When you’re luck’s in, it really is in.
That’s certainly the case for one car enthusiast, who last year snapped up a clapped-out 20-year-old Range Rover on eBay with high mileage, scorched paintwork and major insurance claim on its record, only to later discover its incredible background.
Having scrutinised the car’s paperwork more closely ahead of a planned restoration, by chance he stumbled across hallmarks of a vehicle with Royal connections.
Land Rover Special Vehicles department stamps found in the service book first hinted at its provenance. And having researched the registration and chassis number, the owner soon realised its significance – that it had originally been delivered to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for her own personal use.
With the previous keeper seemingly unaware of its provenance, the 2007 Range Rover SE 3.6 TDV8 diesel, which has 126,000 miles on the clock and had fallen into a state of disrepair, likely cost the vendor only a few grand when he won the online auction in April 2024.
But he is now looking to make good on the fortunate deal by offering the 4X4 to the highest bidder next month.
Iconic Auctioneers, which has been entrusted with its sale, estimates it could sell for as much as £60,000 – a handsome return on what was originally bought to be a ‘tow car project’.
‘I bought the Queen’s old car and didn’t even know it’: A motor enthusiast who purchased a well-used 2007 Range Rover in a state of disrepair went on to find out it was formerly part of the Royal garage. Now the 4X4 is being offered to the highest bidder for a stellar sum
From the moment the vendor realised the significance of the car’s history, it was ‘treated with the respect due to a vehicle of such provenance’ and its restoration ‘handled with care and authenticity’, the auction house says.
Sourced records show that the 4X4 was supplied new via Land Rover Special Vehicles to the Royal Estate under Contract No. 43086.
The Tonga Green Metallic Vogue SE 3.6 TDV8 Automatic – as with all royal vehicle commissions – was prepared to an exacting and unique specification.
Iconic Auctioneers says it is the only diesel ‘L322’ generation Range Rover supplied to Her Majesty in this colour, differing from other Royal examples which were typically petrol-powered.
The vehicle was fitted with practical upgrades including rear grab handles to aid entry and exit, and a dog guard in the rear compartment – both signatures of Royal use.
While neither of these features are still in situ today, the location holes where they would have been fitted still remain.
The vendor snapped up the then clapped-out 20-year-old Range Rover with high mileage, scorched paintwork and major insurance claim on its record as a fixer up, only to later discover its incredible background
Land Rover Special Vehicles department stamps found in the service book first hinted at its provenance. And having researched the registration and chassis number, the owner soon realised its significance – that it had originally been delivered to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for her own personal use
The Land Rover Special Vehicles plaque on the chassis is also a clear indication of the car’s Royal roots
Iconic Auctioneers, which has been entrusted with its sale next month, estimates it could sell for as much as £60,000 – a handsome return on what was originally bought to be a ‘tow car project’
The vendor’s review of the extensive history file went on to reveal that early servicing was carried out by Land Rover Vehicle Operations at Gaydon, as recorded in the original service booklet – another clear sign of its Royal background.
And photographic evidence has confirmed that Her Majesty was seen driving the very vehicle – with the same number plate – at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and Sandringham.
Distinctive interior trim and seat piping visible in those images ‘leave no doubt about its identity’.
Further details include the presence of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh’s hat inside the car, captured in photographs taken on the same day.
The Tonga Green Metallic Vogue SE 3.6 TDV8 Automatic was prepared to an exacting and unique specification. It is the only diesel ‘L322’ generation Range Rover supplied to Her Majesty in this colour, differing from other examples which were typically petrol-engined
The odometer shows the Range Rover has been put to good use over its 18-year history, clocking an impressive 126,121 miles
The Range Rover around a decade ago was a category D write-off due to an expensive interior electrical issue repair which was deemed worth more than the car’s value. That wouldn’t have been the case if the insurance firm had known its Royal background
After leaving Royal service, the car passed into private hands and around ten years ago was subject to a Category D write-off, with the insurer deeming the repair costs to be more expensive than the vehicle’s value.
The insurance claim was believed to be related to a ‘minor interior electrical issue’ rather than structural damage, with no evidence of the Range Rover being in a crash.
The car later spent time in Spain, where the paintwork suffered the effects of prolonged sunshine.
When it was eventually offered for sale again via eBay, it surfaced less than fifty miles from the current owner’s home with a low reserve price to reflect its poor condition and chequered history.
Having become a great admirer of Clarkson’s farm – and Jezza’s now-iconic L322 Range Rover – he saw it as the ideal tow car fixer-upper and purchased it in its dilapidated condition under the proviso he would put it back to its former glory.
The car later spent time in Spain, where the paintwork suffered the effects of prolonged sunshine. It has since been meticulously restored
In an extraordinary twist, the vendor even managed to locate and reunite the original Land Rover Special Vehicles telephone, headphone and rear entertainment equipment, quite possibly the very items supplied with the car when new
The L322-generation Range Rover, launched in TDV8 form in 2006, is widely regarded as one of the finest models in the marque’s history. The 3.6-litre V8 diesel engine produced 272bhp when new
The car will go under the hammer at the Iconic Sale during the NEC Classic Motor Show on Saturday 8 November with a pre-sale guide price of £50,000 to £60,000
The Range Rover arrived on a trailer and sat at his property awaiting recommissioning.
‘For weeks, it was simply a future workhorse,’ the auctioneer explained.
‘Then one day, whilst thumbing through the service booklet, he noticed SVO stamps from Land Rover Vehicle Operations and recalled Iconic Auctioneers’ sale of another Royal Range Rover.
‘Curious, he researched the registration and chassis number – and realised what he had.
‘In that instant, everything changed.
‘He even considered removing the number plates in case anyone else recognised its significance and decided they might want it.’
From that moment, the car was treated with the reverence its provenance demanded.
He had the paintwork restored, the interior refreshed, and, in an extraordinary twist, managed to locate and reunite the original Land Rover Special Vehicles telephone, headphone and rear entertainment equipment, quite possibly the very items supplied with the car when new.
A VentureCam wireless camera system is also included and a period-correct bonnet dog mascot, as seen in photographs, has been sourced and now installed.
Rob Hubbard, managing director at Iconic Auctioneers, said it will be ‘a privilege’ to offer a vehicle so closely associated with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the highest bidder.
‘The L322 is already an icon of modern British motoring, and this example represents a unique opportunity to own a car that served our late monarch personally,’ he told us.
‘We expect it will attract global interest from collectors and enthusiasts alike.’
The car will go under the hammer at the Iconic Sale during the NEC Classic Motor Show on Saturday 8 November with a pre-sale guide price of £50,000 to £60,000.
The L322-generation Range Rover, launched in TDV8 form in 2006, is widely regarded as one of the finest models in the marque’s history.
