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Johnners733



Member Since: 08 Jun 2017
Location: York
Posts: 11

United Kingdom 2005 Range Rover Sport Supercharged Vesuvius Orange
Press Car Vesuvius VX54FAM




Hi All,

I was fortunate enough to acquire this car a few months ago. It's a very early (chassis 205) car in Vesuvius. I've been able to discover quite a lot of its history including the fact it was a Press Car and driven by both Tiff Needell on 5th Gear and by Clarkson on a straight-to-DVD programme called 'Heaven and Hell'.

I'll post bit more about it in due course but in the meantime here's a couple of pics (mods please rotate if poss)

Regards

John

Post #527822 Thu Jun 08 2017 9:07pm
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Tim in Scotland



Member Since: 30 May 2005
Location: Driving along in my automobile
Posts: 17476

2013 Range Rover Sport SDV6 HSE Stornoway Grey

John, if you go into your gallery on the forum you can rotate the pictures there using the "rotate" function and then edit your post with the link to the gallery. 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Post #527834 Fri Jun 09 2017 3:46am
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Buckster



Member Since: 05 Mar 2015
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 1656

England 2013 Range Rover Sport SDV6 HSE Orkney Grey

Welcome to the Forum John, very interesting car you have there and i look forward to you posting more info on it Thumbs Up 2003 BMW M5 - 5 Litres of V8 Optimax Slurping Goodness in Carbon Black

2013 SDV6 HSE Black Edition- Orkney Grey with Ebony & Ivory. LR Facelift RAI, Genuine G4 Expedition Rack, 4x Warn SBD-160 Spotlights, Warn 9.5XPS Winch, Mantec Underbody Protection and Sump Guard, Full Easy Lift Suspension Module, LR Light Guards, Light Force HTX230 Hybrid spotlights, 18” Compomotive PD1881 on 265/65/18 BF Goodrich KO2, ARB fridge, TuffTrek awning 😎

Post #527836 Fri Jun 09 2017 5:22am
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DrRob



Member Since: 23 Feb 2011
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 2006

United Kingdom 

Spotted it at Dunsfold on the CVC Register stand. I was going to say hello but you were fast asleep in it Rolling with laughter Thumbs Up Visitor from fullfatrr.com
* GONE. 2012 RR Sport HSE SDV6 Orkney Grey. Now being piloted by RRSTDV8
* Current: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Full Fat. Amazing piece of kit.
* Current. 1974 Lightweight 2.25L petrol. Old skool
* GONE. Freelander GS TD4 Manual MY2013. Orkney Grey with privacy, cold and clearview packs, armrests (a must!) and a spoiler.
* GONE. Range Rover Classic '93 200Tdi Factory fit
* 1949 80" in family since 1975

Post #527918 Sun Jun 11 2017 7:11am
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Johnners733



Member Since: 08 Jun 2017
Location: York
Posts: 11

United Kingdom 2005 Range Rover Sport Supercharged Vesuvius Orange

I was. Sorry! I was knackered!

Great show - nice to see Dunsfold's Vesuvius pre-pro.

Now all safely back in York.

Post #527949 Sun Jun 11 2017 6:23pm
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Buckster



Member Since: 05 Mar 2015
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 1656

England 2013 Range Rover Sport SDV6 HSE Orkney Grey

Apologies for not saying hello but there was alot to get round!! Your car looked great Thumbs Up 2003 BMW M5 - 5 Litres of V8 Optimax Slurping Goodness in Carbon Black

2013 SDV6 HSE Black Edition- Orkney Grey with Ebony & Ivory. LR Facelift RAI, Genuine G4 Expedition Rack, 4x Warn SBD-160 Spotlights, Warn 9.5XPS Winch, Mantec Underbody Protection and Sump Guard, Full Easy Lift Suspension Module, LR Light Guards, Light Force HTX230 Hybrid spotlights, 18” Compomotive PD1881 on 265/65/18 BF Goodrich KO2, ARB fridge, TuffTrek awning 😎

Post #527952 Sun Jun 11 2017 6:33pm
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Johnners733



Member Since: 08 Jun 2017
Location: York
Posts: 11

United Kingdom 2005 Range Rover Sport Supercharged Vesuvius Orange

So, to sumarise what I have found so far. VX54 FAM is a very early Sport; it has chassis number 205. (the first production car was chassis 505). Dunsfold's is 034.

FAM was registered in Feb 2005 but sales did not start until May 2005. The most interesting aspect of its early life is that it was used by Land Rover themselves as a Press Car. It featured in two TV programmes at the time of the launch of the Sport; one was ‘Fifth Gear’ on Channel 5 in which it was appraised by Tiff Needell (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oeTVN-byP4 or just Google ‘Fifth Gear Range Rover Sport’) and the second was a straight-to-DVD programme called ‘Heaven and Hell’ presented by Jeremy Clarkson, in which it was driven (rather hard) around the Top Gear test track. This can also be found on YouTube (the Sport appears at about 12 mins 30 into the video).

FAM was one of four factory registered Supercharged Sports used by the factory for press duties (that I have been able to discern). Vesuvius sister FPZ was left hand drive and appeared on the cover of Autocar. FBJ was the Autocar road test car in Silver. FHH was in Black, and used by Clarkson on Top Gear, being stalked by a Challenger tank! None of these other vehicles survive as far as I am able to tell.

After Land Rover themselves had used it they disposed of it in August 2006, but it was not sold to a new owner until Jan 2007. It was sold through the dealer network by Dovercourt in Battersea (whose plates it still wears) and the new owner kept it for around 6 years. A guy in Aberdeen was the third, and I bought it from him.

