Range Rover Classic - from purist off-roader to luxury SUV

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Range Rover Classic - from purist off-roader to luxury SUV

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Created on July 19, 2019

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

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Bruno von Rotz

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Range Rover (1974) and Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - the Range Rover evolved from a comparatively rustic off-roader into a luxurious SUV

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - almost 20 years difference in age and still almost the same car

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Range Rover (1974) and Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - similar and yet quite different

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Range Rover (1974) and Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - the older one looks shorter and stockier, but the length is largely the same

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Range Rover (1974) and Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - slight differences at the rear

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Range Rover (1974) and Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - the concept of the two-part tailgate remained the same

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Range Rover (1974) and Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - were built for over a quarter of a century

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Range Rover (1974) and Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - only two side doors were offered during the first decade

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) and Range Rover (1974) - the older of the two feels sportier

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Range Rover (1974) and Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - a late model overtakes its predecessor

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Range Rover (1974) and Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - they remained true to each other for over a quarter of a century

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - slightly more power, significantly more weight

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Range Rover (1974) - Driving pleasure through directness

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Range Rover (1974) - the high body and ground clearance naturally dampen the sporty driving pleasure a little

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Range Rover (1974) - followed by the Range Rover Vogue of 1990

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - unstressed driving

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - the differences in detail are more obvious than the barely changed appearance would suggest

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Range Rover (1974) - the classic lines withstood almost all modernizations for a quarter of a century

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Range Rover (1974) - you could already drive it to the opera in the seventies

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Range Rover (1974) - high ground clearance ensures off-road capability

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Range Rover (1974) - there are sliding windows at the rear

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Range Rover (1974) - low waistline, large windows

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Range Rover (1974) - the tailgate opens in two parts

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Range Rover (1974) - equipped for all missions

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Range Rover (1974) - good for around 160 km/h

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Range Rover (1974) - more compact than you think

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - painted in Beluga Black

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - only a few changes were necessary for the conversion to four doors

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - dark colors were popular with the later model years

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - the two-piece tailgate remained

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - looks compact even with four doors

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - 170 km/h were possible with 182 hp

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - despite its luxurious paint job, the car still has off-road capability

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Range Rover (1974) - a very comfortable driver's workplace

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - deep-pile carpets, leather, wood and air conditioning

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Range Rover (1974) - rubber floors and rudimentary central instruments

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - comfort-oriented driver's workplace

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Range Rover (1974) - everything you need for driving is there

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - modernized instrument panel

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Range Rover (1974) - does not look sophisticated

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Range Rover (1974) - still looks pretty much like an off-road vehicle

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Range Rover (1974) - Additional instruments in the center console

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Range Rover (1974) - you don't need a manual to operate this ventilation system

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Range Rover (1974) - comfortable and folding rear seat

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Range Rover (1974) - some luxury - headrests with upholstery

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Range Rover (1974) - Velour upholstery signals luxury

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Range Rover (1974) - four gears have to be enough

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Range Rover (1974) - Lever for the manual locks

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Range Rover (1974) - Cold start with choke

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Range Rover (1974) - Door panels with lever mechanism for rear seat passengers

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - Door panels look much more luxurious

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Range Rover (1974) - Windows are still opened/closed with a crank handle

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - electric windows all round, electric seat adjustment

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Range Rover (1974) - hood unlocks on the right (!)

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - hood release on the left under the dashboard

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Range Rover (1974) - light-alloy V8 engine with 3.5 liter displacement and two SU carburetors

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Range Rover (1974) - all kinds of lettering in the engine compartment

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Range Rover (1974) - Notes on the electrical wiring

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Range Rover (1974) - external hinges on the side doors

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - no more visible door hinges

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - the Land Rover badge was only added to later models

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Range Rover (1974) - the classic front with the vertical cooling slots

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - the model-maintained front has horizontal ribs in the radiator grille

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Range Rover (1974) - classic round headlights

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Range Rover (1974) - front exterior mirrors

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Range Rover (1974) - Rear-view mirror mounted far forward - in the style of the time

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - Mirror on the door, adjustable from the inside

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Range Rover (1974) - could still be started by hand

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Range Rover (1974) - can still be started with a crank handle

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - alloy wheels

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Range Rover (1974) - Door handles integrated into the overall design

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - mounted door openers from the corporate shelf

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Range Rover (1974) - clearly labeled, also on the flank

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Range Rover (1974) - rustic and open fuel filler cap

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Range Rover (1974) - practical and without frippery

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - fuel filler cap concealed by flap

