Range Rover : Classic model scoops inaugural Auto Bild Klassik award

Craig Pusey

Trip to Wolfsburg for the Golden Steering wheel classic awards 2010
Range Rover Classic wins 2010 Classic Golden Steering Wheel award in Germany

The Range Rover Classic has been voted ‘Classic Car of the Year’ in the 4×4 class at the inaugural ‘Classic Golden Steering Wheel’ awards organised by Germany’s Auto Bild Klassik magazine.

Auto Bild magazine has been hosting the internationally-renowned ‘Golden Steering Wheel’ awards for modern cars since 1976, but this is the first time that its sister publication has presented awards dedicated to classic cars.

Readers of Auto Bild Klassik magazine were  asked to vote for their favourite 4×4 from a list of ten including the Nissan Patrol, Toyota Land Cruiser, Ford Explorer and Mitsubishi Shogun. The Range Rover, celebrating its 40th birthday this year, was the voters’ choice.

Range Rover collector Gary Pusey was invited to loan his completely original, low mileage 1971 car for the award ceremony, which was held at Volkswagen’s Autostadt in Wolfsburg on the 23rd September, 2010. The award was presented to Christian Uhrig, Head of Marketing for Land Rover Germany.

Unlike the winning cars in the other categories, the Range Rover completed a 1,000 mile round trip to attend the event.

Keith Adams

4 Comments

  1. I love the original 2Dr Range Rover – it is so elegant but functional at the same time. I like the lofty driving position and the grunty V8 but, when you stand back and admire it, it’s just the simplicity of the design that makes it so right.

    I also like other features such as the simple exterior door handles, the fact that you can open the door from the back seat because the interior handle is a duplication of the front, the simple pod for the instruments, the hose down interior and the simple to fold back seat.

    However, it’s the fact that, when you’re driving it, there is a overwhelming desire to swerve off at the first sight of a muddy farm track and play that really appeals to me. I’ve owned a Range Rover (although, sadly, a later 4dr Vogue model) and currently drive one of its offsprings, a 300TDi, and just can’t imagine not having one on my driveway.

    I’ve owned 1 RR, 3 Discos, a 109 and a 90 and all have been 100% reliable and very cheap to own.

  2. Congratulations to Gary – the car is a real credit to him.

    It’s nice to see that those masters of engineering, the Germans, recognise the quality of the Range Rover.

  3. A fantastic achievement for such a worthy vehicle. The original Range Rover’s design is so simple, yet also timeless. Whether it’s the original two-door version, the later four-door version based on the standard elongated 108″ wheelbase platform and fitted with standard bumpers or the later body styling kit, the Range Rover looks elegant in any guise.

    Personally, I love the original 1970s example, the 1990 ‘CSK’ 2-door special edition model and, of course, the 1995 ’25th Anniversary Final Editon’ limited edition that I run the historical register for.

  4. RRCs wether 70s 80s or 90s are iconic vehicles – i own a 90s model and love every moment am behind the steering wheel, they are one of a kind.

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