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Soft Dash RRC Overfinch LSE needs rescue


Snagger

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The garage I use for MoTs has a Plymouth blue Overfinch LSE that is in needs of a bit of care. The owner loves the vehicle and doesn't want to see it broken up, but some scum bags wrecked the front seats and the centre of the soft dash to steal its Autobiography spec ICE (bizzare to steal a 20-year old system, which makes me suspect it was stolen for another RRC).

A cursory look showed it has the usual rust on the bonnet corners and the boot floor edges and other usual spots, but it generally looks solid. The front seats needed retrimming due to their age related cracking anyway, so the damage caused by the thieves is bad but inconsequential (though they'll need new head rests as well as retrimming. The main dash may be repairable by a trim specialist, but the dash controls section needs replacing outright (the centre from any 300Tdi Discovery would match). Basically, the theft damage looks worse than it is.

I can't imagine many Overfinch soft dash LSEs existed in the day, let alone now, so it's too good and too unusual to let fade away. The owner is vacillating over what to do with it, and the garage owner (the car owner's brother in law) is also considering fixing it up for sale, though they're not a LR specialist. If anyone is interested, PM - I'll pass their details on to the garage owner.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I spoke to the garage last Monday, and they were very keen to follow this up with the owner. I'm still waiting for him to call me directly, though. I'll call them again later in the coming week if I haven't heard anything. I'm still on the case to get this car saved.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi I have LSE overfinch and totally agree they are fantastic vehicles. I knew not many LSE's were made but didn't think the Overfinch versions were that rare. If so this one must be kept on the road. Good luck to anyone that restores it.

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I spoke to the owner's brother in law this morning (I don't now the owner himself), and the vehicle is still "in stasis", the owner waiting for a decision by the insurers for the interior damage. I suspect they'll write it off, being a 19 year old RR needing new front seats,, dash, console and ICE. Apparently, the owner is in contact with a company near Brize, which I'd assume to be Kingsley Cars, to discus work on the vehicle. I don't know whether he's planning minimal repairs or a full rebuild (he's in for a shock if it's the latter). However, he has been made aware of the vehicle's rarity, so I believe he's not going to let it be broken up or scrapped. My contact is going to speak to him again in the next few weeks to see if it might get sold, given the owner is now seemingly keener on fixing it up and keeping it. He is aware there is some interest, but my contact doesn't want his garage's number released for enquiries at this point, so I'll keep on the case to keep you updated - one way or another this car needs to be in the hands of someone who'll restore it properly, be it the current owner or a new buyer.

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  • 1 month later...

Hi I have LSE overfinch and totally agree they are fantastic vehicles. I knew not many LSE's were made but didn't think the Overfinch versions were that rare. If so this one must be kept on the road. Good luck to anyone that restores it.

A bit slow on the uptake! Pictures please.

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Hi DavidL,

Here is a photo of my Range rover. I am the third owner, the first owner bought it in London took it to Overfinch then had it exported to Botswana. In 20 years he did just 69,000 miles. After he died his son didn't look after it and left it at a friends garage. After 6 months of pestering he finally sold it to me. Unfortunately I had to return to the UK recently and it is now being looked after in Botswana by a friend. I have had a quote of £5000 to ship it to the UK which I cant afford. Hope the photo open ok, my first try.

post-39096-0-81405700-1395515028_thumb.jpg

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Hi DavidL,

Here is a photo of my Range rover. I am the third owner, the first owner bought it in London took it to Overfinch then had it exported to Botswana. In 20 years he did just 69,000 miles. After he died his son didn't look after it and left it at a friends garage. After 6 months of pestering he finally sold it to me. Unfortunately I had to return to the UK recently and it is now being looked after in Botswana by a friend. I have had a quote of £5000 to ship it to the UK which I cant afford. Hope the photo open ok, my first try.

Photo worked just fine. That's a long way south, I suppose shipping from SA is about the only option.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Sounds like a good idea mad_pete. Might take a little longer than 2 weeks though. My wife has suggested driving it to Walvis Bay in Namibia and trying to ship it from there, A trip of about 2000km. I have enquired here about shipping, nobody can help me with the shipping but say the car can enter the country for free and will just need an MOT. Does anyone out there have any ideas of who I might be able to contact?

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