Evaluation: Converted by Special Vehicle Conversions (SVC) in the 1980s. Restored in the UK. Came to the States in 2019. Engine looks maintained and refreshed but not fully restored. Visible age on the steering wheel and gauges but good upholstery. A 2019 inspection report notes marks on the hood under the paint, dents in a fender and a door, chips on both bumpers, minor scratches on the glass, and paint damage on the left front fender. Dings and scratches aside, it’s very rare, especially in this country.
Bottom Line: Back in 1983 the Range Rover Evoque Convertible was still decades away, but that didn’t stop James Bond from piloting a soft top Range Rover in Octopussy. SVC in Sussex, England saw an opportunity and began cutting the roofs off classic Range Rovers in the 1980s to fill demand. The conversion looks rudimentary at best, but it’s a rare sight and it will catch people’s attention wherever it goes. It certainly caught the bidders’ attention, who afforded it a large but not crazy premium over a standard ’71 Range Rover.
