1989 Land Rover Range Rover Classic SWB

Model History

In 1967 the Land Rover company brought to us a radical new idea of how a 4×4 should be made. Engineers Spencer King and Gordon Bashford set about designing a luxury Land Rover estate car, leveraging a V8 engine and based on a 100″ wheelbase chassis. Rover needed something to compete with Jeep and its ever growing fan base. Several years later, the very first Range Rover went into production as a 2-door 1970 model. It was rugged, raw, quite vertical and would set the evolutionary design in motion with its raised wing bulges on the bonnet and floating roof line. The model would evolve through vinyl and plastic to updated improved trim inside and out over time. This marque lineup though wouldn’t show up in North America for another 17 years. It was then that in 1987 LRNA officially introduced the Range Rover to the U.S. market at the LA Auto Show and went on sale in March of the same year.

In 1993, the long-wheel base (LWB) was introduced along with the electronic air suspension (EAS). The LWB stretched the short wheel base (SWB) an additional 10″, all devoted to rear seat passenger leg room. The EAS was the first of its kind, offering the driver the ability to raise and lower the suspension with the touch of a button. In 1995, the Range Rover received a major interior ‘upgrade’ from a hard dash with a rather quirky, yet endearing, layout, to a more modernized ‘soft dash’ with dual air bags. The RRC was the first to have command seating, the driver sits above the window ledges for improved visibility. The rear passengers benefit from stadium seating also providing improved viewing. The Range Rover was changed mid-year to the P38 style, running through the 2002 MY. These Classics are truly iconic to the brand and finally starting to see the appreciation they deserve in the collector car world.

Car History

Second Daily is proud to present this 1989 Land Rover Range Rover Classic in its original Eastnor Green exterior. It was originally sold new in Memphis, TN, where it remained under that ownership for approximately 9 years. It was locally serviced with the Land Rover Dealership on a regular basis (stamped service manual included). The second owner was a friend of the first, and over the next 20 years it was used and garage kept in both Memphis and Utah where he had a second home. No signs of off-road use can be seen and as late as Spring 2018 it still had the original shocks. The current seller has enjoyed using it as a daily driver as it runs and drives very well according to his reports.

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Exterior

Outside, the truck presents in its original paint and shows rather shiny with only minor scratches and a few small noted dents. There is a small scrape at the fuel filler door seen in the gallery of photos. There is rust forming on the lower part of the rear window frame which is very common on these trucks.

The underside shows surface rust spotting. The floors, door arches and tailgate seem to be rust free. The rear window portion of the tail gate only latches on one side but can be locked (editor insert: typically you can easily adjust the latch and it will close, or simply push on that side gently to latch it). The tri-spoke wheels appear original to the truck and in very good condition.

Interior

The sorrel tan interior is seemingly in excellent shape with only minor cracks in the leather. There is a very small tear in the rear seats that has been repaired. The carpets are original and in overall good condition. All of the tools and jack are in place and a full size spare is included (though the tire is worn). The overhead lights work as does the sun roof and all windows are operational.

Known Issues

The wood trim on both rear doors is missing. The radio is not working,  and no attempts to repair it have been made. There are enthusiast shops that have been known to repair OEM radios. It is equipped with AC but is not currently working. The turn signals work but have to be held until the wheel is turned before they stay on (editor insert: typically a replacement of the blinker stalk is the repair, ~$70 part and a rather easy install). The fan switch only works on high position (it needs a fan relay). The headliner is sagging and will need replacing (editor insert: from experience this is ~$200 repair from a reputable upholstery shop).

Maintenance

Directly from the seller: The vehicle has been well maintained and kept in its original condition. There are no known modifications. There is very good documentation of work that has been done dating back to the original owner. Service book and owners manual are included. All of the maintenance up to about 90k was done at the dealer. Fluid changes were done at a local shop by the second owner. I have used the local Land Rover specialists (GBR in SLC) to do any required work. Since it had most of the original suspension components on it when I purchased it, I choose to install new Bilsteins, tie rod ends, and pitman arm to tighten things up. We also did an alignment. It drives beautifully, gets a lot of looks and for those who have not had the opportunity to experience driving a good classic Range Rover, it is amazing.

Bidding at Second Daily

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Disclaimer: We do our best to represent the vehicle from the information provided but this should not be implied as an inspection. Second Daily is not the owner of the vehicle and therefore we recommend as with any online vehicle purchase, as a potential buyer you should either arrange to visit it in person for a personal inspection, or hire a professional service to conduct a pre-purchase inspection. The full VIN number is available upon request, as potential buyers, you can perform your due diligence to determine if this vehicle meets your standards. Second Daily is not liable for the condition or contents of the vehicle. Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information.