Life Begins After 30 the Range Rover Classic
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Life Begins After 30 The Range Rover Classic By Jeffrey B. Aronson Age slips up to most of us, and the next thing you know, you’re a “classic.” It may be hard to believe, but the Range Rover has now delighted automotive enthusiasts since its unveiling 31 years ago. When Land Rover afficionados discuss “old Land Rovers,” they must now include Range Rovers, too. The Range Rover has been with us in much the same manner for three decades; even the “new” model in 1994 retained many of the engineering cues of the original. The original Range Rover, dubbed the “Classic,” took the Land Rover concept of “crossover vehicle” and made it more sophisticated. Whereas the Land Rover made itself into a station wagon by adding more seats to a utility vehicle, it First didn’t fool passengers one bit. The Range Rover Impressions combined luxury, performance, station wagon utility, and of course, off road capability, in a car that asked little compromise from its owners. Look at a photo of the Range Rover, the two- American 4 x 4’s included International Bruce McWilliams, reported he was white-knuckled door of its first decade. Marvel at the high green- Harvester Scouts, square utility vehicles with seats driving one. house, the castle corners of the hood line, the clever that rusted on contact with humidity. Ford Broncos Indeed, so few Americans desiring a station blackout of the rear pillars, the bold, rectangular resembled telephone booths and came with 3- wagon were captivated by the poky 109” with the creases in the flanks. Then, think back to the 70’s. If speeds on the steering column. Their independent 2.6 6-cylinder engine that Land Rover had pulled you need help, turn on a television with cable and front suspensions gave them interesting rides but them from the US market in 1967. Even in a patient take a gander at ’70’s programs. Remember the bad less capability off road, and inherently, they were England, the marketing boffins at Land Rover clothes? Well, those same men [yes, men back then] trucks. Jeep CJ’s had become bloated caricatures of begged for a new Land Rover station wagon. Coming designed automobiles. Feast your eyes on the corpu- their ancestors. The CJ-5 was entertaining but had on the heels of the very successful, very different Miracle in lent auto bodies and “go-faster” stripes. If you can too much power for an 80” wheelbase. It could Rover P6 [Rover 2000 in the US], Rover engineers New Jersey drive one, flex your muscles on the pinky-ring carry two in leaf-sprung comfort, and four people had a freer rein to envision a differently designed, power steering and listen to the wandering idle. only under duress. The Jeep Wagoneer had room more car-like yet equally capable Land Rover. [Robert Hoyd, Pohatcong Township, NJ, remembers Then accelerate to endless hesitation and soft and size, but also such frightening steering and soft Imagine Land Rover’s plight at the time. It had a when “ working on cars was a necessity.” As a Human Resources manager, car maintenance is now “mostly engines. suspension that Land Rover’s North American head, very loyal customer base for Continued on page 4 for fun.” His wife Jean, and their two sons, spent considerable energy resurrecting their 1988 Range Rover Classic. Their story reads like a Christmas dream, and Vintage Rovers Across Africa British Invasion 2000 will remind Series Land Rover owners of holiday Land Rovers Invade fantasies -ed.] M y father always told me that if you were The British Invasion going to drive something, “you’d better understand how it works and be able to repair it.” Little did I By Jeffrey Aronson know that he’d be referring to my first-ever Land It always takes place the September weekend Ro v e r , a 1988 Range Rover Classic. before the peak foliage season, and it always sees This first Range Rover cost me $1.00. I found 500-600 British cars and thousands of enthusiasts this vehicle in a barn where it had been stored for in attendance. In that sense, this British Invasion three years! The previous owner had tired of making resembled the previous 9 editions. The growing repairs, so when it would not start one day, he By Jeffrey B. Aronson number of Land Rovers present, and the delightful parked it at only 78,000 miles on the odometer. New York City and return to West Africa to lead enthusiasm of their owners, have come to make Along came a