I am trying to return the car to a good standard. I have replaced the non-original wheels now, with some of the correct type. It has just had four new tyres of the original type re-fitted. I have machine-polished the car and the paint now glows beautifully in the sun. I am replacing the badges on the car (all in quite a poor way) and I am slowly working through it, gently improving and restoring it. It has a few little niggles; the top tailgate doesn't open (so new switch on order); the steering wheel has suffered sun damage and will need refurbishment; cubby box catch is broken and I'm not sure whether the fridge is working properly (switch does not light up) and the number '3' is damaged on the radio/CD panel. However, solving these is all part of the fun!

And finally, (and perhaps most controversially) Vesuvius is not Orange. It's Red. The V5 says so, but more specifically, the paint colour decal under the bonnet refers to it as 'Vesuvius Red'. Who knew?!

If anyone knows anything more or further observations to make then please do let me know.

Regards

John

Post #527983 Mon Jun 12 2017 8:38am
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shakeapaw



Member Since: 17 Dec 2011
Location: in a mud hut in wigan
Posts: 948

United Kingdom 2007 Range Rover Sport TDV8 HSE Java Black

Very interesting, however when I saw one at Hunters in Kings lynn, the salesman told me it was Vesuvius Orange, he even gave me a showroom book with it in, the paint was listed as a 8k option called Vesuvius Orange, Unfortunately i no longer have the booklet. 07,TDV8,Black, Black Heated leather all round, Rear Entertainment with Headpones & Remote, TV, DVD, Pure Dab Digital Radio, Sidesteps, Adaptive Headlights, sunroof, now working fuel burning heater Smile)))

Post #528018 Mon Jun 12 2017 5:20pm
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RallyXS



Member Since: 07 Oct 2016
Location: Devon
Posts: 82

United Kingdom 

When I went to see the Velar at the LR factory and they give you a tour they said it is illegal for them to sell the pre-production models, they all get scrapped, so yours must have been before those rules came in. Quite unique really, and the more history you can get the better. 2012 RRS SDV6
2014 BMW 320d X-Drive Touring
1999 VW Polo stage rally car

Post #528170 Wed Jun 14 2017 9:02pm
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Johnners733



Member Since: 08 Jun 2017
Location: York
Posts: 11

United Kingdom 2005 Range Rover Sport Supercharged Vesuvius Orange

You can read more about the Sport in LRO this month - 2 pages in Your Classics section.

Tks

John

Post #530294 Fri Jul 14 2017 7:52am
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Ferret15



Member Since: 11 Jun 2017
Location: Somerset
Posts: 31

United Kingdom 2008 Range Rover Sport TDV8 HSE Sumatra Black

Really interesting read over breakfast. How did you go about finding out so much history?

Post #530374 Sat Jul 15 2017 7:18am
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Johnners733



Member Since: 08 Jun 2017
Location: York
Posts: 11

United Kingdom 2005 Range Rover Sport Supercharged Vesuvius Orange

Number of routes really

1. Google searches for Range Rover Sport + other terms eg 'launch'; 'press'; look in images and videos, not just links

2. Fill in form V888 and send it to the DVLA. Ask for 'complete history held' and purpose 'for historical research'. For £5 it will get you a copy of all the documentation held by DVLA - old V5s, number plate swaps etc.

3. Join the CVC Register (via Facebook). Very knowledgeable and friendly bunch of people.

4. Ebay. Search 'Range Rover Sport' and look in literature (will give you magazines from the oeriod)

All good fun!

Post #530824 Fri Jul 21 2017 7:48am
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Sparkymark



Member Since: 02 Feb 2018
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 3

United Kingdom 2005 Range Rover Sport Supercharged Vesuvius Orange

Not seen another Vesuvius red RR until now. This is mine which I acquired in November last year. It’s an 05 plate with cream leather interior

Post #547337 Fri Feb 02 2018 8:05am
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HughN



Member Since: 10 Sep 2017
Location: Near Llanybydder
Posts: 651

Wales 

So, did Clarkson put it into the 'Heaven' category?

Post #547831 Tue Feb 06 2018 8:01am
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Johnners733



Member Since: 08 Jun 2017
Location: York
Posts: 11

United Kingdom 2005 Range Rover Sport Supercharged Vesuvius Orange

Click image to enlarge

Hi All

I have been busy with the Sport and apologies, only an occasional visitor here. Anyway, a couple of highlights to report;

First, it was asked by JLR to participate in the Land Rover Birthday celebrations at Goodwood last year and went up the hill climb with 69 other historic Land Rovers!






Second, it's 12 year existence on the North East Coast of Scotland finally caught up with it and when the rear anti rollbar dropped all its fluid, it needed a body off to repair it. This was done by Richard Canterbury at RCM 4x4 in York but wasn't cheap! The whole chassis was needle gunned and rust protected to preserve it.

This year it will go to the Land Rover Legends event at Bicester in May (if anyone wants to see it in the metal). I took it last year and it was a great event. I provided escort cover for the well known First Overland Oxford Station Wagon from York to Bicester last time, and at a steady 50 on the M1 saw it return 26 mpg!

It now has safe inside storage which is a big improvement. It's no longer used as a daily car and this will help preserve it ongoing. One thing it does need is an exhaust but I want an original/factory one, not an aftermarket one so if anybody knows of one available (eg removed by someone wanting a replacement) then let me know

Cheers

John

Post #577884 Tue Mar 26 2019 1:47pm
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