1979 RANGE ROVER CLASSIC 2 DOOR 'SUFFIX F'

An exciting example of the iconic two-door Range Rover, this 1979 Range Rover Classic ‘Suffix F’ has undergone considerable recommissioning to give it a ‘restomod’ flavour. The enthusiast-owned Classic now boasts a 4.6-litre EFI V8 from the later P38A model, along with a host of renewed and upgraded suspension components. The odometer shows 383,500 km, though the majority of this was on the original running gear.

This two-door Range Rover is an original Australian delivered car in right-hand drive, sold to its first owner in Sydney, where it remained for a number of years before being sold to an enthusiast in Victoria. For the next 15-or-so years the Range Rover has was used as a private chauffeur vehicle in the Margaret River wine region in WA’s South West. The current owner acquired the car from another enthusiast who undertook the majority of the ‘restomod’ conversion over a 10-year period.

The vehicle presents well with no known accident damage or signs of rust. The exterior has been resprayed in period-correct Sahara Dust and is subject to frequent professional detailing to enhance and protect the finish. The original Range Rover steel wheels are wrapped with near-new Yokohama Geolander tyres, with minimal tread wear on each corner. Its exterior is enhanced by a classic ‘bull bar’ and period-correct rear tow bar step, which were fitted by ARB Busselton.

Other upgrades include a full LED headlight conversion, a brace of classic PIAA spotlights and new tail light lenses. The vehicle features original glass on the side and rear windows. There is some wear patina to be found around door handles and window seals, and some wear to the exterior plastics, as to be expected from a vehicle of this vintage.

Inside, the front seats, rear bench and upgraded central arm rest have been re-trimmed in Palomino vinyl, which presents in superb condition. The carpets have been replaced, and new floor mats are present. The dashboard is in very good order with no visible cracking or other damage, while the original Smiths gauges are fully functional, and there are no warning lights. The only modern element on show is a Pioneer stereo head unit, located in the factory position to the right of the steering wheel.

This car came specified with the desirable factory-fitted air-conditioning package. It also now features a large radiator/condenser with two electric fans. The engine has twin fans to ensure it remains consistently at operating temperature in traffic.

No longer running its original engine, this has more recently been upgraded to a more modern 218hp 4.6-litre ‘Thor’ V8 usually found in a P38A or Discovery 2. The updated engine features factory electronic fuel injection and has considerably more torque than the engine it replaced. A performance exhaust system adds a characterful note, while the modernised internals offer more power and fuel efficiency than its carburettor-fed predecessor. The vehicle has covered approximately 80,000 km since its conversion. The engine starts consistently on the first turn thanks in part to a dual battery system with two near-new batteries.

The Range Rover has had considerable work performed by Paradise Garage over the past 10 years, and most recently there was a major service and full mechanical checkup performed in March 2020. The car’s gearbox is also upgraded, taken from a 1995 Land Rover Discovery. There has been work undertaken to the suspension and driveline, including new springs and dampers. The differentials and axles have also been upgraded from a low-mileage early Discovery, along with new sway bars and a steering rack. These modifications have improved the handling and ride, and have made the steering feel more direct.

This Range Rover Classic ‘Suffix F’ is a smart classic that now benefits from what is likely a unique custom specification with a later 4.6-litre V8 from a P38A, plus a number of other performance upgrades. Nevertheless, the Range Rover retains a period-correct appearance, and is ready to for the next custodian to fully enjoy its character both on and off road.

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This vehicle’s VIN has been checked against the Australian Personal Property Securities Register, and there is no security interest or other registration kind logged against the serial number. This vehicle has been checked through the Austroads NEVDIS system, and there are no markers under the written-off or stolen databases.