SERIES 1, ISSUE 1
SHOP NOTES
What’s in the Bay This Week?
DISCO INFERNO: A BLOWN GASKET, BROKEN GROOVE
This Discovery 2 came in with, as the customer put it, a strange fluttering sound coming from the exhaust. Never good.
We did a comprehensive inspection and found that the head gasket had cracked and needed replacement. We pulled the heads, and fortunately, there is no damage to them or the block. We're now hard at work putting it all back together to get this future-classic back on the road.
A P38 30th ANNIVERSARY WITH AN ELECTRICAL MYSTERY
The exceedingly rare 30th Anniversary P38 Range Rover finished in Wimbledon Green Metallic over a Green and Tan leather interior booked a visit to the shop this week. How rare exactly? Only 400 were made, 200 of which never left England. The other 200 were shared with the rest of the world, and it's unclear exactly how many came to the US.
It came in with a parasitic battery drain and a few other electrical gremlins. At over 200,000 miles, this well-loved and very special Rover required some attention.
It turned out that the electrical issue was a simple fix. The battery was leaking, and we replaced it with a new one. Problem solved. While in the shop, we diagnosed a few other issues, including a leaking water pump and worn-out front radius arm bushings. Everything was taken care of, and this rare-as-hens-teeth Rover is ready to go.
And for the curious, the original sticker price in 2001 was $72,000. That would be over $135,000 today!
ALPINE WHITE D90 IN FOR A POST-PURCHASE INSPECTION
A stunning, Alpine White D90 came in requiring an oil change and a post-purchase inspection to give the new owner some peace of mind. This is why we always recommend pre-purchase inspections, because we found some issues that needed attention.
Among them, we discovered that the front swivel balls were double gasketed, but the hub seal, axle seal, and stub cover were as hard as rocks when they should be supple. The result is a fair bit of work to bring this truck to standard, but soon it will be ready for adventure.
FIELDCRAFT TIPS
Maintenance and Troubleshooting
IS YOUR RANGE ROVER SNOW READY?
As temperatures drop and snow sweeps in, there are unique demands placed on a Range Rover, especially when it’s part of everyday family life. School runs, commutes, weekend errands, and travel all depend on your Rover starting and running at peak efficiency. A quick seasonal check now can prevent a lot of stress later.
Start with the fundamentals. Cold weather is hard on batteries, so make sure yours is healthy and charging properly. Check your coolant mixture for proper freeze protection, and inspect belts and hoses for cracks or softness.
Next, think about daily usability. Confirm your heater and defrosters are working at full output, including rear climate zones if your Range Rover has them. Make sure windshield washer fluid is winter-rated, wiper blades are in good condition, and door locks and latches are lubricated so they don’t freeze overnight.
Finally, prepare for the unexpected. Keep a few essentials in the cargo area like warm blankets, gloves, a flashlight, a phone charger, and basic traction aids. These aren’t about off-roading; they’re about preparedness if the weather takes a turn with kids in the back seat.
If you’re getting your truck ready for the season and want a second set of eyes, give us a call.
ROVER CULTURE
Events and Land Rover News
LAND ROVER AT THE DAKAR RALLY
The 2026 Dakar Rally is soon coming to a close in Saudi Arabia, and one of the most compelling stories so far is Land Rover’s long-anticipated factory debut.
For the first time in its history, Land Rover has entered Dakar as a works team, campaigning the Land Rover Defender Dakar D7X-R, Land Rover’s purpose-built rally-raid machine based on the production Defender OCTA. Designed to compete in the new FIA Stock class for production-based vehicles, the D7X-R retains the Defender’s core chassis, transmission, and V8 twin-turbo powerplant while adding rally-specific upgrades for endurance racing. Throughout the rally, the Defender program has delivered a remarkably disciplined and dominant performance.
Through the first half of the rally, the team’s drivers, including Dakar legend Stéphane Peterhansel, Rokas Baciuška, and Sara Price, secured multiple stage wins in the Stock class, with Baciuška and co-driver Oriol Vidal leading the category overall at the halfway mark. On Thursday, Baciuška championed a sixth stage victory, totalling a four-in-a-row streak. His Stage 11 success builds his Stock Class lead to a 4-hour margin.
Land Rover’s strategy was clear: maintain momentum, protect the cars, and convert a historic debut into a Stock-class victory at the finish in Yanbu.
As the rally continues across more than 5,000 km of dunes and rocky tracks, the team remains focused on finishing strong and showcasing what a genuine Defender can do on the world’s toughest motorsport stage.
For real-time updates as the Dakar Rally wraps up, head to the Dakar Rally Website or Top Gear website
AGULHAS UPDATES
Current Builds
Sneak Peek at the Newest Agulhas Build
The shop has been buzzing this week with the focus on the early stages of a brand new Agulhas build.
A Defender 110 Station Wagon.
We’ve fully stripped down the chassis, removing, cleaning, and rebuilding parts for reuse. And for what doesn't meet our high standards, parts sourcing is underway.
For colour, we've settled on our new Rhino Grey with a contrasting black roof and rear cross member. This isn't one of our Agulhas colours, but something completely unique. The hue doesn't have a name yet, but we're open to suggestions.
At the heart of the truck is a fully rebuilt 300 Tdi that we will be improving for better horsepower and torque. All new hardware is also being installed as the engine comes together.
Stick around for more updates as this Agulhas Defender takes shape, one piece at a time.
