The Sheer Rover ("Shir" meaning Lion in Persian) was basically a Range Rover "Autobiography" avant-la-letre; a Range Rover with an option list that stretched the imagination, most of which were in the luxury department. The Sheer name was used by Wood & Pickett on the full range of Range Rover modifications, including stretched, six-wheeler and convertible versions of the classic Range Rover. This article does however, focus on the (somewhat) regular length Range Rovers, the more elaborately customized versions will be dealt with in a different article.

A very early customized Range Rover by Wood and Pickett, aprox 1975. It features a custom front end with different head lights and a chromed front bumper. The interior has been highly customized too as we can see from the two-tone seats.

Same car, a year later (1976)... this time the regular Range Rover wheels have been replaced by Wolfrace ones.

The interior shows Recaro N-seats with a mixed upholstery of red Draylon and white leather. A centre armrest box with storage space which included a carphone is installed between the front seats.

Late 1970s two-door Sheer Rover in a dark color (black maybe....). This one is fitted with Wood and Pickett's "SheerRover front end", a full-width slatted Grille that covered the headlights in quite dramatic fashion.

A similar car (or the same) at the WP workshops in London

Sheer Rover in front of the Wood & Pickett of London shops.

From the pre-fourdoor days is this Sheer Rover by Wood and Pickett, with a four-door conversion based on a standard-length platform, with shortened front doors and the added rear doors. Includes the Sheer Rover front-end, Wolfrace wheels, flared fenders, roof rack and other custom parts...

A very cool Wood and Pickett "Sheer Rover" from the late 1970s. Fitted with all the cool stuff Wood and Pickett of London could offer, including the Sheer Rover H-model slatted grille, Wolfrace "Slot" wheels, Pilar spot lamps, a short roof rack and an interior with Margrave dashboard and Recaro N-Seats with Blaupunkt speakers in the headrests.

Sheer Rover ideas: a design sketch by Wood and Pickett showing an idea for a Sheer Rover hunting vehicle, with large open roof which allowed Recaro seats and rear bench to be lifted through the roof to get a good view at the hunted.... A very common conversion for mostly Arab customers.

A late 1970s / early 80s Sheer Rover; based on a two-door Range Rover, which then was stretched to a four-door it sports options like the Sheer front-end that used lights of the Rover SD1, flared wheel arches, Wolfrace wheels, interesting bonnet mounted rearview mirrors, a two-tone paintjob and some Sheer Rover logos.

Although this Sheer Rover looks rather standard at first glance, it's far from it: again based on a two-door Range Rover platform, it was modified into a four-door with shortened front doors and added rear doors. Then all the Sheer options were added including front nudge bar with extra lights, fender flares, Wolfrace wheels, spot lamps and extra mirrors.

A post-1981 version of a stretched Sheer Rover; this one being based on the factory four-door Range Rover, but with added length which resulted in straight doors without the cutout for the rear wheel arch.

An early / mid 1980s right-hand-drive Sheer Rover with the S-model Sheer Grille, resembling the Rover SD1 nose. 

A grandiose interior with creme leathered Recaro Otrhopäd 81, a full Margrave dashboard with burr walnut finish, carphone, armrest box and Momo Sigma wooden steering wheel.

A late 1980s "Sheer Rover" by Wood and Pickett based on a factory four-door. Wolfrace wheels, special paintwork and the Wood&Pickett The car has the post-1986 RangeRover front bumper with fog lights peeping from below the Sheer Grille.

A similar late 1980s RHD "Sheer Rover", interestingly with widened wheel arches and matching Wolfrace rims.

Custom interior; re-upholstered seats in white leather and a special "Margrave" dashboard in what appears to be a special kind of woodwork.

Text: copyright Bram Corts

e-mail:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.