By ROB HULL, MOTORING EDITOR
A 20-year-old Range Rover with almost 120,000 miles on the clock that once belonged to late Queen Elizabeth II has sold at auction for over ten times its typical market value.
Iconic Auctioneers sold Her Majesty's personal 2006 supercharged Range Rover V8 - a vehicle that graced the hallowed Royal garage for two years - on Saturday.
Despite having relatively high mileage for a car with such esteemed heritage, the auto auction specialist had still placed a guide price on its roof of £50,000 to £70,000.
Given models with the same engine and fewer miles are available for between £9,000 and £16,000 on the open market, the pre-auction estimate was well above the usual price of a well-used 2006 Range Rover.
But a fierce bidding war between two collectors - one from the Caribbean and the other Japan - saw the guide price shattered, with the car eventually selling for a six-figure sum so steep that it's now the world record sale for an L322 Range Rover.
Commenting in the wake of the stellar sale, the auction house said it had been a 'great honour and absolute privilege to be able to offer this car, which has such a fascinating history and provenience'.
This 20-year-old Range Rover with almost 120,000 miles on the clock that once belonged to late Queen Elizabeth II has sold at auction for over ten times its typical market value
Unlike other Royal rides from the past that have been made available at auction with little photographic evidence of HRH ownership, Queen Elizabeth II was pictured using this vehicle - registration BJ06 ZGM - during the Windsor Horse Show in May 2007
Despite Jaguar Land Rover holding a Royal Warrant for the best part of 75 years and the family issued hundreds of vehicles over decades, this particular vehicle is unique. The Queen pictured stepping out of the SUV at the Royal Windsor Horse Show on 11 May 2007
The 2006 Land Rover Range Rover 4.2 Supercharged Vogue SE, delivered from new to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II that year, eventually sold for £175,500 inclusive of auction fees.
An auction house insider told the Daily Mail: 'There was great interest in this Range Rover with bidding steadily climbing up to £150,000 leaving just two bidders, one from the Caribbean and one from Japan, who battled it up to £156,000 on the hammer, selling to the Caribbean buyer, setting a new auction world record.'
The enormous winning bid is not just a new world record but a significant mark-up on the usual price paid for a 20-year-old Range Rover.
A quick search of Auto Trader turned up two 2006 Vogue models with the same 4.2-litre V8 supercharged motor with similar mileage.
One, with 115,000 miles is listed for £8,750, while another with just 95k on the clock is up for £15,980.
That said, the car was expected to generate plenty of demand, having been delivered to the Royal household by the British brand's bespoke car department in 2006 and relieved of its official obligations in 2008.
The 2006 Land Rover Range Rover 4.2 Supercharged Vogue SE, delivered from new to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II that year, eventually sold for a hammer price of £156,000 - rising to £175,500 inclusive of auction fees
An auction house insider in the room on Saturday told the Daily Mail: 'There was great interest in this Range Rover with bidding steadily climbing up to £150k leaving just two bidders, one from the Caribbean and one from Japan, who battled it up to £156k on the hammer, selling to the Caribbean buyer, setting a new auction world record'
The enormous winning bid is not just a new world record but a significant mark-up on the usual price paid for a well-used 20-year-old Range Rover...
We found a 2006 Land Rover Range Rover 4.2 Supercharged Vogue SE for sale online with 25,000 fewer miles for less than £16,000. That means the amount paid over the weekend for the Queen's former Royal ride (pictured) was more than 10 times the typical market price
Iconic Auctioneers said the car had been 'exclusively used by Her Majesty' during this two-year spell and its availability represented 'a rare opportunity to acquire a historically important, exquisitely presented, and uniquely specified Royal Range Rover'.
Unlike other Royal rides from the past that have been made available at auction with little photographic evidence of HRH ownership, Queen Elizabeth II was pictured using this vehicle - registration BJ06 ZGM - during the Windsor Horse Show in May 2007.
The car, carrying the same number plate today (another rare feature of ex-Royal vehicles), also has another distinct feature that's unique to Her Majesty's private collection.
The British Royal Family have, for many years, displayed mascots on their personal vehicles. For instance, King Charles has specified having a Welsh Dragon motif on some of his models, including his vintage Aston Martin DB6.
For Queen Elizabeth II, her choice was a Lejeune Labrador with Pheasant mascot. And that is still in place on the Range Rover's bonnet today.
And despite Jaguar Land Rover holding a Royal Warrant for the best part of 75 years - and the family issued hundreds of vehicles over decades - this particular model is unique.
The auction house believes it is the only L322 Range Rover ever owned by the Royal Family that's equipped with the Jaguar-derived 4.2-litre supercharged eight-cylinder engine - which it says provided 'powerful yet dignified performance befitting its Royal duties'.
