1993 Range Rover Classic

I purchased my Rover wrecked from Charlie Blankenship at Sports and Classics in Norman. It had rear ended another car in it's earlier life. I saw it wrecked and the damage was entirely to the bull bar and the front quarter panels. Charlie straightened it out and I bought it in May 2000. I had been looking at Range Rovers for nearly 4 years when the opportunity was good to buy one. I had been a regular loitering guest at his shop where I watched many Rovers come in in various states and go out repaired. I had seen them inside and out, fully disassembled and restored. I knew I wanted one and I knew the Defender NAS trucks were out of my price range. Charlie suggested the Range Rover and showed me the many appointments that make them the Best 4x4xFar.

It's no secret my wife hates my truck. "Hates" may be a strong word but I have heard her utter it on more than one occasion. When our friends or aquaintances ask about my truck I always rattle off it's official designation, followed by my wife interjecting her description as "the big white bus".

The "American Vest Pocket Dictionary", copyright 1951 on my desk has this for the definition of improve.
im-prove', v., 1. make or become better, etc. 2. use wisely.

There is no finer advise than to "use wisely". That definition of improve has slipped from our language some time ago but the words hold true to the spirit of these vehicles. Some things should not be improved. Some things cannot be improved. I've seen a fair amount of "improved" vehicles. I understand the suspension improvements many people make. Those only make sense. But it is all in the purpose and function to me. What are you trying to accomplish? Have a goal.

You wouldn't grind the head of a hammer to fine point to reduce the wind resistance when you swing it. That would prevent you from ever hitting the nail. Additionally the hammer would no longer be a hammer. Similarly you wouldn't soup up your Rover to make it a dragster. Maybe you would? Who knows any more today. A Rover being a dragster? Well that's not the function of your Rover. We have all seen the Street Cruiser Rovers with 19 inch wheels mounted with 2 inch Pirelli tires. If your goal was to make a "really neat Hot Wheels car" that's one way to accomplish it. But that is precisely what I'm talking about, changing the tool.

So with that theory in mind let me talk about the additions to my Rover.

Date	Improved or Updated	Description
19 February 2005	Recovery	Front recovery points installed
Still working on this one	Towing	Trailer lamp plug updated
2 July 2004	Suspension	Old Man Emu Shocks added
6 June 2004	Air Conditioning	Converted to R134 coolant
22 Mar 2004	Rear View Mirror	Failed and replaced
18 Feb 2004	Under Bonnet Lamp	Installed a lamp under the hood
Summer, 2002	Hella 500 Lamps	Installed Hella driving lamps