The Stage 1's aren't all that. People get excited about the thought of a Rover V8 but they're emasculated to 90 odd BHP. They were more of a trial for the forthcoming Ninety and One Ten rather than a serious model in their own right.
Dealers get excited by the headlines, not really understanding that those into their Landies know they aren't all that to get excited over.
This one has been modified, which is all very nice and jolly but restricts the potential market even further. The dealer was seriously optimistic with the starting price.
They were restricted, due to factory fears about giving them the full performance of the V8
As you well know, over the years, since the (ex-Buick 215ci) V8 had become available (due to crashes/etc…) innumerable owners had put it into various Series Landies
Some were sensible, & uprared the brakes when using it in a 80”/86”/88”
Others less so intelligent
Back then, Solihull had a very close relationship with the various enthusiasts/owners clubs, so knew of the risks, & potential bad publicity if their was a spate of crashes of 160BHP Landies!!!
The factory did experiment themselves, as a few V8 88” models were built
The above model was an absolute nut & bolt rebuild for someone
It was a magazine feature a few years ago, after the rebuild, but repainted ‘Limestone’
The ‘Russet Brown’ is the original factory colour, from what l recall
I think l might still have the magazine?
