Because the Rover V8 engine powered so many different cars, it quickly developed a remarkable and somewhat unusual racing pedigree.

Whilst it was most famous and successful for powering the Rover SD1 touring car, it had also developed a strong reputation in the world of rally racing, including in the front of another works SD1.

A Range Rover won the original Paris-Dakar Rally, and both Range Rovers and Land Rover Discoveries were part of countless exceptional cross-country races and marathon runs.

However, one of the most unusual times a Range Rover was involved in rallying was as part of a vehicle rather fittingly called the Strange Rover.

Created and driven by Alvin Smith, it raced in the Lombard RAC Rally of Great Britain in 1979 and the Mintex International Rally in 1980, but managed to leave a huge impression despite a lack of consistent entries in the top tier of rallying.

It was made by taking a Range Rover, removing the bodywork, turning it around so they were both behind the driver, flipping the front and rear axles, and finally adding the bodywork from a Triumph TR7 to make an early example of what would later be considered a space frame rally raid car.

It finished eighth and last in the Group 4/4 standings and 65th overall, 87 minutes behind a Vauxhall Chevette in seventh place and over three hours behind group winner Alen Markku in a Lancia Stratos.

Whilst an incredible piece of engineering and modification, the Range Rover chassis was ultimately becoming too heavy to be competitive in rally racing events not designed with 4x4s in mind, but it proved to be competitive at club level for many years.

Whilst other weird and wonderful Range Rover hybrids have been given the Strange Rover name, the Alvin Davis rally racer was the first and by far the most fascinating of the bunch.