The Shetland Beige factory paint is mostly original, the exception being the door ends, which were painted after the large protective moldings were removed. These moldings with reflectors are a common accessory on early Range Rovers, though are not visually appealing. The paint condition is consistent throughout the vehicle. There are many small imperfections; small scratches and stains that one would expect from a vehicle that spent some time being used as a truck. The aluminum panels have the regular waviness that all early Range Rovers have, but overall they are straight with consistent panel gaps. The front and rear “Range Rover” decals, and the side badges, are in excellent condition. There are no big dents or scratches, though the passenger door does have two small parking lot dings. I would be apprehensive about using paintless dent removal on these aluminum panels. Overall, the Rover looks like a low mileage truck with a nice shine to its’ classic color.

All the glass is original except the windshield which was replaced with an aftermarket unit. Whoever did the replacement did an excellent job, the fitment is tight and the trim and gaskets look untouched. The rear hatch window does have some scratches at the top where the wiper was left with a worn or nonexistent wiper blade. All the window gaskets, and the large door and hatch gaskets, are complete and are very pliable and healthy-looking. It is obvious this vehicle spent most of its life stored indoors. All the black window trim is in good shape, though the side window’s lower pieces have some waviness, as do all the early Range Rovers. The d-pillar vinyl covering is very smooth and secure, though there is a small tear in the upper corner of the passenger side covering. The side moldings are complete and straight, though slightly faded. These moldings with the rear quarter “Range Rover” script are no longer available. The door handle gaskets are all accounted for and secure, and the actual handles are shiny with slight pitting. The antennae and gaskets are obviously newer and in excellent condition. The front and rear bumpers' black paint was touched up, and are very straight and dent-free. The front bumper does have some stone chips which is expected with a vehicle that has seen some gravely roads. The front and back rubber bumper overriders are very straight and healthy-looking with some minor imperfections. The side-view mirrors are “Jeep” side-view mirrors. They do not look out of place and are in good condition.

The factory wheels were recently refinished and look excellent. The driver’s side front wheel has some very small scratches that are only noticeable on very close examination.

These early Rovers were made as utility vehicles in antiquated factories, and some of the fit and finish are indicative of this. The car overall is very nice though there are some imperfections in the paint, a rip on the vinyl covering of the d-pillar, and a few small door dings and scratches. Please take some time to look through all the photos.

The velour seats in these early Rovers are far more comfortable than the leather, but it is not the most durable fabric. The passenger side seat bottom has been worn thin, and there is one small tear. The driver-side bottom is a little thin though there are no rips or tears. The dash and center console are crack-free and look to have spent their lives away from the sun. The console between the seats has been customized with USB charging outlets but does not look out of place. The door panels and upper wood trim all look excellent. The front door panels have been altered with high-quality speakers and tweeters. The steering wheel leather is a little grainy. The rear seats look hardly used, and the carpets front and back look free of any noticeable stains or defects.

All the windows go up and down quickly, all the gauges, stalks, interior lights, exterior lights, horn, wipers, HVAC fan, etc., function. The updated stereo with Bluetooth works. The AC works. Everything seems to function.

The engine bay is clean and well sorted. There are more hoses and wires to be found than a stock early carbureted Range Rover. The brake master, clutch master, AC compressor, and other parts look new. The oversized aluminum radiator is also new and looks well made. The motor is clean and the condition is indicative of being rebuilt just a few thousand miles ago. The original stickers, tags, etc., are all intact.

The trunk/hatch area is clean and all the carpet pieces are accounted for. The full-size spare is fully covered. There is one large stain on the floor where you load items (this is a truck) and some smaller stains on the right side. Overall the area is attractive and well kept.

The underside of this Range Rover is clean and rust-free. Range Rovers are known to rust but this car’s life in storage and dry climate has kept it rust-free. The exhaust looks good, the suspension ball joints, bushings, shocks, springs, etc. all look in good shape, with many parts being obviously new. We had a protective shroud installed over the electric fuel pump that the fuel injection required.

The engine was recently rebuilt with some paperwork and photos on file to verify everything that was done. With the fuel injection, the motor starts easily no matter the weather and has a steady idle. It moves easily and has no problem keeping up with modern traffic. These 3.5 motors did not make lots of horsepower but did provide a very flat torque curve that is helpful in off-road situations. The fuel injection system does “learn”, but has been set up to run rich during the rebuilt engine break-in period.

The 5-speed transmission has the classic Rover long shifter and does take some getting used to. But after a few minutes perched in the comfy chair, you are rowing through the gears with no problem. The clutch grabs low on the travel and no slipping is evident.

The brakes and suspension look and feel to be all-new or in excellent shape. The Rover is stable on the road or highway, and there are no clunks, squeaks or odd noises. The disc brakes work well, with no pulling or pulsating, and the pedal is nice and firm.

Nearly new, Cooper mud and snow tires.

Climbing into the Range Rover is an enjoyable experience with excellent visibility all around. The driver’s seat is comfortable and all the seat adjustments work. The motor starts quickly and has a muted but healthy V8 rumble. The clutch feels good, the shifts are notchy but overall have a solid mechanical feel. The steering is well-weighted. The overall feeling and experience are pleasant, with a very pliable suspension combined with a smooth torque motor. The Rover is not exceedingly fast but is stoic and reserved, the way we imagine the English to be.