FEATURE - 1983 Range Rover ‘Schuler’ V8

Words: Mike Ryan

Photos: Courtesy of Shannons

When the Range Rover was released in 1970, it carried the advertising tagline of “a car for all reasons”. Combining the go-anywhere ability of the Land Rover with the style and appointments of a luxury sedan, the Range Rover seemed to offer everything that buyers wanted.

But, for all that it offered in factory form, the Range Rover still didn’t offer enough for some…

 While the original Range Rover (retrospectively labelled ‘Range Rover Classic') was offered with a V8 from the factory, that engine, a 3.5-litre unit based on a Buick design, lacked power for some, leading the aftermarket to offer tuned versions of the factory engine, or V8s of larger capacity.

In Australia, dropping in a 4.4-litre V8 from the Leyland P76 was an easy and popular upgrade in the mid-1970s. Some of these found their way to the UK, too, but GM-sourced V8s were more common there.

Similarly, the lack of an automatic transmission option until more than a decade into Range Rover production also spurred the aftermarket into action.

Locally, companies like Off-Road Automatics and Ritters had started offering automatic conversions by the late 1970s, while in the UK, Schuler Presses Ltd, a company with German origins, that began offering transmission conversions at around the same time.

The Schuler Approach

In place of the factory four-speed manual, Schuler could install either a Chrysler Torqueflite 3-speed automatic (which became a factory option from 1982) or Leyland 5-speed manual, which they matched to a Ferguson Formula centre differential with viscous coupling for the Range Rover’s permanent four-wheel drive.

This conversion, dubbed the ‘Schuler FF’, reportedly combined improved driving characteristics with greater ease of use. It was so well engineered that Rover covered Schuler's auto conversion under the factory warranty before offering the Torqueflite themselves.

The second string in Schuler’s bow was an engine upgrade, with a tuned version of the factory 3.5 V8 offered, as well as a 5.7-litre (350ci) Chevrolet V8, amongst others. These two options increased power by around 30 per cent and 50 per cent respectively, with the 5.7 significantly increasing torque, too.

More Power – Down Under

Schuler’s transmission conversions and engine upgrades were predominantly limited to the UK market, but they came to the attention of Melbourne-based engineer and industrial designer John Hoerner in the late 1970s.

On a trip to the UK in 1981, Hoerner decided to see the Schuler operation for himself, and what came out of that visit was a deal where Hoerner’s ‘Quadramotive’ business would become the Australian distributor for Schuler products.

Hoerner recognised the value of the auto conversion and centre diff upgrade, thinking it’d be a good fit for Range Rovers in the Australian market, but he was reportedly less enthusiastic about the 5.7 Chev V8, believing it would be less suited to local conditions.

Seeking an alternative, Hoerner turned to Peter Brock’s HDT Special Vehicles to supply HDT-tuned 5.0-litre V8s. HDT Special Vehicles was still its early days back then, so were happy to add to their bottom line by supplying engines to Hoerner, even if they didn’t install them and get to badge the finished vehicle as an HDT product.  

Built to Group 3 spec, the V8s provided to Hoerner by HDT produced around 179kW, which was an 85 per cent increase on the factory Range Rover V8’s power and around 40kW more than a Schuler 5.7 V8, too.

Combined with the Schuler-Voith Ferguson Formula centre diff that biased front:rear drive at 37:63 compared to the factory 50:50 split, Quadramotive’s V8 conversion provided the Range Rover with impressive acceleration, while allegedly being somewhat lighter and more fuel efficient, too - at least compared to the 5.7 V8.

Hoerner would repeatedly test and refine the conversion before finally offering it to the Aussie market in 1985 under the space-age name of ‘Schuler FFRR 5000’.

Premium Product

Available for new and second-hand Range Rovers, the FFRR 5000 conversion didn’t come cheap, adding around 50 per cent to a new Rangie’s cost – which started at around $32,000 in 1985 - before the available three-speed auto was included and other options offered by Quadramotive, like suspension upgrades, cosmetic additions outside and interior enhancements were added. The latter included Recaro sports seats, leather trim (not available on a factory Range Rover until 1984) and plush carpeting.

The high price of a Schuler FFRR 5000, even in its most basic form, meant few were sold, with suggestions that only 25 got the HDT 5.0 V8 and related gear before Hoerner moved on to other enterprises. Of those, less than ten are thought to have also been treated to the other available upgrades that Quadramotive offered.

RARE BEAST

Reflecting the growing popularity of classic four-wheel drives amongst car collectors, the genuine Range Rover Schuler V8 conversion featured was one of more than half a dozen 4x4s offered in Shannons Spring Timed Online Auction this past November 8-15.

Despite the rarity of these vehicles, the one shown here is actually the second to be auctioned by Shannons in little more than a year. At their Winter Timed Online Auction in June, 2021, a Schuler FFRR 5000, built off a 1986-model Range Rover, sold for $47,000.

That example was fully-equipped and exceptionally well presented (possibly restored), with upgrades including aftermarket wheels, improved suspension and a much higher level of interior appointments.

Up for Auction

Compared to that vehicle, the Schuler 5.0 V8 offered in last November’s Spring Timed Online Auction was an unrestored survivor, needing work inside and out.

Based on a 1983 Range Rover and located in Brisbane, this Schuler FFRR 5000 showed evidence of a hard life, with dents, peeling clearcoat on the metallic gold paint, rust in the tailgate and a 96,198km odometer reading that Shannons believed may have been on its second lap of the clock.

Despite this, and interior flaws that included a sagging headliner and worn cloth upholstery, the vehicle was complete and running, with Shannons stating it could be used as is or treated to a restoration.

The real attraction with this Aussie-spec Schuler V8 Range Rover was its rarity and the HDT engine (the first fitted to a four-wheel drive), which saw Shannons attach a pre-auction estimate of $25,000 - $35,000. At the end of the timed online auction, the vehicle sold for $21,000, which was still a very good price given its condition.

For more details, go to: shannons.com.au