1990 Range Rover Classic Rust Free California Truck Technician Owned & Serviced

1990 Land Rover Range Rover County

1990 RRC

Intro:

I have known this truck for 20+ years. When I opened my Land Rover Service Center in Los Angeles in my early 20’s, this vehicle belonged to one of my very first service customers.

In this listing description, I will tell you everything I know about this vehicle including historic servicing, current servicing, operability, and more.

I would insist that all serious parties read this listing in its entirety as I will be pretty thorough including the details of the 60K mile drivetrain resting under the hood.

Backstory & My Acquisition Of This Vehicle:

For those who care about this sort of thing, this vehicle was owned by a member of Bob Marley’s road crew and was always referred to by the owner as “Baby Rasta Rova’.”So she's got a name.

This vehicle was one of many for him and was originally purchased by him as a lease return.

Over the years, the service was routine - including all 30K mile interval services, brakes, cooling system, fuel system, and other assorted needs to keep it at its best.

Shortly before I closed my shop before moving from LA, this vehicle failed smog inspection a few times mainly due to higher levels of hydrocarbons in the exhaust test.

When faced with the expense of headgaskets on a higher mileage motor, the owner elected to purchase an entire powertrain (engine, transmission, and transfercase) from a 60K mile parts truck I had at that time.

***So please note, that while you have an odometer reading of 198K miles on this truck, the drivetrain has about 60K miles on it.

I do not have any of the service documents from that time, but one drive in this truck tells the story.

The owner recently made good on his plans to retire back to Jamaica and said that I would be the only person he’d sell it to.

I was more than happy to pick it up in the late Spring of 2024 and have enjoyed driving it daily and bringing it up to speed with finishing touches.

Current Servicing:

Done over the past 3-4 months.

• 60K mile service (includes Genuine oil filter & change, STI spark plug wires, champion spark plugs, new fuel filter, new air filter, all 5 ancillary belts, powertrain service)

• Brembo Brake Conversion (includes Brembo brake pads, Brembo brake rotors, and brand-new brake hardware in all 4 corners)

• Complete Brake System Flush & Bleed

• Swivel Hub Service (including swivel pin bearing preload rebuilt, new hub bearings, seals, races, bearings, CV & Bearing grease)

• Brand New Cat-Back Exhaust System

• R134a AC Upgrade

• Brand New AC Fan Speed Final Stage Resistor (that impossible to change part under the cowl that allows for all 3 cabin control speeds)

• Brand New Battery

• Brand New Set of Factory Mats Still in packaging - you can have the honors of opening them up.

Previous Servicing:

These are some highlights of services performed before my leaving Los Angeles.

• 2” OME MD Spring Conversion w/Bilstein Shocks

• TerraFirma Steering Stabilizer

• New Steering Box Installed

• 60K mile powertrain installed

• ABS pump replaced

• Fuel Pump replaced

Additional Testing & Inspections:

• Block test

• Pressure test

• 3rd party condition & inspection done to verify running/safety/operation of vehicle

Life Behind The Wheel:

She always fires right up and has been great to drive to the beach and local daily errands. My longest trip was a little over an hour and in Florida summers at 100+ degrees, she’s operated without any overheating, oil pressure issues or running issues.

Please note the included video. She’s quiet in the cabin, even at 60mph and you can faintly hear the healthy burble of the v8 under acceleration.

All windows, sunroof, HVAC zones, blinkers, signals, headlights, wipers, horn, seats, all work. Power locks work (though not by remote - that’s missing - but the key in the door actuates all). Cruise control does not.

Heat works great. AC works great. No smells from inside the cabin and non-smoker vehicle.

Acceleration is strong. Shift points are smooth. And there is no noise from the drivetrain, eg ticks, gearbox whining, etc.

Steering is tight and responsive through 65 MPH.

Beyond 65 MPH, you will feel the wind, the lift, and the wander of this non swaybar model.

There are no clunks or bumps from suspension, radius arms, A-arm, or trailing arms.

The 1990 M.Y. Was a ½ year where many trucks had combos of 87-88 body/chassis components and 91+ electronics and brakes.

This truck has the hidden hinges of the 91+ style, and the lower gas fill of the 87/88’s.

It has the electronics, HVAC, and ABS system of 91’s, but is a non swaybar type of the 87/88 era.

She’s a 10-spline diff/axel vehicle and is the Borg Warner viscous drive transfer case.

Aesthetics & Such:

Overall, she’s a beauty, in original condition, and for original components (with the exception of the headliner that was redone a while back) pushing a mind-boggling 35 years old, she’s an outstanding example of a quality product aged and loved over time.

