’78 Range Rover ‘reborn’ for collectors
Many people regard the first-generation Range Rover to be one of the best-looking SUV designs of all time. Admittedly, it’s not typically a segment known for outward beauty, but the early Range Rovers do have an austere elegance to them, especially when they’re painted in 1970s hues of mustard yellow, drab green or even gold.
Old Range Rovers have a strong enthusiastic following, but many have long ago succumbed to rust and deferred maintenance. No matter, because you can now buy a “brand-new” 1978 Range Rover, thanks to Land Rover’s new Range Rover Reborn program.
The program takes original classics, strips them down and rebuilds them fawlessly to as-new condition. The price is an unsurprisingly high $220,000 Canadian, and if that’s pocket change to you, hurry and get your order in because the company is restoring just 10 classics for the initial run. It remains unknown how many it will make in future, if any at all.
Mechanically, the specs are pure 1978, right down to the anemic 3.5L V8 with 132 horsepower.
Land Rover’s team works with prospective buyers to track down original Range Rovers that have desirable and rare options, as well as interesting factory colours.
While it’s refreshing to see junky old trucks get restored, there’s only a very slim chance any of these trucks will be used like real 4x4s after restoration.