HOW IT BECAME A FAVOURITE OF ROYALS, TOFFS AND WAGS
A FARM WORKER
THE first Range Rover, launched to the world’s Press at a disused Cornish tin mine in June 1970, was far from a luxury vehicle. It had just two doors, a plastic dashboard, vinyl seats and the floors were level with the sills to allow farmers to hose down the car at the end of a messy day.
It was an immediate hit, despite costing £1,998 (about £32,000 in today’s money), selling 2,537 in the first six months.
THE ROYAL WINNER
THE Queen insisted her early model had a carpeted boot so her corgis would not get hurt on the exposed tool box. She and Prince Philip drove one on safari in Zambia in 1979, and Princess Diana used one in Moscow in 1995. The company produces a customised one without a roof — a Range Rover State Review — so the Queen can stand and wave to crowds or inspect her troops (pictured inset right).
Prince Philip, then 95, drove President Obama and wife Michelle to lunch at Windsor Castle in a Range Rover when the couple came to stay in 2016.
The first vehicle Prince George travelled in was a black Range Rover that dad William strapped him into — at just one day old.
THE TOFF-MOBILE
IT WAS swiftly adopted as the vehicle of choice on pheasant shoots and became synonymous with the Sloane Ranger set that emerged in the early 1980s. And by those who wanted to ape the aristos by adopting their pearls, Hunter wellies and cars.
FOOTBALLERS . . .
THE most popular car leased by Premier League footballers is the Range Rover Sport, according to a report last year. Many players chose to have their cars pimped up by customising firms.
. . . AND THEIR WIVES
DESPITE its heritage as the perfect Sloaney Pony vehicle, it has now become known as the ultimate ‘Wag wagon’. Both Coleen Rooney and arch rival Rebekah Vardy drive white Range Rover Sports. Katie Price, the former glamour model, has a bright pink Range Rover with the number plate KPII HOT.
Queen of Wags, Victoria Beckham, gave her seal of approval by designing the interior of the Range Rover Evoque VB (top), which included special stitching on the leather seats and his-andhers matching luggage.
STAR OF THE SCREEN
WITHIN months of coming off the production line the Range Rover was driven by Roger Moore in The Persuaders. It has also appeared in at least five Bond films, including Octopussy, which featured it in the opening title sequence. The upcoming Die Another Day will feature a Range Rover 4.4 V8 Vogue.
STILL MADE IN BRITAIN
RANGE ROVER has gone through several owners since it was launched by British Leyland. It is now part of Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India’s Tata Motors. But the car is still made in Solihull and the Evoque at Halewood, Merseyside.
BIGGEST LUXURY EXPORT
THE Range Rover, the company claims, contributes £10billion to the UK economy annually, constituting our single biggest ‘luxury’ export product.