What's all this about?
This is the Kingsley Cars ULEZ Reborn Range Rover Classic and it's all about being a bit different when it comes to dealing with the expansion of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone or any clean air zone really. Historic vehicles over 40 years old are exempt from the charge, but we all know they come with their fair share of issues. Instead, you can now have a 1981 Range Rover two or four-door that has a modern V8 engine, a ZF automatic gearbox, Apple CarPlay and loads of other stuff that people buying a brand new Range Rover might have.
"It's so important for businesses like ours to keep classic cars on the roads, they are real head turners on the commute," says Damon Oorloff, founder of Kingsley Cars. "As a team we want to establish our vehicles as the alternative to modern Range Rovers and SUVs, by offering our customers modern technology that fits seamlessly into their everyday lives and enhances the usability of our cars, while retaining the vintage look and charm that comes with owning a classic."
You could of course buy a new Range Rover though and it just so happens that a new generation is being revealed this week, but come on, the old one is cool and so very London hipster.
So what does Kingsley Cars do to it?
It's almost a case of what don't they do to it. Each model is completely stripped down so it can be treated with full corrosion protection before getting a respray. There's a choice of two V8s; a 223hp 4.0-litre or a 273hp 4.6-litre, both of which are mated to a ZF automatic transmission and there's a rebuilt Borg Warner transfer box.
Inside there are heated seats, three armrests for those travelling in the back, electric windows all-round and more sound-deadening to keep out the roar of London traffic, or the traffic of any city for that matter, it's not all about London.
Then there are the options, a list that is possibly almost as long as our imagination, but here are some of the basics. There's a Fast Road Suspension Kit to make dynamic driving a bit more enjoyable and Kingsley says it will also help with city speed bumps. You can have a big brake kit, forged aluminium wheels, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors and LED headlights.
inside you can choose from a range of upholstery materials including tweed and leathers, a Kingsley JL Audio 700w seven-speaker audio system with Bluetooth and DAB radio, a rear iPad integration system, Apple CarPlay and even wireless phone charging. Plus you can have ambient lighting as though you are in a new Range Rover.
Isn't the classic Range Rover exempt from ULEZ due to historic status anyway?
Not all of them, but quite a few. Historic vehicles over forty years old are exempt from the ULEZ charges so as it's 2021, anything made in 1981 or before. This particular Kingsley happens to be a 1981 model so it could have chugged into town with its original motor, but the point is that it now has a shiny new V8 engine, a London traffic-friendly and smooth ZF automatic gearbox and all the stuff modern cars have.
Go on then, how much will it cost?
Retro is usually expensive and the Kingsley Cars Range Rover is no exception with prices starting from £125,000. Granted you do get a classic Range Rover with all mod cons, one which can cruise into and around London without the Transport for London coffers going ching ching as you do so. There is the very obvious fact that you can do this in an un-modified original and let's not forget there are companies out there that will convert a classic Rangie to full electric power. That's not for everyone though and for those who want the theatre of V8 power in something that is classic and cool, the rather long-named Kingsley Cars ULEZ Reborn Range Rover Classic makes for an interesting choice.
Mark Smyth - 26 Oct 2021