For sale: Incredibly rare prototype of the first Range Rover
#1
For sale: Incredibly rare prototype of the first Range Rover
Early next year, the incredibly rare prototype Range Rover is expected to sell for more than £30,000 at auction.
Land Rover wanted to develop a luxury off-roader that was capable of coping with the demands of the countryside while providing the level of comfort normally associated with a high-end saloon.
Designers worked on the project in secret under the name Velar, from the Italian 'velare', meaning 'veiled' or 'covered'.
Before the introduction of the Range Rover, off-road vehicles were seen as very agricultural and used by farmers or people in remote locations.
Read more: For sale: Incredibly rare prototype of the first Range Rover that was so secret even its name meant 'covered'* | Daily Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook Land Rover Greensboro NC
Land Rover wanted to develop a luxury off-roader that was capable of coping with the demands of the countryside while providing the level of comfort normally associated with a high-end saloon.
Designers worked on the project in secret under the name Velar, from the Italian 'velare', meaning 'veiled' or 'covered'.
Before the introduction of the Range Rover, off-road vehicles were seen as very agricultural and used by farmers or people in remote locations.
Read more: For sale: Incredibly rare prototype of the first Range Rover that was so secret even its name meant 'covered'* | Daily Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook Land Rover Greensboro NC
Last edited by js8488; 12-05-2015 at 08:46 AM. Reason: update
The following 2 users liked this post by js8488:
drowssap (12-09-2014),
OffroadFrance (12-10-2014)
#2
I read the first prototypes were built in 1967 and called "Velar." I don't think it is accurate to say they were designed as "luxury off-roaders" or intended to associate with "high-end saloons." Especially in modern context, "luxury" and "high-end" are just not accurate. Rover did not make any luxury or high-end cars. They had nothing more to do with luxury than the Chevrolet and Ford brands.
What the Range Rover was, was an off-road vehicle that was more capable than the Series, and could also serve the same functions as a regular saloon. That hardly made it a luxury car, but it made it very practical. Prior to the Range Rover, if you needed or wanted a 4x4 in England, your only option was a rather crude farm truck that you could not expect your wife to drive. The Range Rover changed that by meeting the 4x4 need and fulfilling all the demand on a regular car. It was an all-purpose vehicle.
"Luxury" might have been applicable in a relative context to the Series, and in the exaggerated language of advertisements, but "luxury" in the modern sense never applied to the first Range Rovers. Spen King has said as much himself and that he regrets how they've become symbols of ostentatious and conspicuous consumption.
What the Range Rover was, was an off-road vehicle that was more capable than the Series, and could also serve the same functions as a regular saloon. That hardly made it a luxury car, but it made it very practical. Prior to the Range Rover, if you needed or wanted a 4x4 in England, your only option was a rather crude farm truck that you could not expect your wife to drive. The Range Rover changed that by meeting the 4x4 need and fulfilling all the demand on a regular car. It was an all-purpose vehicle.
"Luxury" might have been applicable in a relative context to the Series, and in the exaggerated language of advertisements, but "luxury" in the modern sense never applied to the first Range Rovers. Spen King has said as much himself and that he regrets how they've become symbols of ostentatious and conspicuous consumption.
#3
I kinda don't get it. Other than its build time....it's no different from any other Rover. Or so it seems by the pics. 95% of people won't be able to tell that one from any other one. Unless I'm missing something. Like the guys who get off by early production number cars. To me your spending a small fortune on the exact same vehicle anyone else can buy for a fraction of the cost.
#4
This guy, Brian Bashall, was one of the development engineers of the original RR Classic as it is known today. He started a company in Surrey, England called Dunsfold Landrovers with some of the old and original LR's.
He owned back in the late 60's and early 70's one of the original 5 RR's which he assisted LR in the development of and all his life has been a dealer and collector of LR's. His workshops were a 5 minute drive from my UK house and he assisted me greatly with the rebuild of my Series 2A. His son's are BIG offroaders in England and continue the business and another associated offroad business.
Brian Bashall is probably one of the most respected authorities on LR's and I would count him amongst my pals as a willing helper although an excellent parts supplier, unfortunately I have lost touch with him in recent years. What he doesn't know about Landrovers ain't worth knowing.
If you are interested the links are all here and they are endless.
