Description
By: James Taylor .
The second-generation, or 38A, Range Rover had an enormously hard act to follow. The original Range Rover, introduced in 1970, had become a style icon and was so well loved that its makers cautiously kept it in limited production alongside the new model for more than a year.
But the new model's excellence won through. It quickly fulfilled its designers' aims of becoming a genuine alternative to a conventional luxury car — with, of course, the added bonus that it could cross terrain that no conventional luxury car could attempt. It also went on to sell in greater numbers than the model it replaced — selling about half as many in eight years as the old model had sold in nearly twenty-six years!
Now that production has ended and the Range Rover name is carried by a third- generation model, the 38A is becoming more and more appreciated by enthusiast owners. Never cheap to run, these vehicles have nevertheless begun to attract a dedicated following among those who value their unique combination of luxury and everyday practicality.
This book is for those who love the Range Rover, telling in meticulous detail the story of why it was conceived, how it was designed, and how it developed over the years. Also covered are the rare and little-known special derivatives, as well as planned derivatives that never made it into production. There is a special chapter on the North American versions that were so important to the 38A's success, and the author also looks back at how the motoring press reacted to the car when it was new.
For anyone who owns or would like to own one of these automotive icons, Range Rover — The Second Generation stands as the definitive reference work. It forms a companion volume to the author's highly acclaimed Range Rover — The First Generation (co-authored with Nick Dimbleby) which is also published by Crowood.
