1979 Range Rover Classic Suffix F

Finished in Sahara Dust, ‘ERH 188T’ is a 1979 three-door Range Rover Classic ‘Suffix F’. With a good history and a pleasingly unpretentious and largely original interior, it sits on period-correct Rostyle steel wheels and is said to be “in excellent condition and fully working”.

Still fitted with the original specification 3.5-litre V8 petrol engine and the four-speed manual gearbox, it’s stayed true to the original concept of being little more than a luxurious version of the Land Rover on whose mechanical components it leans on so heavily.

While it would benefit from a little TLC, it offers all the three-door period-charm we love in our classic Range Rovers but for considerably less than the very earliest examples are now fetching. 

The panel alignment is very good. Never great, even when new, this one looks like it’s had some time spent on massaging them into place, which makes us think it’s been restored at some point, which is a bonus.

Regardless of metalwork, it has clearly repainted at some point and looks terrific. Sahara Dust is one of our favourite colours for the model and this one looks very of-the-moment – and that moment was 1979 remember, when punk was still a thing and the greed-is-good eighties were still a year away. 

The vinyl covering to the C-pillars is good too, as is the rear numberplate bracket, a clever design that folds down so you can still read the registration number with the tailgate lowered.

The front bumper is straight and true and in possession of the cut-out for the starter handle, which is wonderful. The radiator grille and headlamps surrounds are in great shape too, as are the external bonnet hinges and the individual letters on the bonnet; it really is a very well-presented example of the desirable early design.

Speaking of which, the steel wheels are in good shape and they’ve been fitted with a set of top-of-the-range Michelin Latitude Cross M&S tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

However, the sidewall dating mark shows they are 12 years old now, so while they do have plenty of tread left you should consider replacing them on the grounds of their age.

While we’re being picky - and we do try because we know so many of you bid without seeing the vehicle in person – the driver’s door has slipped a little, the trailing edge being fractionally lower than it should be. There is some cracking to the paint near the driver’s door hinge, too. 

There is also a small amount of bubbling along the lower edges of both doors.

As for the rest of the exterior, the nearside front sidelight is cracked and could do with being replaced, as could some of the fasteners, which have rusted. The rear quarter bumpers are also wonky.

The interior is as gloriously Old School as the coachwork. Proving that genuine luxury is engineered in rather than bolted on, the vinyl seats, rubber floor coverings, and plastic dashboard demonstrate you don’t need leather, Wilton carpet, and walnut veneer to lend gravitas to your luxury car.

The door cards have the brilliantly funky double handle design, something the later cars lost to their detriment. The door cards themselves are in good shape, as are the front seats with their built-in seat belts. It’s a clever design – but then the early Range Rovers are full of neat tricks like that.

The steering wheel is thin but imposing and the gear lever is possibly the longest of any production car. None of these matters because the elevated driving position endows the car with an imperious character that’s both unique and utterly addictive.

The overall condition is good. Almost certainly restored at some point the seats are very good with no rips, tears or other damage. The dashboard is in one piece and free of extraneous holes for extra switches and UV damage. 

In fact, the only deviation from the original specification seems to be the mismatched minor instruments and the Dynatape sign explaining the four-wheel-drive system. 

As for flaws, the front quarterlights have been sealed with mastic, so you’re going to need some time to unpick and reseal them properly. 

The door cards are speckled with something, and the instrument binnacle trim is cracked, as are the rear side trim panels. 

That no-nonsense approach extends to the underside, which boasts the sort of engineering that Brunel would have recognized – in simplicity and scale.

The chassis looks good. Very good, in fact. Neatly painted and undersealed, it presents well and looks solid. There are traces of oil under there but a) they all do that, sir, and b) that’s just the Range Rover dripping extra rust-proofing fluid over itself. 

The engine bay would benefit from some tidying up, not least because the inner wings have been left finished in red oxide primer. Still, the ease with which the Range Rover Classic can be disassembled means someone is going to have a very satisfying winter tidying it up.

