Automotive

1978 Range Rover Classic reborn to launch new factory restoration program

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Jaguar Land Rover is all about classic cars
The first Range Rover Reborn is painted in Bahama Gold
Land Rover Classic will present this Range Rover Reborn at Salon Retromobile next week
Classic luxury and off-road muscle
The 1978 three-door is powered by a 132-hp V8 engine
Range Rover plans an initial 10-model Range Rover Reborn production run
The Range Rover Reborn series starts at £135,000
The Range Rover Reborn follows in the footsteps of the Series I Reborn introduced last year
Jaguar Land Rover is all about classic cars
Inside the Range Rover Reborn
A look at the 3.5-liter V8 engine
1978 Range Rover Reborn
1978 Range Rover Reborn
1978 Range Rover Reborn
1978 Range Rover Reborn
1978 Range Rover Reborn
1978 Range Rover Reborn
1978 Range Rover Reborn
1978 Range Rover Reborn
1978 Range Rover Reborn
1978 Range Rover Reborn
This gorgeous XKSS continuation debuted last year in LA and will also be on show at Retromobile
Much more intense than the Range Rover Reborn, the XKSS project involved first creating the right tooling and then building up a car true to its siblings from 60 years ago
Not surprisingly, Jaguar has already sold all nine of the XKSS cars
From its bronze-welded tube chassis, to its magnesium alloy body, to its classic interior, the Jaguar XKSS is designed as if Jaguar engineers time-traveled back to 1957
The interior includes authentic leather, wood and bronze
The XKSS has a 262-hp straight-six engine
Jaguar Classic continuation XKSS
Jaguar Classic continuation XKSS
Jaguar expects each customer XKSS to take 10,000 hours to hand-build
The XKSS has period-spec four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes and Dunlop tires with riveted two-piece magnesium alloy wheels.
Jaguar Classic continuation XKSS
Jaguar Classic continuation XKSS
Jaguar Classic continuation XKSS
Jaguar Classic continuation XKSS
Jaguar Classic continuation XKSS
Jaguar Classic continuation XKSS
Jaguar Classic continuation XKSS
Jaguar Classic continuation XKSS
Jaguar Classic continuation XKSS
Jaguar Classic continuation XKSS
View gallery - 40 images

Classic automobiles are a pretty big deal right now, and despite the prevailing wisdom that a car is a terrible investment, the right classic car can actually be a great one. The market is doing so well, in fact, that automakers are eager to get a piece themselves. Jaguar Land Rover is one brand that's dived deep into the world of factory-spec neo classics, with its Classic division heading up projects like the continuation Lightweight E-Type and Land Rover Series I Reborn. Its latest release is the Range Rover Reborn, a limited-edition series of classic Range Rovers meticulously restored by the company that built them.

Range Rover Reborn

We got to experience some of the sheer energy of the classic car market at least year's Techno-Classica Essen. There, Land Rover Classic presented the first member of its Reborn series, the Land Rover Series 1 Reborn. The "Reborn" program extends customers the opportunity of purchasing vintage Land Rover vehicles put through full factory-spec restorations with authentic Land Rover Classic parts.

Classic luxury and off-road muscle

The second model in the Reborn series will make its official debut at next week's Salon Rétromobile in Paris, bringing the Range Rover into the Reborn fold. The first of the Range Rover Reborns, this "Bahama Gold" 1978 Range Rover three-door has a 132-hp 3.5-liter petrol V8 with four-speed manual and central differential lock.

"Every Range Rover Reborn will undergo a complete restoration according to the company's original 1970s factory specification and using Land Rover Classic Parts to preserve and protect the vehicle's authenticity," Land Rover explains. "Land Rover's experienced restoration team will advise customers of the best options for base vehicles – in terms of collectability, preferred chassis numbers and unique characteristics."

1978 Range Rover Reborn

Land Rover Classic plans an initial run of 10 Range Rover Reborn models, with prices starting at £135,000 (approx. US$169,000).

Jaguar "New Original" XKSS

Jaguar Land Rover Classic will also highlight its softer, curvier side at Rétromobile, with the European debut of the "New Original" Jaguar XKSS. First announced last March, the XKSS continuation series comprises nine 1957 XKSS models that never made it to buyers because they were lost in a fire.

The XKSS has period-spec four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes and Dunlop tires with riveted two-piece magnesium alloy wheels.

More impressive than any restoration, the XKSS models involve hand-building each car to the original specifications, with only the most minor of changes aimed at improving safety standards. The tooling for the XKSS was lost in the same fire that took the nine original 1957 XKSS cars, so Jaguar Classic faced an enormous task in building an authentic model up from scratch, nearly 60 years later.

Jaguar Classic started by scanning several original XKSS models to create digital imagery of the body, chassis and parts, which were used in conjunction with original drawings. Since the XKSS styling bucks were long gone, Jaguar Classic reverse-engineered a new styling buck from the original bodies. Similarly, they put the CAD software together from the original chassis.

The first new-original XKSS has a period-correct bronze-welded tubular chassis and magnesium alloy body in "Sherwood Green." It is powered by a 262-hp 3.4-liter D-type straight-six with new cast iron blocks, new cast cylinder heads and three Weber DC03 carburetors. The driver takes control inside an authentic cabin with wooden steering wheel, leather seats, recreated Smiths gauges and brass knobs.

The interior includes authentic leather, wood and bronze

"The XKSS is one of the most important cars in Jaguar's history, and we are committed to making the 'new original' version absolutely faithful to the period car in every way," Kev Riches, Jaguar Classic engineering manager, described when the car made its world debut last November at the Petersen Automotive Museum in LA. "From the number, type and position of all the rivets used – there are more than 2,000 in total – to the Smiths gauges on the dashboard, everything is the same as the original cars, because that is the way it should be."

That first XKSS car will serve as a blueprint for the nine cars that have already been sold to customers for more than £1 million (US$1.25 million) a piece. Each customer car will involve an estimated 10,000 hours of labor.

Jaguar Classic continuation XKSS

Long story short, Jaguar Land Rover's booth will be a "must stop" at this year's Salon Rétromobile, which runs February 8 to 12.

Source: Jaguar Land Rover

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4 comments
CAVUMark
Just once I would like an opportunity to afford one of the vehicles highlighted in New Atlas. That Russian SUV was the closest but not available in the US. I guess I just wait for the lotto to pay off.
Nairda
In simple principles, there is no reason why a manufacturer could not redo an old design such that outward appearance is identical to original; but that underpinnings and structural integrity is not up to modern standards. Same same interior and engine. Old is new. It would be refreshing and retro. I'd personally appreciate a new old Ford Cortina. :)
Gregg Eshelman
Can the Range Rovers be imported to the USA? Since they are original vehicles and will meet safety standard for their year of manufacture, the company should be able to add anything the US required to them for that year.
TheMook
Make it a 1956 Cadillac Series 62, couple or convertible, but with all modern drivetrain, brakes, etc. underneath the skin.