Strange Rovers may well be Coys’ coolests

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A pair of coachbuilt Range Rovers that Coys of Kensington is bringing over to Essen this weekend may be the coolest thing you’ll see in Germany in a while. They were made for King Juan Carlos of Spain and are totally wacky in every aspect.

First of them is a 1977 Range Rover that was converted by Alcom Devices, a company set up in London by the former sound technician of The Beatles ‘Magic Alex’ Mardas. Mardas dealt with King Juan Carlos of Spain frequently and this Range Rover was one of the things he was commissioned to build. The car seems, however, similar in many ways, to the ‘Sheer Rover’ conversions made by Wood and Pickett of London and, yes, they were involved with the build, too.

The Range Rover was modified with 10mm bulletproof glass all round, while the front received W&P’s signature pointed grille with horizontal bars. Alcom Devices fitted a communication system, which made it possible to track the King in cars, yachts, helicopters or anywhere else. The radio communication was scrambled to prevent eavesdropping, and was fitted into Juan Carlos’ Range Rover, too. The sumptuous interior uses leather Recaro sports seats and the habitual set of crystal glasses and decanter. Buttons and switches are divided over the middle and roof console, not just for the communication system, but also the spotlights, television, siren and blue lights. The Range Rover also has a built-in fire extinguishing system and an oxygen cylinder, and even a real smoke bomb cannon with vents on all sides with which to create an all-round smoke screen. James Bond could only have wished for one of these cars. It’s got just 3,300 recorded kilometres from new and is estimated at what we believe to be a very low €35- to €45,000.

But for the same price, you could also become the owner of a perhaps even wackier Range Rover. It’s a similar conversion, said to be of 1973-vintage, but now with a convertible roof. This car was restored in 2005 and looks just as pristine. All the Wood & Pickett / Alcom Devices bells and whistles are there, too, including the leather interior, now in ivory. The roof opens or closes electrically and functions fine. This definitely is a duo of Range Rovers unlike any other.

(Words editor, pictures Coys of Kensington)

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