Classic Deal or no deal

Hi guys. This forum is becoming either a major addiction or a bad habit but here is the deal. I am not that greatly aware of what things like this are worth so I would appreciate all advice I can get. I might be able to get this for a very nominal amount of money if not free. It a RR Classic Vogue SE with 3.9 V8 on EFI.

The initial plan would be to simply restore it to best condition possible giving the state of it. If not it will either get scrapped or turned into an offroad only vehicle.

But restoration and sale would be preferable.

What is the value of things like that in running condition?

It was first used in about 90/91 (H Reg) and according to checks I've done it has roughly 140k on the clock. Last time on the road was probably 5 years ago.

According to the sticker at the back it was bought from Kent Beadles dealership.

Not sure on the history yet but there seem to be a book on the centre armrest.

On another note I think I am capable of doing the work and probably LOADS of welding.

How are the parts availability etc?

Here it is:

I am a huge Range Rover fan and a sorted Classic is a real head turner for any one with a pulse....

But looking at the photos, that will be one hell of a job....

Look for posts and thread by UKAdamWest, he is a Classic restorer and has done a stunning job on an 90 'G' plate and I have seen the final work in the metal and it is stunning......

He is now working on a Roja Red 2 door Suffix A classic (Which I have his engine at the moment and I really should finish the build of that!! - Sorry Adam, it is on its way I promise!) and there is a heck of lot of work to do on it, but he is taking his time and working methodically...and a stunning result will come of it.

He also has a CSK in for resto too...and that will be worth a bomb when he is finished.....

A decent Classic with a full nut/bolt/paint resto could fetch in the 6-10k if it is done exceptionally well. Rarer models like the LSE and the CSK, or an Overfinch would command a great deal more......a recent sale of a properly sorted and low miles CSK with all the paperwork to boot went for £75k....!!!!

If you are just going to get it MOT-able and decent, 2.5-4k maybe.....

That looks like it will need a heck load of work, but done well could bag you 5-6k if you really do a thorough job.

Well the idea would be just to make it MOT worthy and safe to drive.
It looks like it needs a grill, rear bumper and a front bonnet.

That would be colour matched. I wouldn't paint the whole car but I would want to just clean it up put a ticket on it and pass it on.

The classic is a parts only car.
Too much work just looking at the pics, it will be even worse when you get started.
Nothing special about the car either.
Put your time and money into something else, a 2 door needing work or a late model last of the line classic.
Many better cars on ebay for not a lot of money, just needing to be welded and driven.

Far to much work for a part resto and an MOT...that would need full strip, body off, rear crosmember, rot cut out of body and chassis and a full nut bolt rebuild....

I'd do a hard pass and walk on....unless you are going to commit to a full rebuild which will set you back a far deal of cash and time.

As Gmacz says, if it was a 'special' build then go for it, but sad as it is to say, it is not worth the hassle!

I feel what you're saying. I think the biggest investment is the time really. Weld, cut, repeat.
Well 5 years ago it was still on the road! I am going to go down to see it in about couple of weeks (not in my RR after the gearbox surgery but will take the automatic Audi instead ha!).

I am quite confident I might get it for £0.

Parts are readily available, and cheap......there is a company that do replacement panels.....one is YRM and the other is the company who's name escapes me who actually supply YRM....Adam will know.

Go in with your eyes wide open, the Classics, like the Disco 1, is very prone to rust......the P38 was the only real relatively rust proof Range Rover....

Rear cross members are a classic case for rot and it is considered a body off job. Chassis outriggers to body mounts are common as is the boot floor and sills.

By the looks of it, there is 'foliage' growing through the floors so hmmmm...and also the bulkhead is a massive job to do!!

Haha I feel like I shouldn't be taking it even if he paid me! Maybe then just pull the engine and box out of it and sell it.

The GB sticker looks ok.

If it's cheap or free, take it. You can use the bits for the better one that comes along.
And yes, you're a junkie.

Beautiful indoor feature garden! We bought a 1989 RRC (VM) Diesel, same colour as that one, very cheap a few years back, it didn't look as bad as that one and we found that the floors were all rotted right out as well as parts of the chassis, finished up as mechanical "parts only" car.

Although a confirmed RRC fan I fully concur with many of the answers here. The only Classics that are worth real money are either (a) original, un-welded & unmodified, or as a second choice (b) fully restored with photographic evidence. Although LR would never confirm the rumour (un-surprisingly) steel quality used from '89 on both the (then) new Disco & the RR was questioned, hence the later Classics are generally more prone to corrosion. I afraid your project is only good for mechanical spares (which are not scarce anyway) & it's weight in scrap. Even if you do all the work yourself you will never get your money back come re-sale time

I bet you could find a cure for cancer in the flora growing in or on the rangie.

Look on the bay, you still see a good few coming allong, in fact I have an 87 better than that at side of my house which wil;l be scrapped soon......

Personally I don't like giving up on cars regardless of state.

bitnix said:

Personally I don't like giving up on cars regardless of state.

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That's a highly commendable attitude, but you have to be able to recognise a hopeless case.

Here's a thought.
Why not ask the owner if he or she would let you tidy up the RR where it is , maybe see if it can be pushed out to somewhere with power and water, remove the foliage and (gently) pressure wash the body and chassis and have a proper look at what needs doing versus what is left.

Then you will have a better idea of its potential, or lack of it.

Downside is you might waste a few hours, upside is that you might avoid wasting even more hours and £'s - and the owner gets a better looking spares or brave repairs candidate which is still honest and has nothing to hide?

As others have said its probably possible but probably not worth it. A friend of mines dad has a couple of classics, an old 3 door which was lovely up until 15 years ago or more when someone rammed it of the road with a cavalier and wrote it of. However hes still got it, apart from the damage it still runs and drives and isnt actually that rotten. (now that is worth saving) The other is a late model 5 door in green but essentially identical to that but in far better condition having been barn stored for the last 15 years and although a none runner when put into storage it wasn't a bad machine. Infact as I recall it only needed a new starter motor and a battery and a damaged front wing replacing. Anyway, much to my horror a few months ago someone spotted it and asked if they could cut the roof of it to replace on one they were restoring... he said yes and so that poor old girl is now a convertible!

The point I'm making is that even quite straight ones are considered expendable, if that is free or a few quid, buy one thats actually running for a few quid more and save your self a fortune and a load of effort. Or even if you clean that one up and break it for spares to keep others going.

Hi, I don't often visit the Range Rover section here, don't know a great deal about them or their values, but hoping to change all that next year. Anyway, even if it's not worth saving now, if you can get it for next to nothing you might as well. The values are only going up, just look at other classic cars - what might have been scrapped 10 years ago are now realistic project material. I rode past a farm in Derbyshire the other week on my mountain bike and the guy there had 4 (that I could see) classics dotted about. Wonder why? 10 years ago I worked with a bloke who had a mk4 escort xr3i. Couldn't give it away. Try finding one now that's on the road for less than a grand. If I had the space I would be purchasing these types of vehicle that are worthless now and hiding them. Just get it, get it home safe and sound before somebody else does. Then decide.

norseman said:

That's a highly commendable attitude, but you have to be able to recognise a hopeless case.

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Now you tell me.First two were taken 5 years ago, last two a month ago. Waiting for tyres to fit to the new wires then off for the MOT.