Range Rovers were among the first high-end cars to be modified by tuner / coachbuilders. It all started in the mid 1970s when Arabian sheiks asked UK-based companies to modifiy their Range Rovers, which in the early days didn't even have a proper luxurious interior. The first conversions were just plain enhancements of the standard car but soon companies started to offer four-door conversions, Range Rover convertibles and six-wheeled versions. There are few cars that were modified in such a wide variety of variants. The 10 Range Rovers you see on this page should give an idea what was possible back in the days.

 

This Wood and Pickett Range Rover is a modified standard mid 1980s 4-door model. The car hasn't been stretched or otherwise, but it does have many of the options offered by Wood and Pickett such as the Sheer-grille, Wolfrace wheels, special paintjob and from the photo it's visible the car has a modified interior as well. Many Range Rovers were modified in this way for wealthy clients from all over the world, most of them from the Middle-East though.

 

This is another way Wood and Pickett could do your Range Rover. This is an older example of the Sheer Rover, from the time when the Range Rover was available as two-door model only. The car has been stretched and two extra doors have been added. The car has a Sheer grille, Wolfrace wheels and a special paintjob as well, very common on Sheer Rover models.

 

 

Range Rovers were stretched in many ways. This is a regular factory four-door that has been stretched an extra few inches by Vantagefield (London, UK). This Range Rover now has the space for an extra row of seats. This modification was called "Vantagefield Traveller".

 

This odd vehicle used to be a stock two-door Range Rover. When Rapport Engineering (London, UK) became involved the car was stretched to a four-door limousine with Wolfrace wheels, vinyl rooftop, special interior and a very odd Rolls-Royce like bonnet.

 

The most common conversion involving Range Rovers besides stretching was the conversion to convertible. Range Rover convertibles came in many different shapes and sizes. This Range Rover was converted by Vantagefield (London, UK) into a two-door convertible with soft-top. As with many of the coachbuilt conversions the modifications didn't stop with the body mods, also the interior was modified and new rims (Wolfrace) and a special grille was fitted.

 

Four-door Range Rover convertibles weren't as common as the two-door ones, but they're not that rare either. This one built by SVC was based on a factory four-door, although there were other companies that offered a four-door convertible even before 1981, when the factory four-door was introduced.

 


Another interesting chapter in the Range Rover conversion history are the hunting vehicles made for wealthy Arabs. These cars were used in the desert for falcon-hunting, usually featuring those typical hydraulically operated seats that allowed for a better view. This perticular six-wheeled Range Rover hunting vehicle was made by Grand Prix Metalcraft (London, UK). 

 


Another Range Rover for the desert: a six-wheeled Range Rover by Cartel (London, UK). Based on the factory four-door Range Rover, this car has been stretched and a special high roof-line has been introduced, searchlights, Wolfrace wheels and a special grille have been installed.

 

This is the bigger brother of the above Chameleon car: the top-of-the-line Range Rover conversion called the "Townley Desert Ranger" built by Townley Cross Country (London, UK). The Townley Desert Ranger was special because it wasn't just stretched but also widened by 30cm!

 

This is the Glenfrome Facet. The Glenfrome Facet used the Range Rover as basis, but has a completely new body made from glass-fibre over a steel frame. All luxurious interior options Glenfrome offered for the regular Range Rover could all be installed in the Facet as well.

 

 

 



Text: copyright Bram Corts 2013

 

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