Range Rover FF Two-Door

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Excellent vehicle though it is, the Range Rover has always had to perform something of a balancing act, being a comfortable road car but also a capable off-roader, with various compromises made along the way to achieve these different objectives.

Almost from the outset it has attracted customisers keen to emphasise either role above the other – such as extreme off-roaders from the likes of Bowler and Ferrari-baiting road cars from the likes of Overfinch. In 1975 Schuler Ltd, the UK arm of German international automotive supplier Schuler Presses GmbH (and later to turn into Overfinch), made available a high performance version of the Range Rover, customers being able to choose from a variety of enhancements depending on their requirements.

These included a choice of either a Leyland 5-speed manual overdrive gearbox or a Chrysler A727 Torqueflite automatic mated to a special Schuler FF (Ferguson Formula) transfer box with high and low ranges but also a viscous limited slip centre differential in place of the conventional diff lock which could feed power to whichever wheels had the most grip. Smoother, more refined and higher geared than the stock system, this not only improved off-road performance, it also eliminated wind-up and shock loads on rough terrain, greatly reduced transmission noise and backlash, allowed more relaxed high speed cruising and also improved handling and steering feel.

It could also cope with a lot more power than the stock transmission and Schuler offered a 350bhp upgrade to the 3.5-litre V8 (which produced only 130bhp in standard Range Rovers), with the option of a 5.7-litre GM V8 if desired. Anti-lock brakes were another option along with modified suspension. Proving the efficiency of all these mods, a Schuler FF Range Rover won the gruelling Paris-Dakar Rally in 1981.

Thought to be one of only around 240 made, this Schuler-modified Range Rover FF Automatic was first registered in September 1977 and has been in the current ownership for 12 years. In good running order with a current MOT when acquired in early 2003, it was used on the road for a few months before being put into storage where it has remained ever since, with just the odd run around the vendor’s property to keep everything working.

Although the bodywork is now looking rather sorry for itself here and there, the vendor states that the vehicle remains basically sound with a decent chassis that should respond well to straightforward restoration. Still running and driving with effective brakes and transmission, it has just under 88,000 miles on the clock which is believed genuine and is partially backed up by 11 old MOT certificates back to 1989 at 38,073 miles.

A Heritage Certificate has been applied for and should be with the vehicle in time for the auction and a V5C is present (although this erroneously records the engine number as 15005084B instead of 15D05084B). Altogether a most rare and fascinating project that is sure to be of interest to any Range Rover collector.