attempted to repaint the vehicle himself. He did a damn decent job laying down the Epsom Green color over the truck’s original White paintwork. But when it came time to lay down the clearcoat, he says the weather conditions shifted on him, causing an issue with the clearcoat activator, and the result is… well, there’s no way to put this without being quite crass:
It looks like someone jizzed all over the truck.
And it’s everywhere, too. The drop rails, fender bottoms, doors, everywhere. And it’s a shame because the green paint really does look pretty damn good. Especially since the interior is a nice light tan color.
Regardless, the seller told me a number he wanted for the truck, which was exactly at the high point of what I could spend once I sell my Montero. I told him I was extremely interested, but he couldn’t do anything to improve the truck in order to raise the price. It was at my ceiling, but I wanted it.
I listed my Montero on CarsandBids. Previously, I had good luck there with my Jaguar XJ6, so I figured I’d roll the dice again with the Montero. Still, I’m not insane. I know Montero values only go so high, and my truck has over 300,000 on the clock. As long as I got $7,500, I’d be happy.
I wound up getting $8,500. That’s close enough to close the deal on my Rover.
What I’ve Done And What I Need To Do
One of the best parts of buying this truck is that nearly all of the mechanical items were sorted. The seller had plans to make this a perfect driver. But his plans changed, as often happens. That means, however, that I wound up with four huge boxes of extra parts. I’m talking everything from a hood release cable, new center caps, and rear tailgate hinges, to extra wipers, tons of extra HVAC vents, fresh D-pillar covers, and so much more. I sorted my way through most of it, reducing the pile of boxes to stuff now taking up just a few shelves in my garage.
I had to reinstall the door cars, the rubber trim, and the seat belts. There’s a handful of trim I still need to install, but 95% of it is there. The original stereo has been replaced with a period-correct Blaupunkt that fits the shallow depth of the Range Rover’s vertical radio layout. A quartet of four-inch Focal speakers handles the tunes, but the rear speakers are about to disappear beneath the billowing headliner.
The powered front seats work, as do the power windows and side mirrors. The cruise control, heated seats, and rear defroster, however, do not. Of those, the rear defroster will be the one I’m most keen on fixing.
As for the mechanical bits, the previous owner swapped on fresh Old Man Emu shocks and a steering stabilizer. The truck sits on a two- to three-inch lift and a set of skinny Toyo Open Country tires. Those wheels come from a Discovery and were apparently painted some silver shade used by Porsche.
The two major items on my to-do list are getting the air conditioning back up and running, and figuring out a better solution for that spare tire. I was given that roof rack with the spare tire mount, but I don’t love it. With my Montero, I was gung-ho on the full Overland look. With the Range Rover, I’m keeping things far more simple. There will be no rooftop tent, I won’t cover the rear glass in stickers, and I’d like to ditch that roof rack.
My plan is to purchase a rear swing setup, such as the one from Rig’d Supply. They’re supremely expensive, but also exactly what I need. I get the spare where it’s accessible, I still have space for my bike rack, and I’d also add the rear add-on table feature for when I do go camping.
After that, I’m going to have a custom rear storage area built behind the second row. I have ideas, and I already know which company I’d like to have do the work, so stand by for more on that one.
For now, though, I’ve got a personal dream car in my driveway. No, it’s not exactly how I pictured one I might own someday, but we have to start somewhere. And green over tan is exactly the color combo I wanted, hence the plate. Which also ties into the proper beverage you have when you make it to camp in a vehicle like this one.
(And yes, I occasionally miss my Montero… damn, that was a good truck)
[Images: Jeff Glucker / Hooniverse]
