Leisure Wheels – September 2019

leisurewheels.co.za SEPTEMBER 2019 73

MODEL: Discovery 1 4.0 V8

PRICE: R30 000

YEAR: 1996

MILEAGE: N/A

MODEL: Discovery 1 4.0 V8

PRICE: R65 000

YEAR: 1997

MILEAGE: 204 200km

MODEL: Discovery 2 TD5 Auto

PRICE: R80 000

YEAR: 2004

MILEAGE: 240 000km

Discovery 2

The Series 2 made its debut

in 1999, a full 10 years after

the original came out.

Land Rover ensured

the design was instantly

recognisable as a Discovery

but in actual fact, the car was

98% new. The Discovery 2

was a bit larger and had

slightly bigger overhangs

front and rear.

The Series 2 features

a number of advanced

technologies, including an

active suspension with rear air

springs which even had self-

levelling functionality.

Land Rover deleted the

Discovery Project

Vehicle

The first Discovery’s styling was

a smash hit. So much so Land

THE DIFFICULT

SECOND ALBUM

THE

ORIGINAL

HOBBY

CAR

Rover kept the design language

more or less the same until the

fifth-generation car came along.

The blocky exterior and stepped

roofline are two of the most

iconic design examples to hit

the streets.

In South Africa, it was only

ever offered as a five-door,

which meant Land Rover sold

it as a family vehicle. These cars

were made to work hard and

they did.

There are numerous tired

examples for sale online, retailing

from as little as R30 000.

Just be aware that you

probably won’t be able to use it

Discovery 1

Apart from stunning with its

design, the Discovery was a

fairly advanced car at the time.

When it was launched, it was

available with a 3.5-litre V8

(122kW/287Nm) while later

models were equipped with a

4.0-litre V8.

The first models, sold

from 1991 to 1994, were

quite basic, but a facelift

sorted that out. Later versions

were equipped with air-

conditioning, dual sunroofs,

leather seats and ABS.

More importantly, the Disco 1

has strong off-road credentials.

It has full-time four-wheel

drive, low-range and a locking

centre differential. These things

centre differential lock but made

up for it by introducing what

would inevitably become

a standard in the world of

off-roading. It was called hill

descent control (HDC) and

basically every new 4×4 comes

with a similar system disguised

under a different acronym.

A facelift came along in

2002, which included some

exterior upgrades and

added luxuries.

as a daily runner straight away.

A cheap-as-chips Discovery

is going to have problems but,

if you’re the kind of person

who likes to rummage about

under the hood of your car over

weekends, this is the option to

go for.

It doesn’t matter what

generation you choose; a ratty

Disco is a blank canvas on

which you can express yourself.

performed marvellously at the

now defunct Camel Trophy,

which helped established it as

a hardcore off-roader.

Good examples are hard

to find but there are a few

enthusiasts out there who kept

their cars in pristine condition.

We found a late 1997 V8

with 200 000km on the clock.

It sounds like a lot but the

current owner has a complete

service history and is open to a

third-party inspection – always

a good sign.