Lot 189 - 1982 Range Rover Classic (Symbol)

• Rare Symbol upgrades
• Recent gearbox overhaul

The first generation Range Rover was produced between 1970 and 1996. The original car was not designed as a luxury-type 4x4; while certainly up-market compared to preceding Land Rover models, the early Range Rovers had fairly basic, utilitarian interiors with vinyl seats and plastic dashboards designed to be washed down with a hose. Features such as power assisted steering, carpeted floors; air conditioning, cloth/leather seats, and wooden interior trim were fitted later. The Range Rover was a body-on-frame design with a box section ladder type chassis similar to contemporary Land Rovers. The Range Rover utilised coil springs as opposed to leaf springs, permanent four-wheel drive and four-wheel disc brakes and was originally powered by the Rover V8 engine.

This Range Rover has had only two owners from new, the first Helen Cunningham-Reid, previously known as Lady Dorothea Helen Welton, she married Michael Cunningham-Reid. Delivered new to Monaco where they lived at the time, the Range Rover was well known within the clubs and casinos of the area, it is thought this car has a rich untold history with a number of ‘A’ list celebrities thought to have travelled in RKU 264X. The original sales invoice from 1982 is present, however in 1984 the car was sent to Symbol in Park Lane for a number of modifications to be made. Symbol carried out bespoke coachbuilding upon the same lines as Wood & Pickett. As per the build sheet, the work carried out by Symbol included a repaint to Grosvenor Brown and cream leather interior fitted along with Wilton carpets and a woollen headlining and a revised custom walnut dashboard, together with the fitment of air conditioning and a leather steering wheel. Lightly flared wheel arches and unique alloy wheels were also fitted. In addition to the work carried out on the build sheet, gun and rod holding straps have been fitted to the roofline together with a picnic box.The second owner and current vendor purchased the car in Switzerland where Mr and Mrs Cunningham-Reid later lived and drove the car back to the UK. It was clearly evident to him that mechanical work was needed on this Range Rover and he set about commencing the work in a structured and diligent manner. Having spent some circa £20,000 on her including a gearbox overhaul, top end engine rebuild, new clutch and universal joints on the propshafts.New old stock brake discs and calipers were sourced and the carburettors rebuilt. Presenting now in very good order, this rust-free example comes with a V5C registration document and an extensive history folder which fill two boxes. This left hand drive Range Rover Classic with its interesting hedonistic early life awaits its third owner in nearly forty years.