1976 Range Rover 3-Door Classic

First registered in 1976 and finished in Lincoln Green (as per Prince Philips own Range Rover) this two-door Suffix ‘D’ model has been extensively restored - reborn, to give JLR’s official name - by Jaguar Land Rover’s Heritage Department, meaning this is quite possibly as close as you can get to a new Range Rover Classic from a mechanical standpoint.

Purchased by the current owner around 18 months ago, the plan was for this vehicle to be a long-term ‘keeper’ in his considered and cherished collection, and as such it was dispatched to Jaguar Land Rover - in the vendor’s words, it was sent ‘home’ - and a full mechanical overhaul commissioned, to build upon the body-off restoration carried out in 2010-12, during which time the chassis was galvanised.

Whilst in the superbly capable hands of JLR, the following works were carried out (a full breakdown can be found in the ‘documents’ section below):

- New radiator

- Full power steering system overhaul

- Front swivels

- Full engine strip and rebuild with new carburettors

- Rebuilt gearbox and transfer box (the main reason for sending the vehicle to JLR)

- New differential

- Strip and powder-coat all wheels and bumpers

- Fitment of new sound deadening around the transmission

Having carried out only around 700 miles since being ‘reborn’ by JLR, this wonderful Range Rover Classic is still technically being run-in, and the vendor has reported that it drives superbly and without fault, something that we, too, can attest to from our short test drive.

Not only has this example been extensively restored, but it also remains wonderfully original in its specification, with the only known upgrades being a more modern stereo unit, Magnacor H/T leads, and a switchable Kenlowe electric cooling fan.

Now, changing storage priorities and space force the reluctant sale of this wonderful ‘Classic’ which offers one lucky bidder the opportunity to obtain a JLR mechanically-restored example in nothing short of astounding condition throughout. Stop hunting around, this is the Suffix D you’ve been looking for…

Resplendent in Lincoln Green and still looking as wonderful today as the day it left the factory, there’s no denying that the early two-door Range Rover was one of British Leyland’s all-time design highlights.

Looking around the bodywork, we can see no signs of any impact damage, dents, dings or interruptions to the squared-off lines of this iconic classic, nor any mis-aligned panels, loose trim or missing bodywork.

The Lincoln Green paintwork is also in excellent condition throughout, and we’d wager that the vehicle was re-sprayed at some point in its history, likely during the body-off restoration in 2010-12.

There are a few small marks, imperfections and stone chips (commensurate with what we expect to be ~10 year old paintwork) and there are one-or-two areas of bubbling from paint reaction on the Aluminium body (most noticeably around the roof rails) though we’ve photographed these and shown them in the gallery below. It is also worth noting that these areas are no larger than a 50p piece at our estimate, and none of them would appear to have broken through the paintwork.

Elsewhere, some of the window seals are showing their age in a few areas, and there are a couple of small marks on the various trim pieces, but nothing that particularly stands out. This truly is a wonderful example of the two-door Range Rover, and certainly one of the best we’ve seen for a very long time indeed.

Under the arches, all four wheels present wonderfully, and are shod in matching high-quality Goodyear tyres.

Moving into the cabin, the Beige cloth interior has stood the test of time well, and contrasts wonderfully with the Lincoln Green paintwork on the outside.

Overall, the condition of the interior is simply fantastic. The seats, up front, show only some light creases and ‘scrunching’ of the material to attest to their use, whilst in the rear the bench seat looks to have been barely even looked at, let alone sat in.

There are a few more prominent ‘signs of life’ visible around the seats bases, however, with a few larger scuffs and some cracking evident in the trim along the base of the rear bench seat.

The high-traffic areas such as the door cards, door release pulls, arm rests, steering wheel, gearstick and inner centre console trims also display a commensurate usage patina, which - in our view - only adds to the character of the car, and backs up the notion that this example has been used sparingly and considerately over the years. The carpets have also been protected with a set of Land Rover rubber over-mats.

In the rear, the split-level tailgate opens and closes without any issues, and the capacious load bay presents well overall. There is some wear such as scuffs and scratches visible to the rear of the bench seat, but nothing out of the ordinary. The spare wheel is present, as is the cover.

During our road test, all gauges and electrical systems worked as they should, and the vendor reports no known faults with any of the systems, switches or features within the cabin.

Open up the weighty bonnet, and the venerable 3.5-litre V8 is present-and-correct, presenting fantastically both aesthetically and mechanically thanks to its recent attention by the masterful technicians at Jaguar Land Rover.

Firing up with ease regardless of whether it is hot or cold, and settling into a lovely smooth V8 burbling idle, the heart of this Range Rover Classic appears to be in nothing short of extraordinary health, showing a strong oil pressure reading (as seen in the video below) and running wonderfully during our short test drive to-and-from the photo shoot location, and happily idling for extended periods.

The transmission may well be like stirring a bowl of soup to find the gears (they’re all like that, sir) but when the gate is located, the gears hit home with a reassuring sturdiness, and both the gearbox and clutch were free of any fault or unexpected noise in our experience.

Broken roads, speed bumps and country lanes showed up no untoward noises from the chassis, and, on the whole, we were very impressed indeed with this ‘reborn’ Range Rover Classic.

On account of its age, this example is exempt from mandatory MoT examinations. That said, the current MoT certificate is valid until 11 July 2023, and shows a clean pass with no advisory items.

Included with this Range Rover classic is a wonderful and rich history, dating back to the original purchase invoice and order form from 1975, at a cost of £5,943, which would be £41,150 in today’s money.

Alongside this, there are numerous invoices from the 1970s, 80s and 90s, which only add to the history of this wonderful example.

Coming into the 21st century, there are a number of miscellaneous invoices for various sundry items and parts, along with regular servicing, which is always a good sign that a vehicle has been looked after over the years.

The invoice from - what appears to be - the previous body-off rebuild is also present at a cost of over £3,200, whist the invoice for the re-spray in factory Lincoln Green is also present, costing just shy of £4,000. A CD of restoration images is also included.

Perhaps most importantly, the full set of invoices, documents and estimates from Jaguar Land Rover’s mechanical restoration are present-and-correct, totalling over £23,000 to bring this ‘Classic’ back to full factory-fresh health. There are also a number of invoices from the vendor’s miscellaneous works on the vehicle, including a new fuel pump and filter, health checks, Magnacor ignition leads and more.

The V5 is present, showing 8 former keepers, and there are a number of modern and historic MoT certificates also included.

As always, we’ve photographed all of the documentation we’ve received, and this can be viewed at the end of the gallery below.

Simply fantastic, stunning, evocative and finished arguably in the best colour for the model, this wonderfully presented, extensively restored and charming example of the two-door Range Rover Classic is truly a sight to behold, and one which draws plenty of attention wherever it goes, both from those ‘in the know’ and people who simply appreciate a well-kept classic Range Rover.

Offered for sale with an estimate of £40,000 to £50,000 and still being run-in after its rebuild at the hands of JLR, this is an almost-unrepeatable opportunity to obtain a ‘reborn’ Range Rover Classic ‘Suffix D’ which is ready to simply jump in, drive, and enjoy.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.