1998 Range Rover Overfinch 630R

Today, of course, we are familiar with the concept of a 4X4 that can outsprint a sportscar and wears badges from Bentley, Porsche, Aston Martin, etc, etc.

Back in 1998, people expected a 4X4, and especially a Range Rover, to be two things: supremely capable off-road; supremely comfortable on it.

People weren’t expecting a third option: namely, tarmac-shredding grunt and irresistible tsunamis of power.

Overfinch did a lot of the work needed to change that perception, and not least with the 630 R, a vehicle designed to showcase the firm’s abilities as a bespoke low-volume manufacturer and commemorate 25 years of their high-performance Range Rovers.

The 630 in the car’s title refers to the displacement of the 4th generation Overfinch/GM (small block) V8 engine, a 6.3-litre beast producing 400 bhp and 457Ib ft of torque – a combination capable of propelling a big, heavy car to 60mph in just 6.6 seconds.

You had to really want one of these cars back in the day because they were seriously expensive. 

If your base Range Rover was costing you over £80,000, Overfinch’s engine, suspension, braking, exhaust and interior trim upgrades would add at least a further £36,000 to your overall outlay.

The vendor bought this car in 2012 from a dealer in rare and specialist vehicles. 

His understanding, and ours, is that the car had spent a few years before then living in the sunny climes of Gibraltar.

And that might go some way to explaining the car’s somewhat confusing status regarding its overall condition.

It is mechanically and dynamically excellent. It drives very well and the magnificent engine has lost none of its ability to induce an ear-to-ear grin on the faces of all who hear it.

Why? Because it makes a noise like a rockfall in a canyon. 

In fact, it could probably cause a rockfall in a canyon, such is the cacophony of high-volume grunts, rasps, burbles, pops and shrieks that emanate somewhere deep under its rocker covers and explode into the world through its twin exhaust pipes.

Splendid stuff.

So, mechanically and dynamically, all is well.

But the paintwork and exterior aesthetics have definitely fared less well, and we would attribute at least some of that deterioration to time spent baking under a Gibraltarian sun.

That said, cosmetic flaws are rather simpler and cheaper to correct (if you want to) than mechanical or structural issues, and this car seems to us to have plenty of structural and engineering integrity.

The bodywork is largely straight and true, with no dinks, dents or other aberrations of major consequence, and the shut-lines and panel gaps are pretty consistent and even, too.

But there are a few smaller dinks and dents here and there, perhaps the most notable of them being situated on the lower part of the tailgate.

There is a split to the plastic cover at the nearside corner of the front bumper, and a couple of smaller cracks to its counterpart at the rear.

As for the grey metallic paint, well that’s variously tarnished, flat, peeling away, chipped or otherwise compromised in various places on every panel. 

There’s some bubbling to be seen under the black rubber trim at the top of the o/s/r door, and some rust can be found in the brackets holding the rear mud guards and, to a lesser extent, in their counterparts at the front.

The wheels are fundamentally OK, but the lacquer is peeling away on all of them and they would no doubt benefit greatly from being refurbished.

They are shod in matching Pirelli Scorpion Zero rubber.

The ‘Range Rover’ lettering at the edge of the bonnet has departed. The lettering at the rear of the car is following its example.

Where there is tinted film on the rear windows it has been warped by, we assume, heat exposure.

The interior has fared rather better than the exterior and is a testament to the design and fashion tastes of the day.

Hence the two-tone black and maroon leather trim on the seats, door cards and elsewhere, and the carbon veneer inserts on the centre console.

You can almost hear Cher’s 1998 hit ‘Believe’ without turning on the radio.

The seats, front and back, have held up very well, all things considered, and although there is some general wear in evidence on the soft, supple leather, there are no splits, holes or tears that we can see anywhere.

The headlining is intact, tight and taut, and the carpets and Overfinch mats are decent.

There are some scuffs to the maroon leather on the glove compartment and, for some reason, there’s some duct tape wrapped around a short section of the steering wheel rim.

We particularly like the ‘Radio Caroline’ drinks mat affixed to the top of the dashboard. 

Younger readers will have to ask a wrinkled old relative to explain.

The simple, uncluttered, dials are Porsche-inspired and delightfully analogue in both appearance and function. 

The luggage bay at the rear has held up pretty well and everything looks decent to us.

Apparently, all buttons, knobs, dials, switches and gauges do what they’re supposed to do, although we struggled to get anything particularly cold out of the A/C.

The ABS light comes on after starting the car but goes off again after a couple of minutes. 

Maybe that’s just what it does. 

Who knows?

Wow.

That’s some engine bay and quite unlike anything you’ll find in a ‘standard’ Range Rover of the period.

If most of what you can see looks shiny, new and minty-fresh, that’s because it is. 

The block is original, as is the radiator, but the fuel injection, headers, lines, hoses and other ancillaries are all new and upgraded.

Everything looks built to the hilt and properly beefy.

The undersides of the car look very solid and sturdy to us.

Certainly, we’ve seen nothing to make us question the car’s integrity or character.

The car currently comes with less history than Clint Eastwood in any of the countless films where he turns up, wearing a poncho and chewing a cheroot, at some desperate, fly-blown town inhabited by terrified peasants.

If or when that changes and more history is forthcoming, we’ll be posting it in the listing.

What it does come with are full sets of keys - including a remote start key - plenty of old MoT certificates, an HPI report, a V5C and a current MoT certificate (with just one advisory pointing out that the undersides have been Waxoyled) that’s valid until 17th February 2027. 

The car’s indicated mileage of 85,147 tallies with the MoT trail and we have no reason to doubt its veracity.

Whoever successfully wins the bidding on this car will have bought a seriously potent piece of over-engineered 1990’s excess; a highly capable, luxurious low mileage 4X4; and a car that is so rare you’ll wait a very, very long time for another one to come along.

Yes, it’s a bit rough and ready cosmetically.

But that gives you choices.

You can leave it as it is, give it a full aesthetic restoration, or choose whichever point along that spectrum best suits your needs, desires and wallet.

We’re confident to offer this fine car for auction with an estimate of £15,000 - £20,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.