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.
Had a customer that had bought one of these incredibly cheap w 12000 miles on the clock. The lobes had worn off the camshaft
Fortunately, Isky was able to generate a replacement camshaft
That’s not something I have ever seen nor even heard of. What *would* happen is the 2 degree ramp on the cam lobes would wear; this would cause cam knock, and it was annoying but not damaging. That didn’t usually happen until much higher mileage, however. At 12,000 miles, that would have been an almost impossible occurrence. The serpentine belt engines could utilise a cam button which would eliminate the knock. GM had a spring and plastic button to correct this years ago, but they do not make that part kit any more.
The thing I like about Barn Finds is the abundance and variety of vehicles that show up on a daily basis of which many I have had the opportunity to own over the years and with RR’s being some of them. That being said no matter how “good” the support community is for vintage RR’s one thing is certain – you never have enough money unless you are “Uber rich” to keep RR’s on the road!
Great to look at in the parking lot however when it comes to regular use these are not the “it” vehicle. If I’m not mistaken there was one profiled not to long ago on BF?
I have owned a wide variety of special interest cars (including several Range Rovers) over the last 50+ years. One thing I learned very quickly is if you want/need the experience to be affordable, you Have to have a “guy” that knows the model and can provide used, or inexpensive parts.
I bought my first Range Rover over 20 years ago. It was also a green 1990, with tan interior. The body, paint, and interior were good, but it needed brakes, and front axle repairs. The dealer wanted crazy money to fix it. The owner, a well-known rock star, traded it in, and I got it for about $4K.
I was a partner in a large picture car business, and has luck would have it, several similar Range Rovers had just been used in an action film (Exit Wounds). All were severely damaged….. except the parts I needed. I also had a couple “guys” that were factory trained Land Rover mechanics that did a little cash side business from their rural homes near me. Both had large stocks of discounted parts and parts-cars to pick from.
I enjoyed it for about 2 years and sold it to a musician who was thrilled with the celebrity history. I think he still has it. I owned several more newer Range Rovers after that, but lost interest. My wife worked in management for a while at a LR dealer, and had a demonstrator to drive. The newer ones just didn’t appeal to me.
The one shown here seems very solid, and if the undercarriage is not rusty, it may be a good project. As always, a PPI is mandatory with these. I think the asking price is a bit optimistic, but the owner sounds like he may negotiate.
Would I buy another? No, mainly because I have since moved about 4 hours away from my “LR guys”.
A transporter of gods…the GOLDEN god!
Ended with 0 bids.