minor flood (merely axle high), squir- [Mike Ladden, Hampden, CT, has been a leader the Vintage Rovers Across Africa expedition. Land Rovers a central part of this annual event. rels, mice and mildew, weakening his desire, ability within the West Connecticut Land Rover Club. “You get this ‘Africa fever,’ Ladden explained, Continued on page 6 and fortitude to renew his Rover. We had the chance to discuss his ambitious “once you’ve been there. It’s the last great I first met the owner in an adult continuing edu- project at RoverFest 2000 and in unspoiled kind of culture. Asia cation program in which I was learning to restore a a telephone interview -ed.] might be that way too, but Africa 1966 Plymouth for my son....and along came the offers so many different cultures, offer to take the Range Rover off his hands. He had Back in 1992, Mike Ladden spent people, and languages all on the purchased the vehicle new, absolutely loved it, and most of the year working and tour- same continent.” Mike also had every record, as well as the original service man- ing northern Africa. “I started in enthused over the incredibly varied ual (in plastic) - but he had lost heart. The only catch Morocco, went through West Africa and Central terrain, from dry desert to rain forest mud, and was that I had to agree to restore and not part out the ve h i c l e . Africa.” He has yearned to return for the past 8 humid, wet conditions. “The expedition will take Continued on page 4 years. Beginning in February, 2001, he’ll depart two months: we leave New Continued on page 15. Land Rover polo - what a sight! © 2000 Rovers North Inc • 1319 VT Route 128, Westford, Vermont 05494-9601, USA • 802.879.0032 • e-mail [email protected] • www.r o v e r s n o r t h . c o m Ask Rovers North British Invasion The Threaded Truth routine oil changes. If you are using 90w oil, worth the $1,500 asking price. On the other most of this water will leave the housing when hand, if you flnd corrosion holes, major modifi- Snaps Q. performing the oil change. However, if grease is cations, and parts that appear to be missing, it I’m new to the world of Series Land Rovers and used. ? would be worth waiting for a better example to have noticed something odd about the wheel come along. studs and lug nuts. I cannot see any of the lug Thank you. studs threads extending beyond the lug nut. Even Dave Sangerhausen Something I usually suggest is to look at the when the lug nuts are fully tightened, the lug stud Ext. 229 prices of Series Rovers on the Land Rover isn’t quite to the end of the lug nut. Have the Exchange Website (which can be accessed via a wrong lug studs or nuts been installed at some link through RoversNorth.com) or in Hemmings point, or is this normal? Air on the Side of Motor News. Both of these sources list Rovers for Reason sale from across the nation and you will be able to determine the going rate for vehicles in various Q. condition across the country. I own a 1994 LWB Range Rover. As you know, this vehicle is equipped with air suspension. Although l have yet to have trouble with this sys- tem, I have been considering a coil spring con- Tanks But no Tanks Series I from Quebec, CN version. Any thoughts? Q. I was wondering if you carry, or know where I A. can get an auxiliary fuel tank for my 1994 D90? Air suspension is a great system but can be expensive to repair depending on the failure. Unless you live in a remote area where an air A. suspension failure could be difficult to mend (the We do not carry D90 auxiliary fuel tanks and do system, if flat, has to be recalibrated with Land not know of anyone who does. I know this is a Rover’s scan tool called Test Book), I would not popular subject with Defender owners but one A. convert a properly working system. However, only has to remember a few years back where a I known the lug studs and nuts look odd but what Rovers North does offer a coil spring conversion major U.S. auto and truck producer was being you have described is normal for a Series Land kit (Part #RNK5105) if you are so inclined. sued for fuel tank/side impact problems. And, if Rover. Once tightened, there are enough mated you go back a little further (mid 70’s) another threads between the two to ensure sufficient Thank you. U.S. manufacturer had problems with fuel tanks strength. Defender 110 300Tdi Dave Sangerhausen and rear impacts in their new economy vehicle. Ext. 229 Therefore, it is easy to see why, even with proper Thank you.