Probably the most important fact is that she’s California truck and is rust and rot free. All seams, floor pans, joints, bulkheads, clips, wings, etc, tight and clean. She was always garage kept and babied by the previous owner.

She’s got the original complete owners manual, factory jack and tools, load cubby storage and parcel shelf equipment.

The center console is sturdy.

The carpets/rugs are soft and strong. Not brittle and disintegrating.

The leather is still soft, clean, and untorn. Worn mostly on the drivers bolster and wear and tear like a favorite baseball glove or bomber jacket. Captains armrests in perfect condition.

Door panels sit tight. Carpet inserts intact. Handles, pulls, and cups tight and rattle free.

Woodwork is still dark, though the veneer has surface cracks just about everywhere.

As for paint and body, the Westminster Grey paint sparkles, as does the chrome.

That said, you will find knicks, dings, dents, blemishes everywhere - in spite of her otherwise straight appearance.

Fear not, she is a head turner everywhere I go and in Sarasota, plenty of seniors stop to tell me about the ones they had from new and how happy seeing this one makes them.

What Would I Do Next?

Ive been asked that with nearly ever rover sold over the years so I’ll answer that here.

I would continue to watch eBay or FB marketplace and other Rover forums for parts trucks. Mainly interior pieces. And just stock up.

The BFG tires were installed before I left LA too and while there’s plenty of tread life for the type of driving I do, a new set of street-cruiser friendly tires would be where I’d go. I like the cooper discoverer a/t’s and they look a lot like the original Michelin XMS’s.

Why Sell It?

I don’t think I’ve ever kept a Rover personally, including my racetruck (an 89) for more than a year.

It’s the old technician and restorer in me. There’s joy in getting them. Joy in driving them. Joy in bringing them as back to original as they can be, and then I start looking for another.

That, and I have minor heart attacks everytime the kids get in it or close to it so I’m partially motivated to get her out of harms way!

Why Is The Frame So Clean?

I get this one a lot. The first part - she's a California truck. That's what's responsible for just about all of it. Second - when I start wrenching on these things, I'm not the tech who likes to get gross. I clean as I go, by hand, with simple-green and a rag. I hate crud falling in my eyes and ending the day looking like a chimeny sweep. Third - to protect the underbody, all of my cars get a WD40 bath. This protects from water and salt air, without the heavy grossness of something like Waxoil. But all that said, that's the original frame, with factory paint/part markings still bright.

A Restorers perspective:

Ive done plenty of super-high-ticket, frame-off restorations where everything was made new from paint to leather and pistons to zip ties. Those are the trucks that would get an A to A+ grade.

While emotionally I’d love to give this truck those marks, it is not a frame off restoration.

But cosmetically, in original condition 35 years on with that 60K mile powertrain in it? My knowledge of her the last 20 years and its current level of service? She takes a B to B+.

Terms: I'm not a dealer. Financing is not available. Aftermarket warranties are not available. She is sold as-is, where-is, with no existing warranty, promises, or guarantees of any kind made or implied.

Once the transaction is completed, I will be happy to connect you with a transpo guy I've used forever if that helps.

Once a wire is sent, a bill of sale will be inked, and the clean, Florida title in my name will be FEDEX'd. Also, Florida vehicles do not own their plate. In other words, the plate stays with me and you should make any and all arrangements needed prior to reception for temp tags or whatever the case may be.

Who is this vehicle for?

First, anyone who wants a rust-free California truck would love this thing.

The Westminster-on-Winchester Grey color combo is pretty rare. So there’s that.

I think this truck is perfect for the collector who’s been on the hunt for one like this but I suspect it would be the ideal first taste of green for someone that’s been watching these over the years from afar.

Baby Rasta Rova looks the part, isn’t begging for immediate service, and again, is the right truck for the do it yourselfer because the nuts and bolts actually turn on it lol.

If you’re looking for perfection, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a new car, not the one.

If you’re looking for a great truck that you will love a lot more than those days that you don’t, you’re on good footing with this one.

Feel free to ask any questions.

• Make: Land Rover
• Model: Range Rover
• Type: SUV
• Trim: County
• Doors: 5
• Year: 1990
• Mileage: 198486
• VIN: SALHV1243LA431756
• Color: Gray
• Engine size: 3.9L Gas V8
• Number of cylinders: 8
• Fuel: gasoline
• Transmission: Automatic
• Drive type: 4WD
• Interior color: Gray
• Drive side: Left-Hand Drive
• Safety options: Anti-Lock Brakes, Fog Lights
• Vehicle Title: Clean
Want to buy? Contact seller!