I spotted this assemblage of Great Britain’s finest 4×4’s just off one of the main drags in midtown on my way back from Trader Joe’s and figured it needed to be shared. I’ve been a long time admirer of these but not yet a first-time buyer, which I don’t think is going to be changing any time soon though.
There appear to be two examples of the Range Rover P38 (second) generation here, which I have always found extraordinarily physically attractive inside and out and am amazed that the shape is now 25 years old, as well as a second generation Land Rover Discovery (also a shape over 20 years old now) which was a favorite lease special among some of my acquaintances in my age group a few years out of college. None of them went for another one after their lease was up, but some came away with very interesting conversation topics regarding various low mileage failures that nobody else ever seemed to experience in their new cars.
Nevertheless, they aren’t all bad, our own Importamation seems to have had generally good luck with his Land Rover and if you are inclined to want one of your own, Brendan seems to have come around to the marque’s charms after having the opportunity to sample one a while back and now is in the business of retailing them, give him a call if you are serious! The seating position is excellent, visibility is usually marvelous with lots of glass, the scent from the leather is intoxicating, and in the US at least, these were all V-8 powered.
In the back (behind the P38 that seems to have a floor jack under it) is a first generation Range Rover which are starting to become quite rare, dare I say “classic”? And behind that is something just as blocky, a 1980’s Subaru wagon, perhaps used as the parts runner for this collection. I have no idea why the Skid/Steer is in the driveway, but why not, it’s an eccentric enough gathering otherwise.
I think they just won’t start anymore.. ..
Ha! (Thinking about the horrifying Jaguar joke that went through half a season of Mad Men.)
I bet his neighbors just love him.
and wish they lived in an HOA…..
I would prefer the term “Automotive Masochist” myself, but whatever works.
I would imagine that one of these is a parts car, one has been taken out by an electrical gremlin that just can’t be found, the other is a work in progress, and the other is a daily driver that’s showing its age. Which one is which, I’ll leave that up to interpretation.
The Skid/Steer is the daily driver.
Maybe someone opened a jar of Lucas smoke on Devil’s night, causing the owner to park one of them.
Any guesses about his dog’s name?
It sure as heck isn’t Evoque.
Given the complexity and probable reliability issues of old 38a Range Rovers, it only makes sense to run them in a redundant failover configuration.
Kidding aside it was interesting to see our neighbor demonstrating his series one Discovery’s axle articulation on a 2′ snowdrift.
Whatever else you may say or hear about these, the capability of these vehicles off-road is truly phenomenal. Nothing will get close, except perhaps on sand
Well as they say, if you’re going to own an older Land Rover, you’d better own two of them… one to drive when the other one is in the shop 🙂
If there’s one thing I’ve learned so far in my experience in working for Land Rover, it’s that Land Rover owners love their cars – both for their amazing qualities and their faults.
Land Rovers and Range Rovers truly offer a level of experience unrivaled by most high-end brands, save for the exotics. For many, once they own one, they’ll never drive anything else.
All I know is that they smell fantastic whenever I get into one. But I can see myself agreeing with all of your points. 🙂
Just to pile on, I wonder which one of them runs….
I love British cars and Land Rovers in particular. Even owned a Rover Sterling 827SLi for awhile (yes, it got sent to the scrapyard when the unobtainiam brake master cylinder let go. And yes, they made hundreds of thousands of them and Rover-specific parts are very scarce because even the Brits crushed them…
But I am not enough of a masochist to venture into old Land Rover ownership.
Plot twist: All the Rovers run perfectly and are owned by Anglophile Doomsday preppers who breed attack Corgis and cultivate artisinal tea while waiting for The End.
I love the attack Corgis! Maybe that explains how her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth has had such a long and successful reign.
“Your Majesty, there are intruders in the palace!”
“Notify the Captain of the Guard. Release the Corgis!”