The 1990s were a peculiar time for car design. Not all manufacturers moved to design their cars with the assistance of computers or embraced technological innovation at the same rate. As the final decade of the 20th century approached, one such slow-moving manufacturer was Land Rover as they hung on to their antiquated revisions of the original Land Rover and first-generation Range Rover which had been in production since 1969. The classic model left Land Rover's showrooms in 1994 with the launch of the Range Rover LP, a more squared-off SUV. Other companies built upon the foundation of luxury SUVs.
Italy's Rayton-Fissore Magnum entered production in 1985, a Range Rover competitor but with all the trappings of an Italian luxury car, meaning plush leathers, wide seats, and an airy cabin with plenty of electronics, a true modern classic car. After all, before infotainment systems found their way into luxury vehicles it wasn't technology that a driver paid for but instead a vast opulence and quality. A revised model launched in 1989 called the Rayton-Fissore Laforza.
Despite being super rare, the Laforza SUV is a bargain Range Rover competitor with some Italian flare.
How Was The Laforza Different To The Magnum?
A revision to the stylish model which proceeded it the Laforza featured a mighty 5.0 V8 Ford engine, the same as found in the F-150 and Mustang, the perfect engine for the United States market. Britain's Range Rover Classic only had the 4.2-liter V8 engine. Later models increased displacement by opting for a 6.0 liter GM Supercharged engine which was sure to get just over 5,000 pounds of car to 60 in under ten seconds. In a time before Hot SUVs like the Cayenne Turbo and Range Rover Sport SVR, this was truly remarkable.
To finish the model's preparation for the United States market, the interior received a revision from the automotive design geniuses found at Pininfarina. So in a way the Laforza SUV is remarkably closer to a Ferrari SUV with its Italian flavoring. Some examples on the used market having Ferrari colors like Grigio Alloy. All this didn't come cheap with a $43,900 price tag which after inflation has now more than doubled. With the manufacturer now forgotten they are bargains on the second-hand market.
Why Are They So Cheap?
The entire Land Rover brand has recently been going from strength to strength with multiple successful product launches over the past year, this only serves to cement interest in the brand's older models like the Range Rover Classic and Defender. What at one point was just another piece of farming equipment, has now seen a rapid increase in prices. A well-maintained Range Rover from the 1980s will cost over $50,000 and rare models such as convertibles or tuned Overfinch models can cost upwards of $100,000.
However, the company behind the Laforza, Rayton-Fissore has disappeared into memory since their 1976 foundation. An off branch of Carrozzeria Fissore a critically acclaimed Italian coachbuilder that worked with everything from Fiat, De Tomaso, and TVR both assisting in their production and using these larger manufacturer's chassis. With little success meeting either of the Fissore family companies, the brand disappeared and now their cars are cheap.
Examples of early Laforza cars have sole for under $5,000 which is remarkably cheap considering its level of equipment. Better kept vehicles with more desirable specifications featuring tan-colored leather have recently sold for as much as $20,000. A pristine example costs less than a quarter of some comparably classic Range Rovers making the Laforza SUV an excellent bargain.