How does it drive?

The Range Rover’s adoption of coil rather than leaf springs was among its defining features, and set it apart from the Land Rovers (and, indeed, vast majority of contemporary 4x4s) it was sold alongside. These had the benefit of both increased axle articulation off the road and improved handling on it and, even with its live axles and body-on-frame construction, the Range Rover should handle with relative precision.

True, compared with modern SUVs it will feel pretty soft and wallowy, but the combination of superb visibility from that low waistline, the commanding height and the under-stressed (but admittedly thirsty) V8 engine means you can see over hedges and make decent progress without making your passengers seasick.

Earlier versions with manual gearboxes and plastic interiors will feel a good deal more mechanical and utilitarian than later ones with leather and automatic transmissions, but that’s the beauty of the Range Rover and, over its long life, there’s a version to suit all tastes.

 What’s good?

The Range Rover is one of those cars that just looked fundamentally right from the outset. Half a century on, and god knows how many SUV and crossovers since, you could argue nobody has even come close to the blend of function and style, the early three-doors still looking fresh to this day. This feelgood factor permeates the whole car as well, the cabin managing to be both totally of its time yet also completely timeless as well.

Just look at how every Land Rover product since still carries its influence for evidence of that. While they might be getting a bit valuable for scraping through brambles on your local green lanes the knowledge the Range Rover is a credible 4×4 as well as a delightful road car is also massively appealing. Mechanically the cars are well-understood as well, so finding people who know how to restore or keep one on the road shouldn’t be too hard if you have the money to feed the habit.

What’s bad?

The fact aluminium panels over a steel structure can hide a multitude of sins presents for unwary buyers. So, just because a car looks good on the outside don’t skimp on a thorough inspection of what lurks beneath, because serious structural repairs are going to get very expensive, very quickly. Cars imported from warm, dry climates can offer a more confidence-inspiring route into ownership of an older model but, whatever the history, get underneath it, look under carpets, delve into the nooks and crannies of the structure and be wary of any signs of corrosion.

Later cars may feel more luxurious inside but the introduction of more electrical systems, power-operated seats and the rest can mean more things to go wrong and even an apparently superficial failure like inoperative power mirrors could mean an MoT failure, ditto even light corrosion around rear seatbelt mounts. Air suspension on later long-wheelbase cars can also be expensive to fix if it’s not working as it should.  

Which model to choose?

This very much depends on the kind of vibe you’re looking for. If you want to enjoy the luxury SUV trappings the Range Rover came to define in its later life then it’s clear you’ll be looking for a late ‘80s or early ‘90s four-door, fuel-injected versions from the 1986 model year onwards having welcome extra performance that stepped up further in 1989 with the introduction of the 3.9-litre engine.

There were diesels as well but, for the true Range Rover experience, it’s probably worth living with the thirst of the V8 and its relaxed, melodic power delivery. Later cars can prove more difficult to restore and run, though, so many fans are looking further back into Range Rover history and instead chasing early three-doors for their arguably more attractive looks and purer DNA.

True, some of these will feel pretty back-to-basics for those associating Range Rovers with luxury motoring, and nor will they be as relaxing to drive. But as nostalgia grows these will likely be the more desirable versions to own.

Specifications – 1982 Range Rover Classic three-door

3.5-litre V8, petrol

127PS (93.2kW) @ 4,000rpm

258Nm (190lb ft) @ 2,500rpm

Four-speed manual with low-range transfer case, four-wheel drive

1,895kg

11 seconds

96mph

1970-1996