2001 Range Rover Bordeaux

This 2001 Range Rover Bordeaux has a lot going for it. It’s number 37 out of 100 petrol Bordeaux Editions made, with a perfectly modest 110,491 miles on the clock. Power comes from the timeless coupling of a 4.0-litre Rover V8 petrol and the equally venerable four-speed ZF automatic. (Being a late model, it benefits from facelift headlamps and BOSCH engine management, rather than the earlier GEMS system.) To the best of our knowledge no major mechanical expense is required, and the car comes with a long MOT. In fact it’s never failed an MOT in its life, and never had any advisories until its latest test.

“There’s not a thing on it that doesn’t work,” the owner tells us. “The suspension comes up as soon as you start it, and it drives an absolute dream. The engine runs so quiet you can hardly hear it. We reckon it might have been owned by someone who worked at a Range Rover dealership, it’s that good. Ten of its MOTs were done at the same garage, next to a Range Rover dealership.”

Unfortunately we can’t get the V8 to start, although it does turn over and the owner insists it was running perfectly the day before collection. The battery has been allowed to go flat, which can cause the security system to ‘forget’ the key. All that’s required, hopefully, is for the key’s EKA code to be reprogrammed to the car, using a simple procedure that involves turning the door key back and forth in the lock, the correct number of times. With a bit of luck, that’s all it needs – but please note that we can not guarantee this to be the case. 

The car has been in the current owner’s family (first his brother, then himself) for about a year. Poor health is his only reason for selling, so he can focus on his two other prestige motors.

The luxurious spec includes side steps, electric mirrors, cruise control, air conditioning, electric sun roof, climate control, privacy glass and lashings of leather – dating from an era when we appreciated such these things rather than taking them for granted. 

Cosmetically, the exterior ranges from poor to really rather good, depending on which area you’re looking at. Starting at the rear, where the main defects can be found…

The colour-coded rear bumper could do with a respray as it has a few scuffs and areas of faded lacquer. There are a couple of dents at the nearside rear corner, and the offside rear is showing some crinkles where a previous crunch has occurred. The owner has popped this dent out to make it less obvious.

It’s better news for the tailgate. Although it has a ding on the lower section, it isn’t plagued by the crispiness along the bottom which so many Range Rover are afflicted by. 

Moving forward, the doors are very smart and the black strips around the privacy glass are in good order. The wing mirror trims have also avoided the usual fading, although there’s a scuff on the nearside mirror.

The red painted sections of those alloys make them very rare, and they’re all in lovely condition. There’s only the tiniest bit of bubbling and scratching, only visible on close inspection. P38 wheels usually don’t look this good unless they’ve been refurbished. 

The front bumper is much smarter than the rear, showing only a few tiny chips. The headlamps and the surrounding trim are in excellent condition, and the unpainted plastics are not showing unsightly fading (another thing that can spoil P38s). The foglamps beneath are mismatched but undamaged.

It gets better the further forward you look!

The steering column is manually adjustable for rake and reach. Around the wheel you’ll see the leather is showing some wear (common on P38s) but this can be effectively restored for relatively little outlay. Importantly, the wood sections are in nice condition. 

The seats in P38s are as comfortable as they are hard-wearing. These cream leather examples with red piping are nice and tidy overall, with no major rips or damage. They could do with a little clean though, and some more intensive treatment would benefit the driver’s arm rest which is showing some cracks. Nothing beyond salvage.

The leather-trimmed gear lever and handbrake are also in good order. Those switches along the top-centre of the dash are for the cruise control, hazards, suspension height selection (indicated by the LEDs to the right of the switch), suspension height lock, and foglamps.

In the boot you’ll find a fire extinguisher, a CD autochanger and a full-sized spare wheel under the boot floor. Throughout the vehicle the carpets are in clean and smart condition, as are the Range Rover branded treadplates; the only real wear is to be found at the driver’s entry point. Judging by the good condition of the trim poppers around the driver’s seat base, the body computer underneath it has probably never been touched.

The headlining is sagging and coming away from its rear corners, as is common in these vehicles, but there are specialists who can retrim this for relatively little outlay. Well worth looking into.

There are just a few advisories on the latest MOT. These refer to three corroded brake pipes and a minor leak of exhaust gases from the centre box, so the next owner will want to invest in these issues before the next test in June 2024. The exhaust may be the original, judging by the Land Rover logos stamped into it, and you’ll see the centre box has a temporary patch repair. Replacing this section shouldn’t be too costly as it is separate from the rear twin silencers.

There is a patch of corrosion on the nearside rear wheelarch, visible when the rear door is opened. We are not aware of any other serious corrosion on the vehicle – only surface rust as may be expected, and the chassis looks solid. Please do inspect our photos carefully, and make your own inspection of the vehicle if you are unsure.

The owner tells us the brake discs and pads were replaced this summer, and they’ll still need bedding in. They are currently binding a bit at the rear, so perhaps the calipers need attention as well.

The diffs are free from oil drips, as is the gearbox – just the usual residue. There is a bit more evidence of escaping oil under the engine, but no major leaks that we can see. 

Under the bonnet, first impressions of the engine are great. The only obvious issue to report is that the bonnet is missing its insulation. There appears to be plenty of life left in the many hoses and cables (assuming none of the oil pipes are leaking) so an afternoon of detailing could really make it sparkle.

An invoice from June 2023, included in our photos, shows an engine oil flush and filter change. Other than that, we don’t have much paperwork with the car, but the owner assures us it has been fastidiously maintained. Judging by its MOT history, he’s probably right.

The mileage and MOT record show that the car has been MOTed every year, apart from a hiatus in 2022, and has accrued just a few thousand miles each year throughout its 21 years. In other words, no lengthy lay-ups, and absolutely no MOT failures either. Quite remarkable.

You’ll notice a Category N write-off was issued in 2022. This related only to the ding on the rear off-side wing.

We love the hidden potential in this old Rangie, especially given the lovely colour scheme and discretely exclusive status that comes with it being a Bordeaux Edition. Once it’s running again and its main blemishes are attended to, it’s guaranteed to feel quite special. 

Cost-effectiveness hasn’t typically been associated with P38s, but as modern Land Rovers become ever more expensive to keep on the road, some buyers are returning to these older models with their head as well as their heart. Although no Range Rover is likely to be a simple project (and the next owner would be wise to invest in a diagnostic tool) few vehicles can be as lovely to own.

Earlier this year we were pleased to sell a 2000 Range Rover Holland & Holland Edition for just over £16,000, which indicates some of the momentum that’s gathering behind P38s – and rightly so. Although the Bordeaux Edition will never be quite as exclusive as the Holland & Holland, arguably that just makes them even better value, and more usable too. 

Cosmetically, the easiest gains here could come from respraying the rear bumper then attending to the rear wings – possibly replacing them if they can’t be cost-effectively restored. In the cabin you’ll get a similar effect from smartening up the steering wheel. Just those few areas would significantly uplift the whole picture, leaving you to tittivate the remaining details at your leisure.

We are happy to offer this vehicle for auction with no reserve.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.