GrumpyGel
Well-Known Member
Freelander was designed before BMW got their mits on LR.
The Sport would have been conceived during their ownership for a more BMW-like vehicle.
The Sport would have been conceived during their ownership for a more BMW-like vehicle.
Nodge68
Well-Known Member
The Freelander "Sport" was introduced at the same time the Range Rover "Sport" was hitting the showrooms. This was in response to LR realizing that lots of it's vehicles never go off the tarmac. So LR made a Freelander specifically to be an on road vehicle, catering to that market. It worked too, as the Sport variant is a fabulous on road Freelander. It's handling is tight and predictable, with lots of grip and little body roll. It's just not great off road, on anything other than a flat field.
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Nodge68
Well-Known Member
BMW took ownership of Rover Group, which included LR in 1994. I believe the Freelander was originally conceived as a joint venture with Honda. The Honda involvement stopped with BMW taking over ownership of Rover. When BMW took ownership, LR continued to develop the Freelander, while gaining the necessary finance from BMW.
The Sport variant was released some 3 years after LR had been sold to Ford. This was to capture a growing market for on road, off roaders.
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Skinny Mike
Well-Known Member
The CB40 started development in the late 80's, with the initial idea of a small Discovery. Landrover ran out of money and shelved the idea. When BMW came along they saw the market potential for the vehicle and funded the project which became the Freelander. But funding was limited as can be seen on earlier Freelanders which raided the Rover parts bin to keep costs down.
The facelift version is alot better screwed together with better parts as the project was making money.
But I still love my pre facelift with all its faults
Mike
The facelift version is alot better screwed together with better parts as the project was making money.
But I still love my pre facelift with all its faults
Mike
GrumpyGel
Well-Known Member
If BMW took over in 94 and Freelander hit the streets in 97 the car would have been very far advanced.The CB40 started development in the late 80's, with the initial idea of a small Discovery. Landrover ran out of money and shelved the idea. When BMW came along they saw the market potential for the vehicle and funded the project which became the Freelander. But funding was limited as can be seen on earlier Freelanders which raided the Rover parts bin to keep costs down.
The facelift version is alot better screwed together with better parts as the project was making money.
But I still love my pre facelift with all its faults
Mike
Nodge68
Well-Known Member
It wasn't called the Freelander when BMW took over LR, but development was well underway.
This is an interesting read.
http://www.aronline.co.uk/cars/land-rover/freelander-land-rover/the-cars-land-rover-freelander/
Skinny Mike
Well-Known Member
If I remember correctly, the chassis, running gear, engine and basic interior were done. I have a vague memory of a prototype photo that looked a cross between a Discovery and a daihatsu four track. Fortunately they changed that.
Mike
Mike
Skinny Mike
Well-Known Member
Before this it looked like a Montego van!!
Mike
Skinny Mike
Well-Known Member
Nice to see people have been uploading there photos of rare development cars to sites we can all find.
Last time I looked for these pictures it took me hours to find them.
In't t'internet grand
Mike
Skinny Mike
Well-Known Member
Sorry about the dodgy photos.
Mike
Skinny Mike
Well-Known Member
Very true. My dad had a Marina that virtually fell to pieces as you were looking at it. Fortunately it was the twin carb version, so I learnt alot from messing with it.Oooo - a little bit of Italian flair meets Yorkshire
One of the few cars that rusts worse than a Land Rover!
We have a new classic car dealer in Sheffield, just near the tip so I get to see the cars coming and going when I pass. I've seen some nice ones and a few that look like they've been pulled out of a barn.
Most I can't take photos of as I'm driving, I wish I could have taken one the other week, it was a Ferrari Dino, covered in dust, but untouched by rust etc otherwise.
Mike
Alibro
Well-Known Member
It shoulda been left in the tip. Useless piles of scrap were always at the head of every queue, usually driven by an old man with a trilby.
Skinny Mike
Well-Known Member
Even the Italian design house that were involved in its production don't acknowledge it, even though it was named after them!It shoulda been left in the tip. Useless piles of scrap were always at the head of every queue, usually driven by an old man with a trilby.
What amazes me is that it had no rust and was obviously unrestored, didn't smoke and took off from junctions quite spritely. Someone must have bought it and thought "Oh god, what have I done" and locked it in a dry garage somewhere.
Mike
Nodge68
Well-Known Member
The saddest part about the whole BL/ Layland range of cars was mechanically they were pretty good. But they insisted on using designers with strange idea's of what people wanted.
I spent many years working on the small Triumphs. In fact I did my apprenticeship in a small garage that just worked on Triumphs and less pretty BL cars.
The BL stuff was actually better engineered than the Triumph stuff. But it was very obvious that it was built down to a price. The finish was poor and the general impression was it had been thrown together by a bunch of blokes that couldn't care less. It wasn't until Rover Group was formed did quality improve. Probably due to the Honda working influence in the factory.
I'm a fan of old Triumph cars, but hate that BL stuff with a passion.
I spent many years working on the small Triumphs. In fact I did my apprenticeship in a small garage that just worked on Triumphs and less pretty BL cars.
The BL stuff was actually better engineered than the Triumph stuff. But it was very obvious that it was built down to a price. The finish was poor and the general impression was it had been thrown together by a bunch of blokes that couldn't care less. It wasn't until Rover Group was formed did quality improve. Probably due to the Honda working influence in the factory.
I'm a fan of old Triumph cars, but hate that BL stuff with a passion.
Skinny Mike
Well-Known Member
GrumpyGel
Well-Known Member
The group I did the Mesopotania Station trip with in May had another trip planned this weekend up to Godley Glacier miles off the beaten track behind Lake Tekapo up in Mt Cook National Park. This one was even tougher and I definitely wasn't going to go anywhere near it in my 2WD Freelander. Also got other things happening so didn't jump in with anyone. It was planned a while back and this last week has seen some severe weather hit the region - all roads in and out were closed on Thursday and Friday very poor - I expected them to cancel the trip. They didn't though and with deep snow all around and temps of -13 they did it, got back and took some smashing photos...
