Work in Progress: Pre-prod 3.9 RR Vogue
JULIAN LAMB, UNIVERSITY LECTURER, SOLIHULL
A special G-WAC is under the spotlight this month
What makes this vehicle special?
It was registered three months before the UK launch of the 3.9 V8 Range Rover and assigned to the press and demo department at Lode Lane. It has the iconic G-WAC reg associated with the Discovery launch fleet.
How did you get to hear about it?
G361 WAC was on the CVC Register Facebook page – really interesting vehicles come up for sale there.
What condition was it in when you purchased it?
I had no real idea of its condition because I bought it unseen, over the phone. I was breaking one of the golden rules when buying a classic car, but sometimes a leap of faith is needed when buying a historically significant car. Whatever its condition I would have been pleased: it’s a press launch G-WAC, after all! Thankfully, it turned out to be in great, un-abused condition.
How long have you owned it?
Just a few weeks, though I am a serial G-WAC owner. I already had two G-WAC Discoverys and now have two G-WAC Range Rovers, plus a 1982 four-door Range Rover Classic that was once owned by Rover’s chief accountant.
How is the engine running?
It runs beautifully, which is remarkable as it is the original engine and has done 206,000 miles. It was the engine number that persuaded me to buy the car: it is 19th high-compression 3.9 V8 ever built. It has comprehensive history, including two service books full of stamps, which no doubt accounts for the longevity of this engine.
What are your plans for it?
I’ll return it to roadworthy condition over the winter and take it to the Land Rover shows in 2018. It had been stored in a barn for 12 years and now needs some general recommissioning and a little welding. The body and chassis are in excellent condition for the year, but some areas on the rear crossmember and sills now need some repairs.
What have you done so far?
Fresh petrol, a new battery and a test drive along a private lane to assess what is needed.
What are the next jobs you’ll be doing?
The first job will be a full pressure clean underneath – I hate working on a dirty car. It will also have a full interior valet and polish. The interior is in really nice condition apart from the usual droopy headlining.
What will be the hardest part of this project be?
Deciding how far to rebuild it. There is always the temptation to do a full nut-and-bolt body-off rebuild, but G361 WAC is so original I would like to conserve this originality rather than do a full rebuild.
Anyone helping you with the project?
My friends in the CVC Register, especially Richard Hopkins who is also a serial historic Land Rover collector.
Anything to add?
I would love to add a Defender G-WAC to my collection. I nearly bought one a couple of years ago, but the seller had a change of heart and decided to keep it. I have my fingers crossed that he will remember to give me the first refusal that he promised.