1979 Land Rover Range Rover

Documents: Cancelled French Certificat d'Immatriculation

Chassis No. 35843625F

Engine No. 34121240F

Unveiled by Rover in 1970, the Range Rover closed a gap no other manufacturer had before combining rugged off-road capability with civilized road manners into a single vehicle. Power came from Rover's own lightweight all-aluminum V8, driving all four wheels via a four-speed manual transmission and a two-speed transfer case. The lockable differential between the front and rear axles let the system run permanently engaged without the issues found in earlier part-time setups. That drivetrain, coil-spring suspension at all four corners, and servo-assisted disc brakes were all firsts for a production off-roader. It gave the Range Rover the composure to cruise the motorway with confidence and to leave the road behind entirely whenever desired. Through the 1970s the model was offered exclusively as a three-door, a configuration that remained until the first five-door arrived in 1981.

This desirable "Suffix F" left the factory as a French-market example and was first registered there on 4 January 1979. It sold again in France in 2010, and starting in 2015 it underwent a comprehensive, ground-up restoration to completely transform the car into its current stunning condition. Following the completion of its restoration, the Range Rover was brought to Belgium and at the time of cataloging shows just 1,215 km since the restoration's completion.

Three-door Range Rovers of this era rarely surface in such thoroughly restored order. Behind the wheel, the aluminum V8's low-end torque and the coil-sprung ride still feel remarkably capable for a design now approaching sixty years old, on road or off. Presented in this condition, it offers one of the most compelling entries to early Range Rover ownership as the model was first conceived.