The Range Rover was a body-on-frame design with a box section ladder type chassis, like the contemporary Series Land Rovers. Convenience features such as power steering, carpeted floors, air conditioning, cloth/leather seats, and wooden interior trim were fitted later. It was up-market compared to preceding Land Rover models, but 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. Unlike other 4x4s such as the Jeep Wagoneer, the original Range Rover was not designed as a luxury vehicle. (Before then, 4-door models had been produced by specialist firms). It was available only in a 2-door body until 1981. The first-generation Range Rover was produced between 19. Main article: Range Rover Classic Range Rover 3-door estate (Australia) Range Rover 5-door estate (Australia) sales were under the name "Land Rover North America". In 1993, with the arrival of the Defender 110 and the imminent arrival of the Land Rover Discovery, the company's U.S. marketing was all in the name of Range Rover, because it was the only model offered in the American market. Its popularity via these imports prompted official U.S. In 2011 came the Range Rover Evoque, and in 2017 the Range Rover Velar (re-using the name of the very first, pre-production Range Rovers).įrom 1970 until 1987, the Range Rover was only available to American consumers through unofficial grey market import channels. Later models received the latest Range Rover platform. In 2004, Land Rover debuted the Range Rover Sport, based on the Land Rover Discovery platform. Range Rover sub-brands have been launched. The specially modified Range Rovers used for this expedition are now on display in the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust collection at Gaydon, Warwickshire. In 1972, the British Trans-Americas Expedition became the first vehicle-based expedition to traverse the Americas from north to south, including traversing the roadless Darién Gap. Predating the Paris-Dakar rally the subsequent documentary is replete with such terrain, documenting the vehicle's endurance. In 1971, ex-Cream drummer Ginger Baker used the unproven Range Rover to drive from Algeria to Lagos, Nigeria, to set up a recording studio and jam with Fela Kuti. In the early 1970s, the Musée du Louvre in Paris exhibited a Range Rover as an "exemplary work of industrial design". The Velar company was registered in London and produced 40 pre-production vehicles that were built between 19. Range Rover development engineer Geof Miller used the name as a decoy for registering pre-production Range Rovers. The Velar name was derived from the Italian "velare" meaning to veil or to cover. 1 was a green model with the registration "YVB 151H", and is now on exhibition at Huddersfield Land Rover Centre, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire). 3, YVB 153H is believed to have been the first off the production line as a vehicle in that colour was urgently required for marketing. Twenty-six Velar-badged engineering development vehicles were built between 19 and were road registered with the number plates YVB151H through to YVB177H. The design of the Range Rover was finalised in 1969. The first Range Rover prototype was built in 1967 with plate number SYE 157F. Surviving Road Rover Series I and II prototypes from 19 at the British Motor Museum This was shelved in 1958 and the idea lay dormant until 1966, when engineers Spen King and Bashford set to work on a new model. The Rover Company (originator of the Land Rover marque) was experimenting with a larger model than the Land Rover Series in 1951, when the Rover P4-based two-wheel-drive "Road Rover" project was developed by Gordon Bashford. The Range Rover line was launched in 1970 by British Leyland and is now in its fifth generation.Īdditional models have been launched under the Range Rover name, including the Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Evoque, and Range Rover Velar. The Range Rover is a 4x4 luxury SUV produced by Land Rover, a marque and sub-brand of Jaguar Land Rover. Mid-size luxury crossover 4x4 (2013-) įull-size luxury crossover 4x4 (LWB models) United Kingdom: Solihull ( Solihull plant)Īustralia: Enfield ( BMC Australia 1979–1983)
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