"Brodieman" (Brodieman)
02/20/2014 at 21:51 • Filed to: Land Rover, Range Rover, British, Road Trip
1
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"Brodieman" (Brodieman)
02/20/2014 at 21:51 • Filed to: Land Rover, Range Rover, British, Road Trip | 1
| 9 |
Saturday I'm flying from my home in Seattle to Palm Springs to pick up a Range Rover for my father.
A little backstory: My dad lives in Hawaii and he's a huge Range Rover fan. The model that is known now as the "Classic" but to him (and I) it's just THE Range Rover, produced from 1970 until 1995. He had one of the first US market ones imported in 1987 after years of trying to get one on the gray market without much luck. He babied it until he moved to Hawaii in 1994, and hasn't owned one since.
His reason for leaving it was pretty simple; he didn't want to see it rust to death. He also figured that the parts availability for what was at the time a relatively rare vehicle would be spotty at best. Well, now my mother and he are relocating back to the Seattle area, and he wanted another Range Rover again.
After a few months of searching, and getting sniped out of a few at the last minute, he found a really clean 1995 Soft Dash County LWB model with only 80k miles, two previous owners, and everything working and original down in Palm Springs. With the exception of some clearcoat fading on the hood and the leather going a little hard from the Palm Springs sun it looks to be a wonderfully maintained, entirely rust free example. But that doesn't make me any less concerned about the road trip ahead of me.
We sealed the deal today with the help of a very good friend of mine (and coworker) who happened to be vacationing down there and remembered riding in the back of my dad's Range Rover when we were in 5 th grade way way back in the day.
So, here I am. The dutiful son, the gearhead son who just couldn't shoot down my gearhead father's desire to own another old British thing, about to fly down and drive a 20 year old British pillar of automotive history that I haven't even touched in person to drive it 1200 miles in 2 days so I don't miss any work Monday. I do this for a dad who sold his 1967 GT500 to buy his first restaurant so his parents would have a job. A dad who, in early 1979, was at the Ferrari of Seattle dealership about to buy a 308 GTB when he got a call that my mom just found out she was pregnant with me and had to cease the deal right there. He never did get a Ferrari.
Thankfully, I have a wonderful girlfriend that is coming with me to act as copilot, navigator and occasional relief driver. She loves a good road trip, and I love her for that among many other things.
My good friend that handled the deal down in Palm Springs for us called and said "Well, I hope you're ready for your own Top Gear Bolivia Challenge!" I laughed a bit nervously; I then remembered the Rover was the only one to finish. Sometimes the least reliable car is the most reliable car.
Follow up posts will come. This should be fun.
Skif6996
> Brodieman
02/20/2014 at 21:57 |
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Good luck on your road trip! Your dad is a lucky guy to have a son like you. You are also a lucky guy to have a girlfriend like her.
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Brodieman
> Skif6996
02/20/2014 at 22:00 |
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Thanks! As nervous as I am about this, I look forward to it.
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Skif6996
> Brodieman
02/20/2014 at 22:05 |
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That's a long trip but with two drivers in a RR shouldn't be bad. Just make sure you have your work number handy in case you need to take monday off... because Range Rover.
AM3R
> Brodieman
02/20/2014 at 22:23 |
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I love that generation Range rover.. I'd buy one if I could find one locally, but like you I'll probably end up driving 1200 miles for a clean one haha. Good luck on the trip, hopefully you get back on time and the Range doesn't cause you any grief.
Also, moving from sunny Hawaii to rainy Seattle? I get they won the Super Bowl but..... (I joke I joke)
SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
> Brodieman
02/20/2014 at 22:42 |
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What's the reason for not shipping it??
Spaceball-Two
> Brodieman
02/20/2014 at 22:44 |
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This is awesome! I love in Bothell so if you want to stash it in my garage...
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Brodieman
> SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
02/20/2014 at 22:52 |
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The quotes were coming in between $800-1100, whereas a plane ticket there is only $110, fuel is maybe $350. Plus, my dad doesn't trust them, one dropped the 911 he had when I was 8 and totaled it.
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Brodieman
> Spaceball-Two
02/20/2014 at 22:53 |
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Thankfully I have plenty of garage space, but thanks!
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SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
> Brodieman
02/20/2014 at 23:01 |
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that's what shipping insurance is for I suppose......
oh well