A 19-year-old Range Rover that was previously part of Queen Elizabeth II’s private fleet has sold at auction for a record sum after changing hands for a fraction of its value in July.
In fact, its value has increased by a whopping 302 percent in just four months!
The luxury SUV, which was offered at the iconic Auctioneers NEC Classic Motor Show in Birmingham last weekend, attracted a winning bid of £132,750, which is more than double its pre-sale estimate and believed to be the highest at auction paid for a copy from 2004. the premium 4X4.
The sale price will be a huge blow to a former owner who parted ways with the Range Rover this summer for just £33,002.
A quick way to quadruple your money! After paying just £33,000 for this 2004 Range Rover at auction in July, the owner found video evidence showing the car was first delivered to the late Queen Elizabeth II. By doing this its value has increased enormously
The same car was sold earlier this year with only circumstantial evidence linking it to Her Majesty.
With nothing concrete about the former owner, the sale price when the hammer fell in July was a quarter of what it cost this time.
In fact, it also exceeded its pre-sale estimate on Saturday, with Iconic Auctioneers predicting it would realize just £60,000 before the Midlands event.
The incredible 302 percent increase in value in just four months is thanks to the seller who acted conscientiously investigation after purchasing the car – confirmation of the royal connection.
The owner has tracked down video footage of Queen Elizabeth II driving the Range Rover with the license plate clearly visible, shattering previous assumptions and clarifying its legacy.
The clip (below) shows the third-generation L322 Range Rover – one of the Queen’s many possessions during her driving years – with Her Majesty at the wheel while attending a show in 2005.
Without the Royal connection, the 19 year old car would otherwise only be worth £5,000 – £6,000
The luxury SUV, which was offered at the iconic Auctioneers NEC Classic Motor Show in Birmingham last weekend, attracted a winning bid of £132,750, which is more than double its pre-sale estimate and believed to be the highest at auction paid for a copy from 2004. the premium 4X4
The vehicle was commissioned and modified in 2004 by Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations under Contract 34319 – as confirmed by the British car manufacturer with a long-standing Royal Warrant – before being delivered to the Royal Estate.
It is finished in Epsom Green paint with a Sand Hide leather interior.
It has been covered from new 109,675 miles.
The service history is extensive: the first service in April 2005 at Stratstone Mayfair, then a further five at Hunters Land Rover, two at specialists in Windsor, a further five services at John Dennis in Aylesbury and, most recently, a service at Land Rover. in July this year.
What sets it apart from a conventional Range Rover of this generation is the changes ordered prior to the Queen’s ownership.
This includes a slightly different grille with built-in hidden blue lights, a switch pack (to power said lights), front and rear seat covers, a dog guard to keep the Queen’s corgis in check, a cargo area mat, side steps and mud flaps.
And there’s other equipment more specific to Her Majesty’s vehicles, such as dual switches for the rear window and rear grab handles to assist with entry and exit – a common feature of Royal 4X4s.
The sale price will be a huge blow to a former owner, who parted ways with the Range Rover in July for just £33,002.
Although it had previously been confirmed that this was a one-of-a-kind example built by Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations, the former owner was unable to provide any concrete confirmation that it had been produced for Her Majesty.
The seller – who paid just £33,000 for the car in July when it could not be confirmed that it was a former Queen’s motorcycle – tracked down video footage of HM Queen Elizabeth II driving it with the number plate clearly visible, putting an end to previous assumptions and clarifying his heritage
Under the bonnet lies Land Rover’s proven 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine.
“This is a Range Rover that is in excellent condition and with confirmed Royal ownership and will stand out from the crowd,” the auction house said ahead of the sale.
Rob Hubbard, MD of Iconic Auctioneers, said after the record-winning bid: ‘This sale once again highlighted what makes a success at auction: the best of breed, rarity and celebrity.’
The video clip shows the third-generation L322 Range Rover – one of the Queen’s many possessions during her driving years – with Her Majesty at the wheel as she attended a show in 2005.
A telltale sign that this was previously in the Queen’s fleet is the padding in the hood (which you can just see in this photo) to cover the support where a Labrador motif would have been attached
Filler in the roof is also visible. This is the area where the communications antenna would be attached
Before the video was found, the only original ownership information about the car was a letter from JLR stating that the car had been sent to Stratstone Land Rover, Mayfair, for a warranty recall in July 2004, followed by a second recall to Peter Vardy Land Rover. Aberdeen – the nearest franchised Land Rover dealer to Balmoral Estate.
As the Royal Family traditionally visited Balmoral between July and September, it is believed that the car was seen in Mayfair before being transported to Balmoral, where it was seen again after the family left to return to London.
There were other telltale signs that this was a former Queen’s engine, including filler in the hood to cover the mount where the Labrador motif would have been attached, and the same on the roof to fill where the communications system antenna would be placed. are included.
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