Range Rover Classic Reborn: the 1970s Rangie’s back from the dead

Updated: 02 February 2017

► 1978 three-door Range Rover Classic
► Part of Land Rover’s Reborn programme
► Shown at Retromobile, price £135,000

Land Rover is showcasing its latest Reborn restoration programme at Retromobile this month – with an immaculately revived Range Rover Classic.

It’s an early three-door Rangie restored to 1978 factory spec, following the template set by the Series I Reborn revealed in 2016.

Price? A stonking £135,000 minimum, depending on the final spec and original condition of your project.

What’s behind the trend for manufacturer restorations?

Just look at what Singer is doing with classic Porsches: old bodyshells, lovingly restored – and modified – pepped up with modern mechanicals.

Range Rover Classic Reborn

It’s a formula that works, especially in an age when many collectors believe the romance has been removed from modern cars.

Land Rover Classic works to a more original bent, essentially restoring classic models to their showroom condition.

The company will source the original donor cars, included in the price; an initial run of 10 cars has been confirmed, but it will not be a limited run – if demand continues, further cars will be converted, Land Rover told CAR.

Range Rover Classic: in detail

The three-door Rangie to be shown at Retromobile is painted Bahama Gold and built to factory spec:

  • Engine 3528cc V8 petrol 
  • Power 132bhp @ 5000rpm 
  • Torque 186lb ft @ 2500rpm
  • Transmission Four-speed manual transmission, lockable central differential

Dropdown tailgate on Range Rover Classic

The boss of JLR Classic

Tim Hannig, director of Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said: ‘Range Rover Reborn… is a rare opportunity for customers to own a valuable and genuinely collectible automotive icon. 

‘It is a wonderful way to preserve the much sought-after three-door original Range Rover from the 1970s, from period-correct colour ways to interior trim and accessories.’

The car will be shown at Retromobile alongside Jaguar Classic’s New Original XKSS and a Series I E-type coupe.

Salon Retromobile is held in Paris from 8 to 12 February 2017.

Land Rover reviews by CAR magazine

Bahama Gold! Wonderful retro paint job on Range Rover Classic

By Tim Pollard

Director of Content – Digital, car news magnet, crafter of words

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