1980 Range Rover 2-dr V8

Finished in vibrant Masai Red over cream vinyl, we are told that this two-door Range Rover Classic is still fitted with its original Rover V8 engine and four-speed manual gearbox.

Having spent its life near Pretoria in the salt-free climate of South Africa, it appears rust-free and looks sensational. Recently resprayed, the interior and mechanical components have also been refreshed, leaving it looking and driving as it should.

Wearing the South African registration number ‘WNW 065A’, freshly MOT’d and wearing a set of brand-new tyres, it is ready for work or play, as a daily driver or part of a static collection. As regular watchers will have noticed, the two-door Range Rover has a dedicated following, and we’re guessing that it won’t be long before we’re all ruing the days when we could buy them for this little…

We’ve sold a few two-door Range Rovers recently and while they’ve all been lovely, none have demonstrated the panel fit and condition of this one.

Masai Red, which is the colour it left the factory finished in, is a great colour and while most cars of this period and shade would have faded after years of living in a hot climate, this one is still bright and fresh thanks to the recent respray.

Everything lines up well too - and there’s even some semblance of consistent shutlines, which isn’t something you get to write about many old Range Rovers…

An aftermarket ‘Sunmaster’ glass sunroof has been fitted, which opens and closes well, and seals tightly. A towbar is fitted.

The steel wheels have been painted recently. They shod with matching 205R16 Nexen Roadian CT8 tyres too, all of which are so new as to still have the stickers on the tread.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

Work yet to do is remarkably limited: Aside from the odd stonechip and mark and a scuff on the front corner of the offside front wing, the driver’s side door lock barrel is hanging out; the offside door mirror needs refitting; the rear glass tailgate needs a hefty shove; some of the window rubbers have perished; and the vinyl on the offside C-pillar is a bit cracked and scratched.

That that is the extent of the work needed on a forty-year-old Range Rover tells you everything you need to know about how good this example is.

Oh, and some of the screws holding the cracked rear light lenses on are missing. Mind you, as Land Rover does use 15 on each side the chances of it falling out with the odd one missing are low.

The refurbished cream vinyl interior is really rather good. Again, while a hot climate does wonders for the preservation of metal, it often wreaks havoc on the interior fabrics. Not so in this case, as it all looks remarkably fresh thanks to the vendor’s recent investment.

The carpets, for example, are clean and have a deep pile. Trimmed with matching edging too, they fit well and look terrific. The top of the dashboard is also in great shape with none of the cracking, damage, and sun-fading you tend to find. There are no extraneous holes for auxiliary switches and dials either, which is nice to see.

The vinyl seat coverings are very good for their age, and while the seat bases have been freshly painted, this has been done with more enthusiasm than care so a fastidious owner might like to redo them. The seats themselves are still comfortable and supportive though, and we’d be happy to use them as they are for a good few years yet.

The headlining around the sunroof is free of the sort of water-stains that are commonplace on the model even if it is all a little bit wrinkly and falling down on the nearside rear.

Other blemishes? Well, the retaining plates for the handbrake gaiter are a little crude, the door cards could do with some freshening up, and there are some marks and tiny holes on the vinyl upholstery.

To be honest though, they’re trivial and we only mention them for completeness.

The engine bay is pretty darned good, and it even still has the original chassis plate under there.

Said to still be the original engine and gearbox, the car underwent recommissioning recently, work that left it running and driving good.

As you can see in the video, the engine starts and runs very well. The exhaust might be a bit loud for some tastes but it sure makes an impressive noise!

The underside is rock-solid and free of the sort of rust and serious rot that plagues UK cars. But then you’d already guessed that, hadn’t you?

The Range Rover’s MOT certificate, which is valid until December 2021, was gained without a single advisory point. Put on even though it’s old enough now not to need one, the car also comes with a letter from HMRC confirming that the appropriate UK duty and VAT has been paid. Completing a UK registration with a V55/5 form is a simple next step for the new owner.

As with so many imported cars, there is no paperwork from its time abroad other than its South African logbook, so potential bidders will need to set their budget based on its current condition.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

Look, you could go out and buy a new Range Rover for a hundred grand, or a new Defender for a little less (although, you’d only need to get a little bit spicy with the options list to reach six figures…) at which point you’d be losing thousands a month in depreciation - and spending more hours in a recovery truck than Jamie Davis…

Or, you could do the smart thing and buy this, the SUV that started the ball rolling half-a-century ago. Vibrant in Masai Red and utterly classless, you’ll gather only approbation and approval, instead of scorn and despairing letters from your bank manager.

Yes, it’ll need some fettling along the way but you’ll be adding value and reliability as you do so – and with the coming unpleasantness, we’re guessing that you, like us, will be aching for an excuse to get away from the family for a few hours into the sanctuary of your garage.

All of which makes the guide price of somewhere between £10,000 and £16,000 seem like a bit of a bargain to us. As ever, of course, the reserve is set even lower, so you might be able to snag a bargain.

Inspection is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.