Could this G-reg Discovery tempt you into some classic off-roading?

It is a pair of a long time considering that we named the Land Rover Discovery Sequence 1 as one particular of Britain’s hottest collectable autos. Launched in 1989 to fill the sizeable gap concerning the Defender and the Array Rover, the ‘Disco’ presented the best of both of those worlds the mix of peerless off-street prowess and qualified on-highway dynamics. It was an instant hit.

Though dependent on the Selection Rover Common, the Discovery was lengthier to let for a more substantial boot and the option of an excess pair of fold-down seats. It debuted in the autumn of 1989 in a few-doorway type and with the choice of 3.5-litre V8 petrol and 200 Tdi turbodiesel engines. A 5-doorway variation arrived in November 1990 with 7 seats as typical.

Revenue continued until eventually 1998, by which time the array experienced been bolstered by a quick-lived 2.-litre four-cylinder petrol motor, the V8 experienced attained gasoline injection and the choice of an automated gearbox, and a facelift had increased the dimensions of the headlights and ditched the Morris Marina doorway handles.

Terminal corrosion and really hard use by unsympathetic proprietors has led to the early demise of quite a few early cars and trucks, so it’s scarce that a G-reg will come to industry. The Brightwells auction Discovery isn’t a G-WAC – so-called because the primary push cars were being all registered GXXX WAC – but it is a a few-doorway, which makes it extremely attractive.

In accordance to Brightwells, the motor vehicle was topic to a current system-off rebuild, when a swift glimpse at the MOT history reveals it passed in September 2022 with no advisories. Its 3.5-litre V8 engine had covered about 143,000 miles considering that it rolled out of a Land Rover vendor in December 1989.

In 2020, we said: “Values of common Array Rovers in each two- and 4-door configurations have rocketed above the earlier 5 yrs, and we feel it is about time the Sequence I Land Rover Discovery adopted match. Till just lately, even the best could be purchased for a few thousand, but in latest months, remarkable illustrations have attained considerably extra: in June, CCA offered a single for £12,320. Our ‘Excellent’ information rate stands at £9,800 but is most likely to be revised upwards quickly.”

It has. According to the Hagerty Valuation Instrument, a 1989 Discovery Series 1 in ‘Excellent’ ailment is value £9,900, climbing to £15,000 for a ‘Concours’ illustration. A pre-auction estimate of £10,000 to £12,000 suggests there is a minor wiggle home to insert price to this extremely sought soon after car or truck.

Registration and bidding opens on Saturday 11 February. If you’re imagining of positioning a bid, don’t ignore to examine out our buying guide, which tells you what a Discovery 1 is like to push, what goes wrong and what you ought to appear for.

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