One Millionth Ranger Rover Donated to Charity

They’ve finally done it. After 40 years, Land Rover has finally reached the magic, one million production target for the original luxury off-roader, the Range Rover.

And to mark the occasion, the actual one-millionth example to roll off the Solihull assembly line in the UK – a black Vogue Autobiography edition, will be donated to British Charity Help for Heroes.

As the name might suggest, this charity was created to help those members of the armed forces wounded in combat with assistance upon their return back to Britain. It’s one of the fastest growing foundations in the United Kingdom and the donated Range Rover, which will be auctioned off for charity, is set to bring in the equivalent of more than $150,000 when it goes under the hammer.

Help for Heroes will receive the black Range Rover at a handing over ceremony as part of the BBC’s Top Gear Live, held at the Earl’s Court Exhibition Center in West London. Personally receiving the keys on behalf of the charity will be none other than Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who also happens to be a patron of Help for Heroes.

Press release after the jump:

PRESS RELEASE

LAND ROVER DONATES ONE MILLIONTH RANGE ROVER TO HELP FOR HEROES

London, November 4th 2010- Land Rover is celebrating the production of its one millionth Range Rover by donating the vehicle to Help for Heroes.

The landmark one millionth vehicle, a Range Rover Autobiography in ultimate black, has been built at the Solihull manufacturing plant, where three generations of the Range Rover have been built since June 1970.

Land Rover employees will join Alan Volkaerts, Solihull Manufacturing Director and Land Rover’s Managing Director Phil Popham to celebrate the milestone event in Range Rover’s fortieth year. The one millionth Range Rover will be driven by Phil Popham to London to deliver the car to Help for Heroes. He will be followed from Solihull to London by a convoy of heritage Range Rovers, driven by their enthusiastic owners.

The handover will take place at the Top Gear Live set at Earls Court in London today, where Jeremy Clarkson – who is a Help for Heroes patron – will take delivery of the one millionth Range Rover on behalf of the charity.

“Land Rover is very proud to support the Help for Heroes charity by donating the one millionth Range Rover. The vehicle will be auctioned later this year and should raise valuable funds for the practical and direct provision of aid for wounded service people and their families,” said Phil Popham, MD Jaguar Land Rover.

“Everyone involved at Land Rover – from the management, to the employees at Solihull, to the original Range Rover team – will be happy we’re able to mark this landmark occasion in such a way after forty years of producing this iconic vehicle.”

The Range Rover being donated is the highest-specification model currently available, the Range Rover Vogue, valued in excess of £85,000. Estimates suggest it will raise over £100,000 for charity when auctioned later this year.

“We’re delighted that Land Rover has chosen to give Help for Heroes their millionth Range Rover,” said Bryn Parry, CEO and Co-founder of Help for Heroes. “This is a real milestone in their history and so a very special donation, made even more special by knowing the money raised from the auction of the car will be able to provide much needed funds to help our wounded heroes on their road to recovery.”

One of the most significant vehicles in the history of motoring, the Range Rover was the world’s first vehicle as good on-road as off-road. It remains Land Rover’s flagship model, peerlessly blending comfort, luxury, design, technology and versatility in one highly-accomplished package.

There have been three generations of Range Rover. The original, now known as the Classic, went on sale in 1970 and continued in production, with numerous upgrades and a multiplicity of variants, for just over 25 years.

The second-generation vehicle, known as the P38a, went on sale in 1994 and was replaced in 2001 by the current model. Further enhancements over the last decade have ensured the Range Rover retains its position as one of the world’s most complete luxury vehicles.

During 2005, the Range Rover Sport was introduced, adding a sport tourer SUV to the Range Rover line-up, which instantly became a sales success, selling over 300,000 vehicles over the past six years. Next year a third model with join the Range Rover line-up, the all-new Range Rover Evoque.