Unicorn-grade Land Rover Discovery for sale

When we talk of milestones in Land Rover’s history, the usual stuff tends to get discussed: the Range Rover, the Range Rover Sport, the most recent Defender, perhaps even the Evoque. But it doesn’t seem often that Discovery is cited as one of the really significant Land Rovers, which seems a bit unfair. Sat somewhere between the classless cool of a Range and the all-conquering charm of a Defender, the Disco has never hogged any recent headlines. Which is exactly why it’s so important, taking the best bits of all the other Land Rovers and quietly going about doing pretty much everything anyone needs doing. 

This is the birth of the modern seven-seat SUV; perhaps not a core PH concern, but a crucial part of the market. Without the Discovery’s impact, it’s hard to imagine a world with the Volvo XC90, Audi Q7 and, well, other seven-seat Land Rovers. Less expensive than a Range Rover, more civilised than a Defender – but with the off-road ability from both – the Discovery carved out quite the niche for itself. 

This example, clearly, takes us right back to the beginning of the Disco story. Not just any old example from the ’90s, either: the car you see here was one of the first 500 ever made, registered the month the Berlin Wall came down and reached its first customer 36 years ago. Sometimes an original Discovery will pop up, but it tends to be one of the later facelifted cars – this is a proper unicorn. 

And doesn’t it look fantastic? It’s easy to forget now, because they’ve become so ubiquitous, just how stylish and groundbreaking the Discovery was. It still just looks right, all these years on – trends and tastes might have changed, but a nicely done Disco still looks ace. With more modern lighting this could easily pass for something much newer. The graphics are the perfect distraction from the slightly weird configuration of three doors but seats for seven. 

Speaking of inside, the interior is an absolute triumph. Again something that’s forgotten about the first Disco is just how smart the cabin was, thanks to help from Terence Conran’s design agency. As contemporary tastes move away from monotone leather and back to colourful fabrics, here’s a 37-year-old Land Rover showing the new kids how it’s really done. Complete with shoulder bag velcroed onto the armrest…

Unrestored and showing 55,000 miles, this Discovery is an incredible piece of Land Rover history. You just never, ever see anything like this: most family-focused buyers would have got the later five-door, plenty will have had the auto, and it’s seldom such a pitch perfect spec is stumbled upon. Yes, this is still an old diesel 4×4 at heart – and it’ll feel every one of its years in some regards – but man is it cool. Not often you can say that about a 110hp seven-seat SUV. It’s not often they cost £55,000, either – JLR Classic certainly hasn’t forgotten the Disco’s significance…