The Range Rover was a landmark design on many levels. Technically, it was a breakthrough in bringing a level ride comfort to fully off-road capable vehicle that had not been seen before, thanks to its extremely long-travel all-coil suspension; more like something Peugeot would come up with. The other aspect that defined the RR, and undoubtedly contributed to its quarter-century long life span was its timeless and rather elegant boxy but airy body design. Turns out that was just a fluke. And a very happy one. aronline.co.uk has a nice piece on the RR’s development, but here’s what the RR was supposed to look like (not something that would have aged nearly so well):
The RR was going to be much more heavily “styled”, as this of the clay by designer David Bachle shows. The project to create a “Road Rover” actually goes back to the forties, and in the fifties, it came close to production.
But then it was much more of a conventional wagon then, built on Rover’s P5 passenger car platform.That obviously never made it into production.
Rover was re-inspired by what it saw happening in the US, with the 1963 Jeep Wagoneer and the Scout and Bronco. That led to a totally new approach, and an all new chassis, as well as taking advantage of the recently acquired ex-Buick 3.5 L V8.
The boxy version seen at the top was just an engineering mule put together to test the new chassis. But when the Rover folks saw it, they loved it, and turned it into the definitive Range Rover, with a bit of work on its grille. Who needs designers anyway?
David Bache also had a big part in the development of the Rover P5. I have a book on the P5 and it has this same picture of the then-called Road Rover. It reminds me of an Austin A40 Estate.
I have always wanted an RR Classic. After having owned several Rovers and worked on a few, I still have not. I love the ride quality plus off-road ability. It’s not found in that combination on any other vehicle. But it is just not a practical vehicle for me. However I spoke to a guy at length who just got an LWB County and is importing a 300TDI to put in it. I asked if we could follow his project here and he agreed. So I can live vicariously through him at least.
Great.
I feel the same way about the RR. I just posted a longish comment on the other RR piece. I think the biggest problem was BL turning an originally simple machine into a luxo-SUV. It’s fundamental design and capabilities are very appealing.
My brother had a Landrover repair shop in QLD and one lucrative sideline was exporting diesel engines to the US for some reason noone sold them new there. I was surpruised but he also said most of the work he carried out was not reliability issues mostly wear and tear repairs.
“Who needs designers anyway?”
Amen. Every time I park in a lot with diamond shaped planters between the spaces exactly where one corner of my car should go, I curse the type of people who destroy function in the name of their sense of form. The world would be a better place if the folks who design four door coupes were unemployed.
It’s interesting that Buick engines and Chrysler transmissions played a role in the history of Range Rover and Jeep.
Come to think of it Bachle’s clay has an AMC vibe to it.
Jeep has raided the GM parts bin many times in its history, the early XJ Cherokees had a an anemic 2.8L GM V6 before the iconic 4.0 I6.
I’m aware of AMC’s parts bin raiding. I always got a kick out of it actually..