The first Range Rover ever built, chassis #001, is going to be auctioned at the Salon Prive Sale in London next month. This was the first-ever of the iconic British SUVs to roll off the production line when the company opened for business in 1969.
This particular Rover was built between November 24th and December 17th in the newly-minted Rover factory at the time. After leaving the factory, it completed testing on the proving grounds and was sold and registered on January 2, 1970 to Michael Furlong, who produced two promotional films for this new British SUV.
Repainted and re-sold in 1975, the Rover 001 was thought to have been lost after passing through a couple of hands and then rediscovered in the 1990s. The new buyer undertook a six-year, ground-up restoration from rubber to roof.
Now, back in its original Olive Green color, Range Rover #001 will be up for auction September 4th. It retains all of its matching chassis numbers and its original registration number on the plates thanks to a re-issue of its original plates back in 1997.
