The first ever Range Rover chassis #001 is set to go up for auction next month at The Salon Prive Sale, hosted in partnership with Silverstone Auctions which estimates the modelwill fetch from $167 875 to 234985 – translating to about R1.7 to R2.5 million.

Range Rover number one for auction

This particular model was built between 24 November and 17 December 1969, almost six months before the official launch date of the Range Rover. It features a 3.5-litre V8 engine, and has been driven for 139 932 km in its 44 years of existence. The first owner was Michael Furlong, who was also the producer of two promo films for the model. Due to registration alterations and a re-spray, the first ever Range Rover chassis #001 was lost for a number of years. Having passed form owner to owner, the model was ‘rediscovered’ by its current owner in the early 1990s.

The vehicle was then fully resorted over a six-year period and mechanically executed to an exceptional standard as well as taking it back to its original Olive Green colour. Although it may seem impossible to find a classic vehicle in its original condition, the Range Rover still retains all its matching numbers components from the chassis to the engine, gearbox, and axles, as well as the original aluminium bonnet, and the original body shell. The Range Rover is now in its fourth generation with the latest addition being the Range Rover Sport SVR which you can read more about here. You can also watch how the new Range Rover Sport fared in a drag race against the BMW X5 M50d here.