There’s a significant divide between a great Rover, a good Rover, and a driver Rover. The great ones will cost you $25,000 or so, especially as it gets newer and the wheelbase grows longer. An older model like this one won’t set you back all that much, especially since there’s often a lot to choose from right outside your front door. So what helps get one sold these days? Condition is key, along with a thick maintenance history file. This short-wheelbase 1990 model listed here on eBay is said to run great and just have some cosmetic issues holding it back.
The seller has it listed with an opening bid of $7,500, which I’m going to tell you right now, will scare some people away. A project-grade Range Rover like this one sold on a popular auction platform not that long ago for $2,800. It ran and drove and had clear coat issues, just like this truck. It was absolutely in a state of needing more repair with the seller noting it had been off the road for several years, so there’s something to be said for spending a bit more for a truck that supposedly runs well like this one. But does that running condition demand an $8,000 price tag?
It’s a shame about the exterior because the cabin still looks quite nice. The wood trim is handsome as is the dark tan leather. The dashboard shows no cracks but there is evidence of wear and tear, and the driver’s seat has seen better days. These are occasionally costly interiors to refurbish if perfection is your goal, with lots of leather and wood to sort out, to say nothing of electrical issues (the power seats gears love the fail.) The seller confirms his seats work but the switches are intermittent, while the windows, locks, and turn signals apparently are all still firing on command.
Under the hood is a reliable 3.9L V8, rated at 180 horsepower and 227 lb-ft of torque. This is a solid engine and perhaps the strongest selling point of the truck, outside of its rugged good looks. The thing I like most about old Rovers is the community that surrounds them: in recent weeks, I’ve seen major off-road drive and general community events take place in Virginia and Vermont, with another planned for Maine in June. This is a great enthusiast group to be a part of, and an affordable and strong-running Rover like this offers a compelling entry point to the fun.
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