Description
YCX 348K – 1971 Classic Range Rover – 2 Door Suffix A – Extremely Original
55,000 miles from new
Tax exempt
3 owners from new
Fully documented history
For those of us old enough to have been around in 1971, we will remember the charts filled with an eclectic mix of music – “Grandad” (Clive Dunn), “Maggie May” (Rod Stewart) and “Ernie” (Benny Hill) – and for those of us with an interest in cars, the “1st of August rush” to obtain a car with the latest registration number (or simply trying to spot one on the road).
The Range Rover had been launched to an unsuspecting public in June of the previous year – at a price of £1,998 including car tax.
By all accounts, demand was extremely high, and obtaining one of these new 4 wheel drive vehicles, was as difficult as buying an E Type Jaguar a decade earlier.
Luckily Sam Balme got in early, and on the 1st August 1971 travelled “into town” to his local Land Rover / Range Rover dealer – W H Atkinson & Co of Huddersfield to collect his shiny new Range Rover.
It was a Lincoln Green example and was chassis number 1668.
As Sam was driving home in his new Range Rover, it probably never occurred to him that he would own this vehicle for the next 31 years. It would take him and his family on many holidays throughout Europe, with his caravan in tow.
We first met Sam back in April 2002 when he made the decision to sell the Range Rover, and we were lucky enough to be given the opportunity to purchase it.
It has changed hands only twice since then and we are very pleased to be able to offer the car for sale once again.
The car is very original as you can see from the pictures.
It comes with a HUGE history file, which includes old Tax discs and MOT certificates going back to the very first tax disc which expired in July 1972 and the very first MOT carried out in July 1976.
The Range Rover has displayed the car at a number of prestigious events including:
- Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 2010)
- Das Goldene Klassik-Lenkrad, Wolfsburg (September 2010)
- Eastnor Castle 50th Anniversary Celebration (December 2011)
There is of course, a fully documented record of the Range Rover at these events, including photographs.
It has also been featured in a number of magazine articles including:
- “Utterly Original” – Land Rover Monthly Magazine (April 2009)
- Land Rover Monthly (December 2010)
- Range Rover Owner and Enthusiast Magazine (Issue 153 Nov/Dec 2010)
- Classic Driver Magazine (December 2011)
- “Range Rover Tales”magazine (Summer 2013)
This Range Rover retains all it’s original and important features:
- Lincoln Green
- Grey Steering Wheel
- Bonnet mounted mirrors
- Foam Filled PVC Seats
- “By Land Rover” badge
- Raised external “Range Rover” lettering
- Tool kit
To sum up, this is perhaps one of THE most original examples available for sale today ?
To be sold fully serviced, with 12 months MOT and 6 months Gold Warranty
