Classic Car Classifieds > Rover Range Rover

The Range Rover is a full size luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle (SUV) also with extensive off road capabilities, produced by British car maker Land Rover, and serves as its flagship model. Land Rover is one of several auto manufacturers owned by Tata, the Indian multinational conglomerate Tata Group. The Range Rover was launched in 1970, and created a new space in the automotive world. It is now in its fourth generation.

The first-generation Range Rover was produced between 1970 and 1996. It was available only in a 2-door body until 1981.

Unlike other 4x4s such as the Jeep Wagoneer, the original Range Rover was not designed as a luxury-type vehicle. While certainly up-market compared to preceding Land Rover models, the early Range Rovers had fairly basic, utilitarian interiors with vinyl seats and plastic dashboards that were designed to be washed down with a hose. Convenience features such as power steering, carpeted floors, air conditioning, cloth/leather seats, and wooden interior trim were fitted later.

The Range Rover was a body-on-frame design with a box section ladder type chassis, like the contemporary Series Land Rovers. The Range Rover utilised coil springs as opposed to leaf springs, permanent four-wheel drive, and four-wheel disc brakes. The Range Rover was originally powered by various Rover V8 engines and diesel engines.