2005 Range Rover Sport

You’ll have seen tired examples of first-gen Range Rover Sports, some of them questionably modified, but this certainly is not one of them. Boasting an incredibly low odometer reading of just 10,872 miles, it represents a rare opportunity to acquire a real survivor in superb condition, beautifully presented and ready to enjoy.

First registered on 30th November 2005, this is quite an early example and almost entirely original, equipped with the practical TDV6 diesel engine and six-speed ZF CommandShift automatic transmission.

The current owner has covered around 4000 miles in the car since buying it through us only last year. Paperwork includes the original order form, showing that this Range Rover’s first owner specified mud flaps and privacy glass, and paid a total of £38,888.

The Java Black paintwork is in outstanding condition throughout. Please take a moment to inspect our high-res photos to see for yourself – you’ll find a lovely glossy sheen all round and virtually no scratches, let alone dents or chipping. The door mirrors clearly haven’t been bashed or scratched along hedgerows, the exterior plastics are all excellent, and the bumpers are impressively free from carpark dings.

One of the images shows what appears to be a scuff at the rear left-hand corner, but you’ll see from the other photos of the same spot that this is actually a trick of the light.

The car is riding on original 18in 10-spoke alloy wheels, free from scuffs or curbing. They’re equipped with 255/55 Goodyear Wrangler tyres which show plenty of tread and appear to be wearing evenly.

The lamp units are all undamaged and free from fading; Range Rover headlamps from this era do discolour over time, so the clarity of these lenses is consistent with a car that has spent most of its life garaged.

The footwells and the boot are equipped with genuine Land Rover rubber mats, all in excellent condition. Our photographer has highlighted the gentle scuffing on the plastic trim at the entrance to the driver’s footwell, and that’s probably the worst area of wear you’ll find. The black carpets are also excellent, and there is no significant damage to any of the interior plastics or switchgear.

The black leather seats are virtually immaculate, especially in the rear where they appear to have never been sat in – they’re supple, smart and free from scuffs, discolouration or tears, with no deformation to any of the bolsters. There is no sunroof (and therefore much less risk of water ingress spoiling your investment) and the headlining is in lovely condition. Even the steering wheel looks remarkably un-worn.

The car comes with many of the bells and whistles that befit the Range Rover badge, including dual-zone climate control, electric seats, cruise control (operated from the steering wheel) and a CD player. These vehicles were some of the first to be equipped with Land Rover’s pioneering Terrain Response system, operated via a rotary dial in the centre console. There you will also find controls for the air suspension system and Hill Descent Control, all of which are believed to be operating correctly.

Peering underneath will reveal some surface rust, but nothing extreme for a vehicle of this age, and no severe structural corrosion. There’s certainly no reason to believe that this Range Rover has ever been off-road – no significant bashes, no accumulation of mud, and no damage to the steering rack gaiters, suspension bags, linkages etc. Everything looks remarkably original, as the service history suggests.

The owner advises us that underseal would be top of his to-do list if he were to keep the vehicle, but he has chosen to leave it exposed so the next owner can judge its structural integrity. This generation of Range Rover Sport has a strong steel chassis, like the Discovery 3, but not all of them are as solid as this.

The engine bay is immaculate. The fluids are clean and the under-bonnet insulation looks untouched. We are not aware of any mechanical issues at all.

When we sold this vehicle last year, it had been garaged from new. The original owner had sadly died, followed by his wife, and the family returned the vehicle to the original vendor who briefly became the second owner and offered the vehicle for sale with us.

The winning bidder has continued to treat it well, and given it quite gentle use since then, racking up under 5000 miles. He tells us it’s been much too good for hard work, so he sensibly resisted the temptation to fit a tow bar – good news for the longevity of the transmission. The only change he made was to have the TDV6 engine professionally remapped to increase its low-down grunt.

There’s a comprehensive service history with this Range Rover Sport, and nothing scary to report. The receipts and service stamps show a replacement lamp unit, plus plenty of fluid and filter changes considering the paltry mileage.

We believe the timing belts may be due for renewal – simply due to its age rather than the miles it has covered; with that done, the next owner should have many miles of trouble-free motoring ahead.

This is a real rarity, one for a true enthusiast. With its black-on-black colour scheme and lack of modifications, it’s remarkably discrete to the casual observer, but aficionados will appreciate just how unusual it is to find an early Range Rover Sport in this condition. A ‘modern classic’, perhaps?

We agree with the current owner that this vehicle is far too good for rough use or towing work (he now has an Ineos Grenadier for that kind of labour), but its practical specification will make it ideal for gentle duties and fun weekends away with the family.

Careful maintenance and professional rust-proofing will ensure it holds its value. And with that gorgeous paintwork, it’ll help if you’re handy with a chamois!

We estimate this vehicle to fetch between £13,000 - £18,000 in auction.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at Bonhams|Cars Online 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’.