Deep sorrow.

[Pete-M]

Ladies and Gentlemen of Autoshite, the sad day has finally arrived. I feel I must pay my respects and say goodbye to my beloved Wood and Picket Range Rover Turbo.

 

 

Bought 'for a laugh' close to three years ago, and a constant financial embarassment every time I ever tried to use the bloody thing, it's the longest I've ever owned a car for - although I sold it in June or July, it still holds the record - this glorious example of half-cocked and frankly lunatic British engineering is finally leaving the sanctity of my driveway and going to someone who has the enthusiasm and financial clout to get it back up to scratch.

 

A car that has brought me a lot closer to various suppliers of Land Rover spares, and a huge discount from one Landy parts place (where even their Land Rover Specialist mechanic wished me luck), a car that taught me never to try and put 330 bhp and 400 lb ft through a ZF4HP22 automatic gearbox, a car that is actually banned from my best mates garage "Every time that thing turns up here it stays for a week - even if you're just popping in for a brew", a car that annoyed the local Land Rover club so much they kicked me out. A car that did things that aren't supposed to be possible, but which had just enough charisma to get away with threatening to leave me stranded wherever I took it. The car that even though I'd pretty much comprehensively shredded the gearbox still managed to cruise home from North Wales at 'a good lick' provided I didn't slow down enough for it to drop below 3rd gear. The car that taught me that if you're standing in a pit trying to manhandle an auto gearbox out of a Rangie, you're better off taking the fucking heavy transfer box off first if you've only got three blokes to support it - especially when one of those blokes is inside the Rangie with a rope around his shoulders tied to the box "Just to support it".

 

An astonishing piece of kit that truly would do anything asked of it - but which would ask for an astonishing amount of maintenance in order to do so - I will miss this old beast even though I've not driven it much for the last two years.

 

If only it would do more than 9 mpg.

 

 

I want another Rangie now, but a more sensible one with LPG.

[outlaw118]

Isn't it weird that, judging from the above, that despite your Rangy being an utter money pit, 9mpg, gearbox issues etc, that you don't hate it??I'm sure we've all had cars that we have fond memories of, but I reckon I would have got the arseache with that a good while ago.Much RESPETC for your perseverance, and hers hoping that you'll be ok soon!And buy something equally daft with the proceeds......

[Tayne]

.

[Guest greenvanman]

You must have the patience of a saint, I had a Land Rover like that and it cured me of them forever.

[shite_meister]

I had a 3.5i Vogue similar looking to yours, it cost me an arm and a leg but it was a joy to drive...untill the head gasket went.I so want another but a 3.9. I know someone who has a supercharged one, I thought he was talking shit untill I saw it with my own eyes and its odd set-up on the inlet manifold.Any pics of the interior?

[Minimad5]

I have always been a big fan of these old girls,But scared at the astonishingly low MPGA guy who lives kind of local dropped a Shogun or warrior (was definitely Mitsubishi) lump into his after the Landy V8 destroyed itself.I dont recall him ever finishing it, but i do remember it took somethin like a month for him to get it in ... ooh and he hand painted the body black with Black Board Paint Hope you use / used the money to fill the gap in your heart

[Jonnyvalenta]

Had a shot of an Overfinch 5.7 classic a few years ago,it was a beast! It would woofle along nicely with a hint of throttle,but when you buried the loud pedal.... A car I could live with forever,even allowing for the thirst,which wasn't that bad relative to a 3.9,considering the performance advantage. Marvellous!

[Mad Cyril]

My sincere condolences.I've just come in from the garage.That's a good nine hours to sort out a dodgy heater motor in my Rangie. Complete dashboard out. Discovered some new swear words in those nine hours but managed it without losing any fingers and only a pint or two of blood and sweat.This time last year I was just starting a three month weldathon, putting new floors, sills, crossmembers, life etc into the disgusting old guzzler.I love it to bits.

[Station]

What is Wood & Picket? Sounds posh!I don't think I'd ever have the guts to own one of these, I didn't know they were so unreliable???Are there any more pics?

[Pete-M]

W&P are / were coachbuilders. That Rangie was modified by them when new, loads more wood, special dashboard, loads of other custom bits and bobs.I'll dig out some more pics.

[Station]

It's like an Eton bully.

[Pete-M]

I do hope so