The majority had a 'drop-down' hinged rear number plate (licence plate) plinth fitted, and a pair of glass and metal bowled number plate lights FF002532 were fitted to the plinth. This plinth was held to the outer skin of the lower tailgate with two plastic push-in clips FF010237.

All vehicles built before June 1984 (all pre-BA chassis numbers) should have this arrangement, although many have been replaced over the ensuing years for later tailgates. Don’t worry if your pre-1984 Range Rover does not have the drop down number plate plinth; later tailgates will fit, if used in conjunction with the appropriate hinges and strikers.

For the pre-June 1984 lower tailgate which uses the drop down number plate plinth order our part number: FF010379

Vehicles built from June 1984 to November 1986 had a slightly different lower tailgate, still with an externally operated handle, but without a drop down number plate plinth – the rear number plate was mounted directly to the outer skin of the tailgate – and plastic number plate lights FF001903 in place of the earlier metal versions.

For the June 1984 to November 1986 lower tailgate which still has the external handle but NO drop down number plate plinth, order our part number: FF010400

Replacement Exterior Handle Tailgates (1990s non-Factory Fit)

In the 1990s Land Rover UK produced and sold a version of the lower tailgate with external handle. They were sold to owners of vehicles with tailgates that needed to be replaced and, when fitted to replace a rotten or damaged original tailgate, would also require the replacement of the tailgate hinges with the later style ones as fitted to later tailgates (such as FF002057). These were never originally fitted to production vehicles, and if you have one of these fitted to your vehicle now, and wish to replace it with a new tailgate which is correct for your year, you will have to source a pair of the correct original type hinges. These tailgates are easily distinguishable by the shape of the pressing around the hinge bolts on the inside corrugated section of the tailgate. We do not manufacture a version of this tailgate, as it was never a production fit.
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The introduction of DA chassis numbered vehicles in November 1986 saw a major change to the lower tailgate design, when the opening handle moved to the inside of the vehicle, and it remained like this until production of the ‘Classic’ Range Rover ended in 1995. We offer two different tailgates for the post November 1986 vehicles with the interior opening handle.

Our part number FF010377 suits all vehicles from November 1986 up to October 1989 (DA to end of FA chassis range), and used the same hinges as all earlier vehicles (half moon pressing on inner skin around lower hinge bolt), but had an inner handle.

The design of the bottom corners of the lower tailgate was significantly altered from October 1989 (GA441003 chassis number onwards) to improve the fit between tailgate and body frame in an attempt to reduce water and dirt ingress. The lower corners were shaped to fit the revised rear floor shape, and a weather seal was added to the end lip of the rear floor, onto which the tailgate closed. The shape of the pressing around the lower tailgate hinge bolts was altered at the same time, and it is clearly distinguished as a rectangular shape with rounded corners.
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If you have this later (and very last incarnation) tailgate, you will need to order our part number FF002057.