The cooling fan shroud is damaged too, so you could add sourcing a replacement to your To Do list.

Supplied to Hardaker & Son Ltd. of Hull on the 17th March 1979, the supplying dealer Armstrong-Massey Ltd. of Hull carried out the pre-delivery inspection and the Range Rover’s earliest services. 
Scouring old adverts for the vehicle has allowed us to piece together its subsequent history:

• Mrs Pamela Anne Hogg of Newport owned the Range Rover for three months prior to its sale to Mrs Margaret Doreen Stapleton of St Andrews (dates unknown)
• Mrs Stapleton bought the vehicle in November 1983 
• Mr. Percival Cecil Taylor of Broughty Ferry owned the Range Rover from mid-1989 until mid-1991 
• It then had, we think, two owners from Perth in Scotland between 1991 and 2005 and maybe one more who is unknown
• It had the same keeper between 2005 and 2017, during which it is said that “much time and money has been spent on it”. Please see later in this section for more details

The service history during this period can be summarised as follows:

• June 1979 and 914 miles – service by Armstrong-Massey 
• February 1980 and unknown miles – service by Armstrong-Massey
• August 1980 and 7,854 miles – service by Armstrong-Massey Service
• November 1980 and 9,121 miles service but no stamp 
• February 1981 and 10,653 miles – service by Armstrong-Massey 
• May 1981 and 12,187 miles – service by Armstrong-Massey 
• October 1981 and 14,607 miles – service by Armstrong-Massey 
• April 1982 and 18,087 miles = service by Pioneer Motor Engs 
• (Oil change detailed between these two services)
• March 1983 and 23,601 miles – service including a new radiator and sparkplugs by Pioneer Motor Engs 
• February 84 - new steering damper fitted 
• May 1984 and 31,212 miles – service by Armstrong-Massey 
• June 1984 - new radiator and water hoses fitted plus a complete new complete exhaust system and battery. 
• August 1984 and 32,697 miles – service but no stamp 
• March 1985 - all brake pipes renewed
• June 1985 and 39,300 miles – service but no stamp 
• March 1986 and 42,500 miles – service but no stamp
• July 1986 - new exhaust system fitted 
• August 1986 - new radiator fitted 
• October 1986 and 46,000 miles – service but no stamp
• May 1987 and 49,000 miles – service but no stamp 
• May 1988 and 51,585 miles – MoT at David Morrison, Kirkcaldy 
• April 1990 and 69,375 miles – MoT near Forfar 
• June 1991 and 77,701 miles – MoT in in Perth 
• July 1992 and 86,207 miles – MoT in Perth
• July 1993 and 95,529 miles – MoT in Perth

Between 2005 and 2017 it had (at least) the following work:

• Chemical de-coke and the engine and fuel system flushed
• A new crankshaft oil seal fitted
• The braking system checked and cleaned and new front brake pads fitted
• A full service including and engine tune and fresh oils

It had a full service in May 2018 too, plus a new fuel tank and sender. TM Services also rebuild the front swivel hubs at the same time, and put a new MoT on it. 

Two year later in July, CSG put a new clutch flexi hose and a new brake master cylinder. 

It was treated to a new battery and a reconditioned alternator this year.

As you can see, with the choke pulled out a cold start doesn’t phase the old girl. The seller tells us that while he hasn’t used it much, the journeys he has done have been long ones and he’s honest enough to admit that the carburettors could do with adjusting to get a better idle.

As for the paper history file, this includes some notes on the electrical modifications that have been made in addition to the owner’s manual.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear.

The Range Rover doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies… 

NB: It seems that a different odometer may have been fitted at one point, so the mileage cannot be verified.

The Range Rover Classic’s renaissance has faltered somewhat in the past couple of years; after a period in which the model was achieving what were frankly silly prices, their values have stabilized. For the time being, anyway.

This means that potential owners can now find some decent examples for a lot less than would have been the case a few years ago, even the highly desirable three-door suffix ‘F’ models. 

We estimate this one will sell for between £20,000 and £30,000. 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located in London. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.