A Classic Worth Saving
Project Rescue came to us from another restoration workshop that was going out of business. Although the 1991 Range Rover Classic had supposedly been “restored”, the work was poorly executed, unfinished and left too much unresolved. Building upon it was not an option. The vehicle had to be taken back to step one, carefully reassessed, and properly sorted giving the project both its direction and its name.
Backdated with Purpose
The mechanical work reached through every major system. The engine was serviced and resealed, while the LT77 5-speed manual transmission and LT230 transfer case were rebuilt. The brakes, steering, suspension, cooling, and fuel systems were systematically renewed, correcting the shortcomings of the previous work and returning the Range Rover to the mechanical standard the finished vehicle deserved.
Rescue was then deliberately backdated to capture the simplicity of the earliest Range Rovers. Finished in period-correct Lincoln Green, it received an early-style grille, metal blade bumpers, bonnet-mounted rear-view mirrors, period badging, retro LED headlamps, and 16-inch Rostyle wheels finished in Sahara Dust.
A custom full-length folding fabric roof opens the cabin far beyond a conventional sunroof while remaining sympathetic to the vehicle’s distinctly retro character.
Inside, the backdated character continues through saddle and caramel-toned leather upholstery, vertically pleated seat inserts, matching interior panels, restored wood trim, carpeting, and a light beige headliner surrounding the custom sunroof.
Discreet Apple CarPlay head unit, Pioneer speakers, renewed lighting, and converted R134a air conditioning bring discreet modern usability to a cabin designed to feel unmistakably classic. Rescue is more than a restoration completed - it is a past compromised project meticulously recovered, corrected, improved and finally given the finish it deserved.
Build Highlights
Period-correct Lincoln Green body paint
Early Range Rover-inspired backdating
Early-style front grille
Metal blade front and rear bumpers
Bonnet-mounted rear-view mirrors
Retro LED headlamps
Period-style lamp grilles
Backdated Range Rover lettering and badging
Custom full-length folding fabric roof
LT77 5-speed manual transmission - rebuilt
LT230 transfer case - rebuilt
Engine serviced and resealed
Renewed fuel and cooling systems
Rebuilt braking system
Renewed power steering and steering components
Front and rear anti-roll bar system
16-inch Rostyle steel wheels
Sahara Dust wheel finish
Michelin Defender LTX M/S tires - 245/75R16
Classic Palomino vinyl upholstery
Retro, period-correct patterned fabric seat inserts
Matching Palomino interior panels
Light beige fabric headliner
New carpeting trim in brown shag style carpet and cabin trim
Apple CarPlay single-DIN head unit
Four Pioneer speakers with 400W amplifier
Renewed interior lighting
R12-to-R134a air-conditioning conversion
