June 2020 marks the fiftieth anniversary of one of the most iconic 4×4 vehicles ever built – the Range Rover. Debuted to the public in March of 1970 at the Geneva Motor Show, the first production examples began making their ways to dealerships in the UK shortly after the media launch in early June the same year.
The back story on the Range Rover is a long one, having first been considered as far back as the mid ’50s as a more hospitable station wagon counterpart to the rugged, sometimes crude Land Rover utility vehicles. Early concepts for what was envisioned as the ‘Road Rover’ were scrapped and revisited numerous times over the course of nearly a decade before getting a serious push from Rover’s head of development Spencer King.
Spen, as he was known to friends and colleagues, and his chief design engineer Gordon Bashford had been brief by the company’s new market analyst Graham Bannock, who had recently been to America. Here he discovered how popular vehicles like the Ford Bronco, International Scout and Jeep Wagoneer were among recreational users, as opposed to work trucks, and convinced King and Bashford that Rover could build a better vehicle affordably by basing it on existing Land Rover hardware.
Prototypes were built in 1967 using a new coil spring suspension rather than the Land Rover leaf springs for a much improved ride. A 3.5-liter version of the aluminum V8 that Rover had acquired from Buick was fitted, giving it much improved performance compared to the four-cylinder Land Rover Series vehicles.
In time these hardware upgrades would eventually find their way into later version of Land Rover Series and Defender vehicles, but what really distinguished the Range Rover from its stablemates was its fullly welded bodywork. Unlike the Series trucks, which had body panels constructed of rived aluminum, the Range Rover used a welded steel inner body onto which (mostly) aluminum exterior panels were attached, providing a more watertight cabin and greater overall refinement.
The production Range Rover, originally offered as a two-door, five passenger station wagon only, was an immediate success. And while Land Rover had envisioned the Range Rover primarily for the American market, it simply couldn’t keep up with early demand in Europe and Britain, which were far easier markets to serve. By the time production caught up with local demand, Land Rover announced it would be withdrawing from the US market after 1973.
While the aftermarket firms had been busy converting two-door Range Rovers into four-doors (and various other less attractive variants) for wealthy clients, it wasn’t until 1983 that the factory got on board with the more family-friendly configuration. The two-door model would continue on until 1994, though the four-door outsold it substantially.
North America finally got its own version of the Range Rover in 1987, once a fuel injected version of the 3.5-liter V8 was developed. Only the four-door model made its way Stateside, and all of them were equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission.
Early US models were offered with cloth upholstery as standard. Leather and a power sunroof were optional, but Land Rover misjudged just how popular this combination would be in the $49,995 SUV. Eventually all US models would get leather and a sunroof as standard, except for a later Hunter Edition, and the engine would gain some power with the 3.9-liter version of the V8 starting in 1989.
In 1993, a long-wheelbase version debuted, adding eight inches of legroom to the second row of seating. This model also debuted an electronically controlled air suspension, allowing the chassis to be lifted for additional ground clearance at the push of a button, or conversely, to lower the vehicle for a more graceful entry and exit. A larger 4.2-liter V8 was available exclusively in the bigger version. Sales of the Range Rover LWB, as it was known, would outpace the standard Range Rover once there was an option.
The Range Rover officially became the Range Rover Classic in 1995 when the second-generation Range Rover made its mid-year review and the two were sold side by side. The final year for the original Range Rover was a special one, as this year’s models received a completely new interior with updated instrument panel and dual front airbags.
As the Range Rover hits the half-century milestone, it is beginning to take its rightful place as a genuine classic. Values have begun to climb in recent years as collectors and enthusiasts see these trucks as special in their own right, Clean, original examples, particularly of later models, have begun to challenge the popular Defender for vintage 4×4 clout. Now’s the time to get one while you can.
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