New Chieftain Range Rover 430bhp V8 Restomod – First Drive Review!  27 May 2021

This week Chieftain brought in their newest Restomod vehicle, a 430bhp V8 classic Range Rover reengineered with new suspension, new gearbox, revised geometry and upgraded interior. This car retains the character and quirks of the original, while re-defining the driving dynamics and making the Range Rover a truly unique daily driver proposition. 

Chieftain have beautifully re-engineered this machine, giving it a new engine, without ruining the original feel of the car. The original Range Rover would have run at 180hp, but now at 430hp with a 6.2l V8 engine, it has bags more power. 

One of the biggest changes that’s been made has been to the live axels of the car; it now features fully independent suspension all round, changing the way that it drives. Including the improved brakes, each aspect of the car upgrade has been built to order based entirely on the client’s vision and requests. 

Out on the road, I can see that’s it’s quite refreshing to drive a car that can gracefully amble along in regal serenity. The mindset of taking out this 90’s icon, which is now underpinned by 430hp, changes everything about how the car feels. Integrating an updated 6-speed gear box, the torque you get out of the engine makes it effortless to drive. 

It has, however, retained some of the original character and authenticity to the car. When driving on the road, you can still experience the odd rattle and shake, but doesn’t feel like a mechanical flaw, just the typical Range Rover sounds. And whilst the fuel efficiency has improved by around 30% and the new LED headlights improve night driving, the interior remains mostly true to the authenticity of the original. 

Knowing that early cars of this era didn’t drive well, but they dynamics of upgrading this car have eradicated most of the sloppiness, and it’s a beautiful specimen to be able to experience. 

What’s been the most brilliant about this Range Rover experience has been driving something totally different. I love the way this looks, I loved the reception from other people, and it was nice to experience a driving style that puts your brain in a relaxing demeanour. When you’re inside this car, the world just slows down, and that’s a fantastic place to be. 

NEW Chieftain Range Rover 430bhp V8 Restomod - FIRST DRIVE Review! - YouTube