Picture this. It’s 9 a.m., on a Tuesday. You’re driving to work, eating a full bowl of cereal. Some jabroni cuts you off in traffic. You slam on your brakes and spill your cereal all over the place.
Normally, this would be the kind of situation in which you would become completely untethered. Covered head to toe in delicious cereal, your rage would know no bounds as you come down on this traffic bozo like the crashing of a thousand waves.
But then you remember that everything is OK. Because you’re in a Range Rover. All is well.
I think that’s about all the references to the TV show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia I can reasonably make. But it’s sincerely difficult not to think about Dennis Reynolds’ iconic transporter of gods when you lay eyes on a well-kept, late-model, first-generation Range Rover like this 1992 example for sale in East York, Ont., on AutoTrader.
Even though the exterior colour is Cornish Cream and not Ardennes Green like the Sunny Rover, it does feature the same Sorrel Brown interior — naturally, as that was the only interior option offered in 1992 for those exterior colours — and the infamous 3.9-litre Rover V8 engine (we’ll get to that).
Here’s a little trivia: all Canadian Range Rovers received standard daytime running lights and engine block heaters to meet the new legal road requirements for 1990. Apparently, Land Rover didn’t think it ever rained or was foggy in the United States … or Britain.
Of course, the V8 found in Range Rover classics doesn’t exactly have a reputation for reliability. While it’s generally agreed that the 3.9L was an upgrade over the 3.5L V8 and enthusiasts tout that it is actually quite a robust engine if properly maintained, you’ll read about everything from gremlins in the electronic fuel injection to burnt-out camshafts due to poor oiling and general overheating. Enthusiasts also joke that classic Rovers “mark their territory” by leaking oil.
This particular Range Rover has undergone a comprehensive restoration to eliminate any of those concerns.
The current owner claims to have receipts totalling over $60,000 in mechanical and cosmetic restorations to bring it back to stock condition and has held onto all of the service records and documentation for prospective buyers to review.
In 2015, a previous owner overhauled the suspension and brake systems and rebuilt the transmission to get this Rover roadworthy.
The current owner took things a step further, replacing all the major ignition components, electrical wiring, sensors, idle controls, and drive belts. A modern ECU unit has replaced the original unit under the passenger seat to keep everything in check.
Inside, a variety of plastic trim pieces have been replaced along with the front seat covers and factory floor mats.
Best of all, the seller claims that they regularly drive this Rover. It’s on the road and in use. And that’s what you want out of a proper SUV, even a classic (yes, a 1992 vehicle is now a classic) like this one, you can and should drive it daily. (Although, a daily commute from the suburbs into the city might be ill-advised.)
At an asking price of $34,500, you can have this finisher car, this magnificent machine fit for a golden god, for less than the price of a new Bronco Sport — which is, let's face it, a real starter car.
Plus, you don’t even have to fish it out of a river yourself.
Even that would be fine, though, because this is an all-terrain amphibious vehicle, a piece of fine European engineering. More of a lifestyle than a car, really…
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