Brians LR collection is, I believe, the larget LR collection in existence.
https://www.google.fr/webhp?sourceid...d%20landrovers
Brian Bashall founder of Dunsfold Landrovers and the Dunsfold Collection | imagerover.com
http://www.dunsfoldcollection.co.uk/
Dunsfold DLR
Dunsfold Land Rover Collection Museum Surrey | Land Rover Car Collection
Yasni result for http://www.thesteamboatingforum.net/landrover/judgedredd.htm
He owned back in the late 60's and early 70's one of the original 5 RR's which he assisted LR in the development of and all his life has been a dealer and collector of LR's. His workshops were a 5 minute drive from my UK house and he assisted me greatly with the rebuild of my Series 2A. His son's are BIG offroaders in England and continue the business and another associated offroad business.
Brian Bashall is probably one of the most respected authorities on LR's and I would count him amongst my pals as a willing helper although an excellent parts supplier, unfortunately I have lost touch with him in recent years. What he doesn't know about Landrovers ain't worth knowing.
If you are interested the links are all here and they are endless.
Brians LR collection is, I believe, the larget LR collection in existence.
https://www.google.fr/webhp?sourceid...d%20landrovers
Brian Bashall founder of Dunsfold Landrovers and the Dunsfold Collection | imagerover.com
http://www.dunsfoldcollection.co.uk/
Dunsfold DLR
Dunsfold Land Rover Collection Museum Surrey | Land Rover Car Collection
Yasni result for http://www.thesteamboatingforum.net/landrover/judgedredd.htm
#6
speaking of rare..
...did you see this?..
Is this near you Offroad?..
1961 car found in magazine pile may fetch $14 million - CNN.com
I personally like the writer's style equating the cars with Sleeping Beauty and how they need a deep kiss of restoration to awaken them Very poetic... also, check out the video at the BOTTOM of the page (better video) - he had a lot of stuff out there!
Is this near you Offroad?..
1961 car found in magazine pile may fetch $14 million - CNN.com
I personally like the writer's style equating the cars with Sleeping Beauty and how they need a deep kiss of restoration to awaken them Very poetic... also, check out the video at the BOTTOM of the page (better video) - he had a lot of stuff out there!
Last edited by landlover_1; 12-10-2014 at 11:52 AM.
The following users liked this post:
OffroadFrance (12-10-2014)
#7
...did you see this?..
Is this near you Offroad?..
1961 car found in magazine pile may fetch $14 million - CNN.com
I personally like the writer's style equating the cars with Sleeping Beauty and how they need a deep kiss of restoration to awaken them Very poetic... also, check out the video at the BOTTOM of the page (better video) - he had a lot of stuff out there!
Is this near you Offroad?..
1961 car found in magazine pile may fetch $14 million - CNN.com
I personally like the writer's style equating the cars with Sleeping Beauty and how they need a deep kiss of restoration to awaken them Very poetic... also, check out the video at the BOTTOM of the page (better video) - he had a lot of stuff out there!
#8
...did you see this?..
Is this near you Offroad?..
1961 car found in magazine pile may fetch $14 million - CNN.com
I personally like the writer's style equating the cars with Sleeping Beauty and how they need a deep kiss of restoration to awaken them Very poetic... also, check out the video at the BOTTOM of the page (better video) - he had a lot of stuff out there!
Is this near you Offroad?..
1961 car found in magazine pile may fetch $14 million - CNN.com
I personally like the writer's style equating the cars with Sleeping Beauty and how they need a deep kiss of restoration to awaken them Very poetic... also, check out the video at the BOTTOM of the page (better video) - he had a lot of stuff out there!
PS. I like everything from a Ford Taunus to a Facel Vega.
I live near Mirambeau a few kilometres off the A10. La Rochelle is north/north west and Bordeaux is south. If you pan out on the map and see the relativity I'm nearer Bordeaux which is 40 minutes south and La Rochelle 1 hour north/north west.
Last edited by OffroadFrance; 12-10-2014 at 04:33 PM.
#9
#10
I think the guys who buy this type of car(s) are usually bankers or crooks, the latter laundering ill gotten gains I guess. Lord knows where they find the $$$$$$$ millions to buy them and more $$$$$$$$$ millions to restore them.
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