philelvey

philelvey

Active Member
Hi to all,

I'm sure you're mostly glued to the opening ceremony at the mo (I have it recording and going to watch later today).

I have a question all the way from NZ - we are planning to come to the UK in 6 months or so. I am wanting to find an 87 or 88 reg Range Rover classic in reasonable condition that we can do up for an overland expedition into Europe/Asia.

I'm after an 87-88 specifically as we had an 1988 in days gone past and this is the model that appeals the nostalgia the most (as well as preferring the manual centre diff, lack of ABS etc).

I have been watching eBay for a few weeks, as well as the for sale sections here and I haven't seen any standard 87 or 88 models at all (there's a few that have been "wrecked" for serious off road work). This is surprising to me as in the home of the Rangie I though there'd be heaps available.

Is there something I'm missing, or am I looking in the wrong place?

Appreciate your feedback.

Cheers
Phil
 
Funny, I seem to come across a fair few 88 models. I wouldn't limit yourself to a model year.
 
Last edited:
philelvey said:
Hi to all,

I'm sure you're mostly glued to the opening ceremony at the mo (I have it recording and going to watch later today).

I have a question all the way from NZ - we are planning to come to the UK in 6 months or so. I am wanting to find an 87 or 88 reg Range Rover classic in reasonable condition that we can do up for an overland expedition into Europe/Asia.

I'm after an 87-88 specifically as we had an 1988 in days gone past and this is the model that appeals the nostalgia the most (as well as preferring the manual centre diff, lack of ABS etc).

I have been watching eBay for a few weeks, as well as the for sale sections here and I haven't seen any standard 87 or 88 models at all (there's a few that have been "wrecked" for serious off road work). This is surprising to me as in the home of the Rangie I though there'd be heaps available.

Is there something I'm missing, or am I looking in the wrong place?

Appreciate your feedback.

Cheers
Phil
Click to expand...

There are heaps available. Most of them in scrap yards.
 
the problem with them is thay have the problematic 14 cu injection with the flapper etc which is getting hard to find bits for.

you would be better off with either an earlier carb model or a good condtion 91/92 model. the carbs for roadside fixability and the later for the added extras it had for the same money as the cars a few years earlier.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the replies. Is there something about the 14cu injection that is prone to failure? What's better about the 91/92 models in that area?

Cheers
 
lorri789 said:
Funny, I seem to come across a fair few 88 models. I wouldn't limit yourself to a model year.
Click to expand...

Where abouts do you come across them out of interest?

In scrap yard isn't much use, it really needs to be in running condition (even if needs some work for MOT).
 
philelvey said:
Thanks for the replies. Is there something about the 14cu injection that is prone to failure? What's better about the 91/92 models in that area?

Cheers
Click to expand...

they went over to 14 cux in late 89-1990 which is a better system and easier to get bits for.

the reson I said 91 is because it got goodies like heated locks for your adventure but no more expensive or prone to go wrong that a 1990 model.

I cant remember for sure but around 93-95 they went softdash and some had air suspension which is even more to go wrong and probs not what you want for expiditions.

I would think you want an earlier one on carbs to be honest which is easy to fix with basic tools and parts in foreign contries. we have enough trouble getting decent landy meachanics in the uk let alone the rest of europe.
 
philelvey said:
Where abouts do you come across them out of interest?

In scrap yard isn't much use, it really needs to be in running condition (even if needs some work for MOT).
Click to expand...


I'm up in Stirlingshire and there seems to be a cluster of them in these parts. I was offered a 88 mod year in a Shell station in town about February.

There are plenty of 1990 onwards and that's where I suggest you look. Expect welding: Sills, pillars, bootfloor,

They make up for it by being fantastic vehicles. The sound of a heroin addict bouncing of or being crushed underneath is music to the ears.

I have a 92 with no ABS or cats. This makes life easier. It has bugger all else in terms of goodies and electrics, but that suits me. Oh yeah, many 90 onwards have LPG.
 
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fett said:
they went over to 14 cux in late 89-1990 which is a better system and easier to get bits for.

the reson I said 91 is because it got goodies like heated locks for your adventure but no more expensive or prone to go wrong that a 1990 model.

I cant remember for sure but around 93-95 they went softdash and some had air suspension which is even more to go wrong and probs not what you want for expiditions.

I would think you want an earlier one on carbs to be honest which is easy to fix with basic tools and parts in foreign contries. we have enough trouble getting decent landy meachanics in the uk let alone the rest of europe.
Click to expand...

I agree I think the less electronic bits the better.

Am interested to know what's better about the 14cux over the 14cu, and would it be easy to replace the cu for the cux?
 
anything is doable but I wouldnt say easy. you would be better off refubing a pair of carbs on anything from 1970 to 1984. The early ones are worth lots of cash now though! I drive a 72 and its insured for 6.5k it was 8k last year with a differnt company. your main problem will be finding any rrc without lots of rust to sort!
 
You wouldn't believe my luck, there was an 87 for sale at home here! I rang the guy today, negotiated a deal, and flew to Auckland to pick it up. Engine is running a bit rough (missing at some rpm, first instinct is electrical issue) but while there is some rust, chassis appears to be in impressively good nick. I'm sure there will be more rust to be found though as I peel back the layers.

Now that I have "the wanted one" at home here, I think we can just get a tidy Disco for our expedition from the UK.

Cheers for the info
 
fett said:
The early ones are worth lots of cash now though! I drive a 72 and its insured for 6.5k it was 8k last year with a differnt company.
Click to expand...

Hi Fett - Like you I go for the agreed value approach on my classic insurance & have just had the renewal through, at the same price as last year :) I want to increase the value & have been advised that my IC require an independant valuation that cannot come from anybody who has worked on the vehicle, have you (or anyone on the forum) any ideas as to where/who I should approach?
 
norseman I kept mine below 10k to avoid the hassel of that, I would think though a classic car garage who hadnt worked on it would oblige for a fee.

philevy, finding a tidy disco isnt that easy- ask storm :p
 
Good luck finding a classic that hasn't rusted away for a reasonable price. My 89 Vogue SE was a problem from the day I bought it (in 91) to the day I finally chopped it in for the first of a line of absolutely fault free Jag XJRs after 5 years of agro.
 
StuckAgainSteve said:
Good luck finding a classic that hasn't rusted away for a reasonable price. My 89 Vogue SE was a problem from the day I bought it (in 91) to the day I finally chopped it in for the first of a line of absolutely fault free Jag XJRs after 5 years of agro.
Click to expand...

I have had a chance to have a bit more of a look over it, and it is amazingly rust free. I mentioned earlier that I had an '88 model a few years ago. This was in the "typical" condition - rust in the doors, wheel arches, footwells...

This new one is definitely showing signs of the rust in those places, but it isn't completely rotted through like many are, so I'm stoked.

Also the reason I wanted a pre-89 was there are less electrical "bits" on these ones, so less to go wrong :)
 
philelvey said:
This new one is definitely showing signs of the rust in those places, but it isn't completely rotted through like many are, so I'm stoked.
Also the reason I wanted a pre-89 was there are less electrical "bits" on these ones, so less to go wrong :)
Click to expand...

Rumour has it that the poorer quality steel used for the body shells started with the intro of the Disco in '89, which also effected the production of the RRC. I had an '85 which, despite an obviously hard life, was rot free & my current '87 (which was garaged by it's previous owner) has no more than the odd trace of surface rust appear in the four years I've had it.
 
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