1985 Range Rover Classic
1985 Range Rover Classic
Engine - 3.5L v8
Transmission - LT77 5-speed Manual with an LT230 Transfer Case
Suspension - 2" Suspension Lift - 2” body lift
Tyres - 235/85R16 BFG KO2s
Equipped for - Daily Driving, Off-roading and touring
Hugo, you had an old Toyota Hilux before the Range Rover. What are the biggest differences between the two cars?
Yeah, that’s right, I had a 1997 single cab Hilux, with the 2.7L petrol engine, a tub and a canopy. It was a great car, fairly underpowered and slow, but I loved the canopy set up and how much space there was inside. It was also my first 4WD and was a fun car to learn a bit and do some trips. However, for me, the Rangie is a big upgrade in a bunch of ways. It’s heaps more fun to drive, the V8 sounds much better than the 2.7L engine and compared to the Hilux it’s luxurious inside.
The Rangie is also way more capable on the tracks with solid axles, coil springs, plenty of wheel articulation and more power down low. The Hilux was seriously limited by IFS and leaf springs and the Rangie just walks up tracks, where the Hilux would have had to winch for sure.
You're building this old girl on a bit of a budget; can you tell us what you’ve done to it so far and what are some things you’d like to do in the future?
I bought the Rangie in February last year and have done a few things, with plenty more on the to-do list! It already had the suspension and body lift, but I added the FrontRunner roof rack, ARB awning, new tyres, rear bar, new headlights and the sunvisor, which might be my favourite mod. I also had a major service done on it earlier this year and got a bunch of mechanical issues fixed. Including reconditioning the radiator, fixing exhaust and manifold leaks, replacing the muffler, oil and hub seal leaks and a readjustment of the ignition timing and carburettors to get the engine running properly.
I also built a simple fit-out in the back with a couple of mates who have done a bunch of custom fit-outs before, with the two drawers stacked vertically, fridge slide and a 12V dual battery system. This was heaps cheaper than buying a Titan or Drifta draw setup and I think the timber finish looks really nice. I’m planning to throw some marine carpet on there as well.
Looking to the future, if I have any money left over after filling up with petrol, I’m keen to fit an ARB bar and winch. The Rangie currently has no recovery points (and hasn’t needed any so far!) but a bar and winch brings some peace of mind in case things go wrong on the tracks. I would love to add a locker or two as well, but I think that’s further down the track. I’m also looking to get a set of steelies with a slightly wider offset than the stock wheels it currently has and possibly some larger tyres. The last thing on the list at this stage is to do a Raptor coat as the current paint job isn’t great and raptor adds a lot of protection to the body. I’m thinking two-tone – sandy taupe for the body and a white roof to match the sunvisor!
If someone was looking at buying a second-hand Range Rover Classic, what advice would you give them?
If you’re looking for a second-hand Range Rover Classic to use as a daily, it’s definitely worth being patient and waiting for a clean, well-maintained one with minimal rust. As with any second-hand 4WD, there are good ones out there if you’re patient enough, and there are plenty of bombs as well. I had been looking on-and-off for about two years and when this one came up with only 178,000k’s I had to go for it.
I would also definitely recommend getting the workshop/Hayne’s manual and learning how the engine works, how to diagnose common problems and how to service it. The old Rangie engines are pretty simple, especially the 3.5L Carby which doesn’t have EFI to worry about, and learning how to do basic servicing is not that tricky and can save heaps in labour costs. They’re also very thirsty, so be prepared to spend on petrol!
Owner - Hugo Wrench