Since its initial introduction of the first prototype in 1958, the Land Rover Range Rover was designed strictly with utility in mind. Although there were always internal company pressures applied to make the vehicles more aesthetically pleasing, Range Rovers kept grounded to their own very distinct style and work-based features and specifications. The utilitarianism of these trend-setting classic SUVs proved to be very successful. The Range Rover remained in production for over 25 years, finally coming to an end in 1996, but only to make room for the improved P38 Range Rover.
The viability of the Range Rover project was finally accepted in the middle of the 1960s. In 1966 the development of an "Interim Station Wagon" was initiated by Land Rover. Land Rover was feeling the pressures of declining military orders and needed to come up with a money source to remain in business. They purchased the rights to use the original 3.5L V8 engines and inserted them into a 5-seat station wagon-style vehicle with P6 comfort standards.
Because the gearbox on the standard Land Rover could not accommodate the strength of the V8, Land Rover designed a new, high-low gearbox for the Range Rover. A locking centralized differential was installed to provide 4WD capabilities. Leaf springs were replaced with long traveling vertical coil spring systems and in July of 1967, the first Range Rover prototype was complete. About the only elements that were common to the original Land Rovers were the drum brakes and the transmissions. A second prototype was designed to compare the differences in performance provided by disc brakes and a Boge Hydromat leveling unit.
To keep costs of production to a minimum, a 2-door body style was chosen. The new Rover needed some style added. It greatly resembled a field vehicle suitable only for military purposes. Two designers, Spen King and Gordon Bashford, brainstormed the design standards that would be implemented for both the interior and the exterior of the Range Rover and prototype 3 was born. Prototypes 4, 5, and 6 were soon to follow. They provided models that would be tested, retested and filmed for further research and design modifications. A final prototype, 100-7, was created to isolate any remaining problems associated with full production.
Official production of the Range Rover was begun in 1969. Initially, there were 25 vehicles created, all lacking rear seating and trim. Another batch of 20 was produced for the official press launch in June of 1970. By 1972, production was flowing at 100 every week and by 1975, production stood at 250 Rovers per week.
The public was very pleased with the Range Rover and demand exceeded all projections. Everyone from the police to land owners to horse farmers to family men were waiting for the delivery of their very own Range Rovers. These utility-tough vehicles topped out their speed at 100 miles per hour and could thrive in terrain where the vast majority of vehicles feared to touch their tires to.
Demand remained consistently impressive and for the next 20 years plus, Range Rovers underwent constant redefining and improving. The four-door model emerged in 1972 and quickly became the most popular seller. ABS braking, electronic air suspension and electronic traction control were all first seen in Range Rovers. The vehicles always maintained their utilitarian design profile and the Range Rover is still the only vehicle ever to be classified as a work of art by the Louvre.
The Land Rover Range Rover Classic will always be a favorite of many offroad enthusiasts and people worldwide continue to relish every second spent cruising the backroads, and the city streets, in theirs. Range Rovers did more than stand the test of time; they helped to define time itself.
