1980 Range Rover 3-Door Suffix G

The car presented here is 1980 Suffix G Range Rover that was delivered new to South Africa, being assembled at the Leyland Blackheath plant, outside of Cape Town prior to being sold by Eloff Leyland to Mr C.F De Langue of Florida Panel Beaters in Johannesburg, bearing the registration number CVL 767T. Today, remarkably, it’s still accompanied by its original logbook, in the name of Mr De Langue, the original owner’s manual and sales brochure, plus historical service records (with all ten 5,000 km service intervals stamped up to the last available page at 50,000 km). The logbook (and an inspection) confirms it as a matching numbers example. Historic registration documents show that the vehicle has had a handful of owners and remained registered in the inland Johannesburg area until 2014, when it was purchased by Mr Leigh Briggs and transferred to the Eastern Cape Province. Mr Briggs kept the vehicle fully maintained (service and maintenance records are available) and used the car for weekend fishing expeditions, until it was sold to our vendor in late 2021. It has now been imported into the UK and registered as KVO 975V; obviously, being a historical vehicle, it is tax and MOT exempt, but nevertheless, our vendor fastidiously obtained an advisory-free MOT in December 2023 for provenance and peace of mind.

Our vendor had been searching for the correct Range Rover Classic for two years before acquiring this example. He bought it because he wanted a rust-free, mechanically sound example which he could return to showroom condition to fulfil his intention of soundly bringing back a true classic to its former glory. After driving KVO regularly for 6 months, he commissioned a comprehensive programme of work, costing £15,000+, including a colour change from the original Burnt Orange, a colour that was not available in the UK, to Bahama Gold. The restoration process has been photographically and financially documented and all the receipts are available. The vehicle was fully stripped back to the shell, revealing a frame in outstanding condition and the only welding required was to the front driver’s footwell, a small area of the front, nearside sill and a small area of the frame behind the front, near side wing. The chassis appeared to be in perfect condition and required no welding. The chassis and frame were then prepared, rust-proofed, primed and re-painted. There was some rust on the lower tailgate, which was professionally removed, and the upper tailgate was replaced since the lower section was rusted beyond repair. At considerable cost, a full set of new rubber seals were purchased from Famous Four in the UK and fitted all around (windscreen, windows, doors, tailgate), as well as new quarter-light frames, rear light and front side light clusters, door mirrors and petrol cap. While a new windscreen and tailgate were fitted, all the other glass is in original condition and the original registration number is etched onto each window. The vehicle’s interior was then sound-proofed using Dodo Mat insulation and the vehicle was professionally resprayed in Bahama Gold (LRC 235) using 2k paint.

The interior has been completely replaced with all new parts imported from both Exmoor Trim and Famous Four. This includes everything from the interior courtesy lights to the seat covers. In short, the items imported and professionally fitted are herringbone cloth seat covers all round, a full set of bronze carpets (a pair of bronze rear-wheel arch covers is included in the sale but have not been fitted because they were not originally fitted to 1980 models), Palomino door cards, arm rests, rear panels, B and C pillar trims, front footwell side trims and the Hardura spare wheel and tool-roll covers. The original dash top was badly cracked, so a replacement dash top in perfect condition was purchased from Suffix Matters in the UK, this alone costing £575.

A new headlining was sourced locally, and the interior now presents in as new condition. A CD/radio is fitted in the correct place and correctly wired. The vendor has not fitted speakers in the new door cards, preferring to appreciate the hum of the V8. Being a South Africa-assembled vehicle, this example comes with working, factory-fitted AC.

Mechanically, the vehicle has always been kept in excellent running condition, with maintenance records dating from 1980-1983 and from 2014-2024 and anecdotal history from 2007-2014. While a mechanical restoration was not required, the vendor (and the previous owner) has spared no expense on ensuring this vehicle can be used every day if desired. The car has been fully serviced, the twin Stromberg carburettors have been professionally rebuilt and a new starter motor, battery and brake master cylinder have been fitted. Furthermore, a reconditioned alternator has been installed and the whole electrical system has been checked over ensuring there are no gremlins to contend with.

The engine runs beautifully, the gearbox is as precise as it can be for a Range Rover Classic, and the brakes and clutch operate perfectly. The vehicle has been exclusively garaged by the vendor at his homes in Cape Town and the UK, and is now offered for sale in exceptional, turn-key condition.