The Range Rover was originally supplied to the Royal residence by Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations - the department specialising in bespoke motors that's also commissioned to customise its cars being delivered to individuals connect to the monarch
This Range Rover has a selection of 'meticulously prepared' features requested for it to best perform its prestigious duties
Even the paint is a unique Royal Household shade, called Tonga Green. This contrasts an Oxford Sand leather interior, with cabin panels and trims finished in extended burr walnut
The Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) plaque fixed to the car shows it was signed off on 25 April 2006 at its Lodge Lane site in Solihull in the West Midlands
The Range Rover was originally supplied to the Royal residence by Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations - the department specialising in bespoke motors that's also commissioned to customise its cars being delivered to individuals connect to the monarch.
This one has a selection of 'meticulously prepared' features requested for its prestigious duties.
This includes upgraded internal wiring to support the increased security and communications technology installed into the motor between 2006 and 2008.
There appears to be a blue tint on the front and rear clusters, suggesting it still has the blue flashing light system it was equipped with to clear traffic fast when needed during its official deployment.
The potent 4X4 has been fitted with rear grab handles and a side step - modifications designed for Her Majesty to enter and exit the high-riding SUV with greater ease.
Although the rear grab handles were removed after its Royal service, evidence of their original placement remains subtly visible.
It comes with bespoke mud flaps - with the Queen eager to use the vehicle off-road at her various residence - and a bespoke dog guard to keep her Pembroke Welsh Corgis safe in the back.
Even the paint is a unique Royal Household shade called Tonga Green. This contrasts an Oxford Sand leather interior, with cabin panels and trims finished in extended burr walnut.
Land Rover's SVO plaque on the car shows it was signed off on 25 April 2006.
During her ownership, HM Queen Elizabeth II likely put a few thousand miles on it.
The car's MOT record shows that by April 2009 - around a year after it was released from the Royal Household - it had clocked just under 18,000 miles.
When it appeared in the auction room during the Silverstone Auction Collector's Car sale on Saturday, the odometer was showing 119,938 miles.
The paperwork confirms that it has endured little use in recent years, adding just 202 miles since early 2023.
However, from the years 2018 to 2022, it covered around 10,000 miles per annum as former keepers refused to limit its use to protect its value.
The car's MOT record shows that by April 2009 - around a year after it was released from the Royal Household - it had clocked just under 18,000 miles. When it appeared in the auction room on Saturday, it was showing 119,938 miles on the display
The auction house believes it is the only L322 Range Rover ever owned by the Royal Household that's equipped with the Jaguar-derived 4.2-litre supercharged eight-cylinder engine - which it says provided 'powerful yet dignified performance befitting its Royal duties'
There are a few Royal modifications on show. There's a blue tint on the smaller headlight cluster, suggesting it still has the blue flashing light system to clear traffic. You can also see the bespoke dog guard fitted to keep the Queen's Pembroke Welsh Corgis safe in the back
The British Royal Family have, for many years, displayed mascots on their personal and private vehicles. For instance, King Charles has specified having a Welsh Dragon motif on some of his models, including his vintage Aston Martin DB6
For Queen Elizabeth II, her choice was a Lejeune Labrador with Pheasant mascot. And that is still in place on this car's bonnet today
Having appraised the motor before the sale, the auction company said it was in 'exemplary condition throughout', adding: 'The bodywork has been exceptionally well preserved, free from common corrosion issues found in many Range Rovers of this era.'
It added that it had recently been serviced and been treated to a 'comprehensive paint correction' as well as being fitted with brand-new marque-correct Pirelli Scorpion tyres.
Accompanying the vehicle was an 'extensive history file', which included the original blue leather wallet, handbooks, and detailed service records.
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Rob Hubbard, managing director at Iconic Auctioneers, exclusively told the Daily Mail before the sale: 'Vehicles with such distinguished provenance rarely enter the market, making this an exceptional opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
'Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s personal Range Rover combines automotive excellence with an unmatched historical significance.'
Hubbard said he had anticipated it would receive 'considerable interest' as had been the case with other Royal vehicles the automotive auction specialist had offered at the block in previous years.
Launched in 2002, the L322 Range Rover quickly established itself as an automotive icon admired for its refined blend of luxury, performance, and versatility.
The 2006 facelift brought numerous enhancements, notably new headlights, a ZF six-speed gearbox, revised air suspension, updated infotainment systems, and discreet styling touches including mesh grilles, polished tailpipes, and subtle 'Supercharged' badging.
Jaguar Land Rover's Royal Warrant dates back to 1951.
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