Basic information and history

The Range Rover was introduced by Rover in 1970, combining off-road capability with a level of comfort previously unassociated with four-wheel-drive vehicles. The design was based on a ladder-frame chassis with coil springs all round, permanent four-wheel drive with a lockable centre differential, disc brakes on all four wheels, and the aluminium-built 3.5-litre V8 engine of Rover origin. The earliest cars, the so-called Suffix A models, were built from 1970 to 1973 and have a number of features that later disappeared from production, making them sought after among collectors interested in the original specification.

This 1973 Land Rover Range Rover 3-door is, according to the seller, a genuine Swedish-sold Suffix A. The car has had 14 owners and shows 81,186 kilometres on the odometer. The seller states that the car is in original condition, with the exception of having been repainted; the original colour is green. The chassis number 35802472A is stamped into the frame as well as on the identification plate at the front and in the rear cross-member. The engine number is 35508069B, where B denotes a compression ratio of 8.25:1. The intake manifold bears the stamped date 29/6/72, and the car retains its original carburettor with an adjustable screw at the bottom. The seller has also documented the numbers on the transfer box (571877 CA), the gearbox sump (571977 CA HDAI), the gearbox casting number (571787), as well as the rear axle (35802435A) and front axle (35508240A).

According to the seller, the car has many details that are now very difficult to source, and it does not appear to have been driven off-road, as the body is free of major dents.

Equipment and options

• Power steering (original, functioning)
• Roof bar
• Side protection bars
• Front bar
• Auxiliary lights (not wired up)
• Original Kit Kat upholstery in the rear seat
• Fabric upholstery on the front seats
• Original headlining
• Original fuel filler cap (without lock)
• Original interior lighting
• Original starting handle
• Original tow hitch
• Original rear-view mirrors, Swedish version
• Dual rear coil springs
• Original carburettor
• Original wheels

Apart from the repaint and the fitted bars and auxiliary lights, the seller reports no modifications. The interior is not complete but is, according to the seller, original.

Condition

Body and exterior: The car is in need of extensive rust repair. The door panels, wings, bonnet and roof are, according to the seller, in acceptable condition, while the floor, inner wings, frame, body mounts and tailgate, among other things, need to be replaced or repaired. The paint has significant flaws, and the seller refers to the photographs; the car has been repainted from its original green colour. The windscreen has a crack, the other glass is intact, and the frame around the rear window is rusty. No major dents are reported.

Interior: The interior is worn but original. The door cards need repair, there are no intact carpets, some panels are missing, and the headlining has partially come loose, although the seller considers the headlining easy to fix. The rear seat's Kit Kat upholstery has only a few dry cracks, and the fabric upholstery on the front seats is in good condition with a few seams that have come undone. The instrument panel is, according to the seller, in good condition and free of warning lights. The trip meter and the sound system work, as do the interior lighting and all seatbelts. The cabin fan does not work, which according to the seller may be due to a blown fuse, and the wipers do not move.

Tyres and wheels: The car is fitted with older tyres, and the original wheels need to be repainted.

Mechanics and function: The engine is judged to be in good condition; it starts and runs well with good oil pressure. However, the fuel tank is not connected, and the engine has instead been fed from a jerrycan via the original fuel pump. The car cannot be driven as it stands, since the clutch has become stuck in the disengaged position after a long period of standing still. The gearbox has therefore not been able to be test driven, but the gears appear to engage normally, including high and low range in the transfer box, and the differential lock warning light works. The brakes have not been tested, and the brake lines should be replaced. The indicators and brake lights do not work, likely due to a broken wire or a loose connection; the indicator relay sounds as it should. The auxiliary lights are not wired up. The car does not have a valid inspection, as the date has expired; the last inspection was carried out on 2003-01-13.

Service history

The car has not been fully serviced, and there are no receipts or other documentation to substantiate the service history.

Summary

This Swedish-sold Range Rover Suffix A from 1973 is a restoration project with many original details preserved, including the original carburettor, power steering, starting handle, tow hitch, Swedish mirrors and Kit Kat upholstery in the rear seat. The numbers on the engine, gearbox, transfer box and axles have been documented by the seller. The car requires extensive rust repair to the floor, frame, inner wings and body mounts, new brake lines, attention to the clutch, and a review of the electrical system, but the engine starts and runs well. For anyone seeking an early Range Rover in original specification to restore, this is a car that provides a complete starting point.