Something Different!

Hybrid Discovery examples in Ireland.

Looks like a Discovery 2, doesn't it, with the revised model features dating between 2002 and 2004?

But it isn't. It's a revised Discovery 2 body and running gear, attached to a vintage Range Rover chassis that has been suitably modified.

This popular way into Discovery 2 ownership is down to the Road Tax situation in the Republic of Ireland. This vehicle would cost over a thousand Euro a year to tax if it were on it's original chassis. It would also attract a very high amount of Vehicle Registration Tax if it were being imported from the UK or elsewhere. As it is now on a chassis that is over thirty years old, it only costs €56 per year to tax!

With an abundance of Discovery 2 bodies available (their original chassis having sucumbed to rust) and a number of early Range Rovers whose bodies have gone beyond repair but whose chassis are fine, there are currently a number of small professional companies in the country who are offering such builds. The only problematic issue being that the only realistic way of obtaining insurance for these vehicles is as second cars attached to a main vehicle policy - it is more or less impossible to insure these on their own.

So if you are in Ireland and you spot a Discovery sporting a ZV plate, chances are it's one of these!

Ex VOSA motorway patrol Discovery 4's in the UK

A large number of motorway patrol Discovery 4 examples are now on the market in the UK. They are mostly 2013 63 plate GS spec 3.0 SDV6 examples in silver. They are all high mileage, but being ex VOSA they will have been exceptionally maintained and they have a full service history, including replacement crankshafts where required. They are also in a very good condition - the paintwork will have been protected by the "battenburg" wrap when in service on the nation's motorway network.