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - simple fuel filler cap under the flap

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Range Rover (1974) - a rear window wiper after all

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Range Rover (1974) - Handle for opening the rear window

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - the handle for opening the rear window remained unchanged

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Range Rover (1974) - the lower tailgate is unlocked with the external lever

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - no more external lever for unlocking the tailgate

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Range Rover (1974) - vertical tail lights

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - the controls still work straight away

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - significantly thicker steering wheel and function buttons for cruise control in the spokes

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - comfortable even for rear-seat passengers

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - good access to the rear

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - Leather upholstery

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - Lever of the four-speed automatic transmission

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - Four-speed automatic on board

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - the lever for the locks moved to the front

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - no clutch pedal

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - light-alloy V8 engine now with 3.9 liter displacement, catalytic converter and fuel injection

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - the engine once came to Rover from Buick

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - Lettering in several languages

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - color name "Beluga"

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - Chassis number

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - Notes on technology

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - important target markets are signaled here

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - no visible door hinges, but decorative strips instead

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Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - the particularly luxurious version (you can still recognize the rustic predecessor in the paintwork)

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Range Rover (1974) and Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - you have to look closely to find the differences

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Range Rover (1974) and Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - comparison of the two- and four-door versions

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Range Rover (1974) and Range Rover SEi Vogue (1990) - four doors were only available from the 1980s onwards

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Range Rover (1970) - design model from around 1966/1967 - already pointing towards the production model

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Range Rover (1970) - at the London Motor Show 1970

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Range Rover (1971) - the use as a leisure vehicle is emphasized here

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Range Rover (1971) - nothing is given to the test car

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Range Rover (1970) - the production model

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Rover Range Rover - Range Rover Chassis 4x4 - shown at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show

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Range Rover (1971) - the third differential in the middle of the car

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Range Rover (1971) - advertised as a family car

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Range Rover (1971) - virtually predestined for pulling heavy loads

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Range Rover (1971) - Pioneer for a new type of off-roader

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Range Rover (1971) - with bench seat folded down

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Range Rover (1971) - Test car in off-road use

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Range Rover (1971) - originally only available as a two-door model

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Range Rover (1973) - off-road use of a left-hand drive car

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Range Rover - noble off-roader thanks to original, robust station wagon body and 3.5-liter V8 engine - at the Geneva Motor Show 1974

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Range Rover (1976) - as Super Deluxe - Geneva Motor Show 1976

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Range Rover (1981) - ex works now also available with four doors (Monteverdi license) - IAA 1981

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Range Rover (1982) - at the 1982 Geneva Motor Show - available as a four-door model since 1981 and a great success, 85% of buyers in Switzerland prefer it to the two-door model

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Range Rover - four-door thanks to Peter Monteverdi, with 5-speed gearbox as standard from the 1984 model - at the 1984 Geneva Motor Show

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Range Rover Vogue Automatic (1986) - with fuel injection 168 DIN hp - Geneva Motor Show 1986

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Range Rover Classic (1985) - in the advertising from back then

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Range Rover (1992) - in the advertisement

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Range Rover P38A (1994) - the second generation

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Summary

The first generation of the Range Rover was built over a quarter of a century ago. During these years, it has undergone a major transformation, although not necessarily from an ugly duckling to a magnificent swan, as it was elegant from the very beginning. However, customers' expectations of comfort had an impact on many design details and, above all, equipment elements. This comparison is between an early Range Rover from 1974 and a late model from 1990, which beautifully document this development. Many photos and original documents as well as sound samples round off the driving report.

This article contains the following chapters

The long history of the Range Rover
All-purpose vehicle
From two-door to four-door
Ever more luxurious
The fine English style has its price
The competition catches up
Longer from 1992
Away from the purist off-roader
Further information

Estimated reading time: 10min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The first generation of the Range Rover was built over a quarter of a century ago. During these years, it has changed a great deal, but not necessarily from an ugly duckling to a magnificent swan, as it was elegant right from the start. However, the comfort expectations of customers had an impact on many design details and, above all, equipment elements. The development history of the Range Rover has already been covered in an earlier vehicle report , so only the most important key words will be summarized here: Development of a more comfortable and versatile version of the Land Rover began in 1966, and the result was unveiled in June 1970. As with the Land Rover, the elegant aluminum body featured a ladder-type frame and two rigid axles. For the engine, the Rover engineers chose the light-alloy V8 3.5-liter once taken over from Buick, which was coupled with a four-speed gearbox. The result was 132 DIN horsepower, which had to move 1770 kg.

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