Unbelievable Mashup: Range Rover Classic Transformed with Aston Martin V-12 Sells for $60,000
Rule Britannia, Britannia Rules the Roads… Imagine thundering through the countryside with the roar of an Aston Martin V-12 engine beneath you. This fantastical dream became reality for one fortunate buyer who snagged the world's only Aston V-12 swapped Range Rover Classic for a cool $60,000.
The idea of infusing a 1971 three-door Range Rover with the soul of an Aston Martin came about after the team at Land Rover specialists Bishops 4×4 spent an evening tossing ideas over a few pints. The classic Range Rover had been lounging around, waiting for a compelling reason to rise from the ashes of neglect. That reason came in the form of a crashed DB7 V-12, which the team promptly bought, thus beginning a two-and-a-half-year odyssey of British automotive engineering.
Transforming the Range Rover was no small feat. The front chassis rails were cut away and re-welded to squeeze the six-liter, 12-cylinder powerhouse into the engine bay. Even then, modifications to the scuttle, alternator relocation, re-routing drive belts, and adapted cooling hoses were necessities. Innovations didn't stop there; a customized stainless steel exhaust system was crafted, and twin tuneable ECUs were installed—one for each glorious cylinder bank.
To support this audacious powerplant, the team fortified the vehicle with more rugged Defender axles, robust springs, and Bilstein dampers. Stopping power came from six-piston AP Racing disc brakes. The chassis rolled on 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 285-section Toyo Proxy tires, with wheel arches altered to accommodate the added girth.
Externally, the transformation included twin headlamps, a striking four-layer maroon paint job for the body, and a contrasting gray roof. Aston Martin badges were etched in, and a hand-painted Union Jack flaunted British pride across its flanks and hood, making it a rolling tribute to UK automotive heritage.
Inside, the vehicle embraced luxury with Wood & Pickett trim, a DB9 starter button, a digital dashboard, and a specially designed kick plate reading ‘AMRR007001’, marking its unique build identity. Despite being described as “brain-numbingly complex,” the completed vehicle was auctioned at Iconic Auctioneers for £50,625 ($64,350), a figure showcasing the laborious love, sweat, and determination poured into this one-of-a-kind project.
This unique Range Rover stands as a testament to the ingenuity of British engineering and the spirited determination of car enthusiasts. It blends the rugged utility of a classic Range Rover with the high-performance heart of an Aston Martin, creating a machine that's not only a rarity but also a marvel of collaborative design and engineering. Its auction price, while not astronomical, represents a bargain for the sheer uniqueness and craftsmanship involved in its creation.
So here’s to the incredible fusion of Land Rover practicality and Aston Martin finesse, a vehicle that truly encapsulates the essence of British motoring. Even if you weren’t the lucky one to bring it home, knowing such automotive masterpieces exist in the world is enough to make any car aficionado’s heart race.