cruiser647 Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 Another victim of the recession or just plain out of touch with what the consumer wanted? Engineering expert Overfinch – supplier of bespoke Range Rovers to footballers and flashy celebrities – has gone bust. Based in Farnham, Surrey, the firm was founded in 1975, specialising in power and design upgrades. It pioneered the idea of the performance SUV, and its designers and engineers worked closely with Land Rover. Among Overfinch’s successes was the development of the first-ever automatic Range Rover, plus it won the 1981 Paris-Dakar Rally on behalf of Land Rover France. One of the grander models was last year’s Holland and Holland Range Rover. This cost £139,650, and had two of the gunmaker’s rifles, plus a champagne fridge. Lisa Hogg of administrator Wilson Field said: “In the past 18 months, Overfinch has incurred significant one-off non-trading costs which have hit cash flow.” She added that a buyer was being sought. Industry insiders claim the front runner is rival modifier Kahn Design. Formed in 2003 in Bradford, W Yorks, it sells luxury cars via its V12 online operation. In September, Overfinch had restructured its management, appointing former Land Rover, Jaguar and Aston Martin boss Robert Dover as chairman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rottenbend Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 Shame - and it's a travesty that Overfinch have gone bust and those purveyors of chavvy tat, Kahn, are still in business. Says a lot about the people who are buying Range Rovers these days... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Bad news. Very bad news Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 Whats intreasting is that you could opt to get just "parts" like a bumper and the wheels rather then the full on package so there plenty of funny bumpers and off looking wheels on a whole mix of RR's. Things pass i suppose they are bit 5 years ago! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBad news. Very bad news They were overpriced. Vastly overpriced. That's why they've gone, sad though it may be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 I'm surprised to see the Khan name. I had no idea they'd grown to the size where they potentially buy Overfinch. If they do, I wonder if it'll work with the typical Overfinch customer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve2 Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 was discussed on PH here Overfinch into administration.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biscuits Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 I'm surprised to see the Khan name. I had no idea they'd grown to the size where they potentially buy Overfinch. If they do, I wonder if it'll work with the typical Overfinch customer. I bet that it won't really cost that much to buy the assets. Guess it's a bad time to find investors, so unless they have some expensive tooling and maybe patents it'll go for a song. Real shame, I hate the KAHN shite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trollhatten Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 Apparently Overfinch recently did a Holland & Holland LE? Flipping heck, we did that 11 years ago at Land Rover Special Vehicles - maybe they just ran out of new ideas? Don't forget JE Engineering - they've been around a while and seem to do seriously engineered mods rather than just a quick bodge with some bodyfiller and a spraygun.... It's amazing how some of these converters claim to have factory approval when in reality they have probably nothing of the sort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted December 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 Apparently Overfinch recently did a Holland & Holland LE?Flipping heck, we did that 11 years ago at Land Rover Special Vehicles - maybe they just ran out of new ideas? Don't forget JE Engineering - they've been around a while and seem to do seriously engineered mods rather than just a quick bodge with some bodyfiller and a spraygun.... It's amazing how some of these converters claim to have factory approval when in reality they have probably nothing of the sort. The Holland Holland LE is pictured in the original opening thread. Looks like a right Ascot wagon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 They were overpriced. Vastly overpriced. That's why they've gone, sad though it may be. They went really mate. Mum had 2 OFs years ago and the work done on the cars was of very good quality. They used to take the engines out, dump them and stick massive lumps in use Ferrari parts on the inside, leather and wood everything. Was of a very good standard back then although not very reliable. I think as the range rover has progressed, the standard spec is very good as it is and dosent really need of to sort it out. Only the engine is a bit weedy, but much better than it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 I just don't really think there is enough room in the marketplace for these types of vehicles, especially as manufacturers are making the vehicles luxurious and sporty straight out of the factory, so why would you pay overfinch to do it? There was a time when range rovers were capable, but neither luxurious or sporty, so they had a place then. Sad to see the name go (it never really means the same thing once bought out), but can't see they will be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 Agreed. I can see names such as Brabus, Hartge, AC Schnitzer and others going the same way. In many respects I think Range Rover saw what they were missing out on and removed Overfinches market by producing better cars. The Autobiography range was a big addition because it immediately countered much of the custom interior element that Overfinch offered. I also think they were guilty in recent years of taking out perfectly good engines and not replacing them with anything better. Didn't Clarkson savage one a couple of years back on Top Gear? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 I think as the range rover has progressed, the standard spec is very good as it is and dosent really need of to sort it out. Only the engine is a bit weedy, but much better than it was. Thats spot on, people liked the idea of a Range Rover but at the time it they were still rather horsey - there was still much room for improvement so Overfinch did the business. As RR came on, qualitywise, interiors, engines etc there was less and less need to do anything to what was coming out of the factory - crunch time! Sad as I reckon its still one of the cooler tuning 'brands' out there, Kahn is not my cup of tea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted December 3, 2010 Report Share Posted December 3, 2010 I just don't really think there is enough room in the marketplace for these types of vehicles, especially as manufacturers are making the vehicles luxurious and sporty straight out of the factory, so why would you pay overfinch to do it?There was a time when range rovers were capable, but neither luxurious or sporty, so they had a place then. ....It's all about status symbols, badges/labels, and individuality. Many people wealthy enough to afford an Overfinch aren't too fussed about the cost and are more fussed about how they look amongst their peer group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted December 3, 2010 Report Share Posted December 3, 2010 ....It's all about status symbols, badges/labels, and individuality. Many people wealthy enough to afford an Overfinch aren't too fussed about the cost and are more fussed about how they look amongst their peer group. maybe thats what it turned in to. it used to be about making the best 4wd car much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted December 3, 2010 Report Share Posted December 3, 2010 (edited) ....It's all about status symbols, badges/labels, and individuality. Many people wealthy enough to afford an Overfinch aren't too fussed about the cost and are more fussed about how they look amongst their peer group. But thats not what Overfinch ever were, you couldn't tell an Overfinch from a normal Rangey, aside from a small badge on the back that would only be noticed by those in the know. Kahn are the brand for the types you mentioned, all bodykits and huge polished wheels, Overfinch was always subtle, maybe thats where they went wrong? My lasting memory of Overfinch, will always be the top gear episode where Clarkson raced an Overfinch Range Rover against a Focus, while the Range rover was towing another Focus, and still wins! Edited December 3, 2010 by Tipex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 3, 2010 Report Share Posted December 3, 2010 Little badge on the back? The majority of Overfinch cars had fecking huge badges - in the form of the font used for Land/Range Rover lettering front and rear, saying 'O V E R F I N C H' - spanning the bloody bonnet and rear hatch width! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted December 3, 2010 Report Share Posted December 3, 2010 Don't think I've ever seen one like that, most I've seen is a boot badge and steering wheel badge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biscuits Posted December 3, 2010 Report Share Posted December 3, 2010 Some of there stuff was a bit ott and you'd easily mistake for KHAN... But this is rather nice Land Rover Range Rover 5.8 OVERFINCH 580 S (2005 MODEL) Off Road Vehicle / SUV (2004) £24,950 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 3, 2010 Report Share Posted December 3, 2010 Don't think I've ever seen one like that, most I've seen is a boot badge and steering wheel badge. Like this, I mean: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted December 3, 2010 Report Share Posted December 3, 2010 Little badge on the back?The majority of Overfinch cars had fecking huge badges - in the form of the font used for Land/Range Rover lettering front and rear, saying 'O V E R F I N C H' - spanning the bloody bonnet and rear hatch width! ....I've only ever seen two Overfinch Range Rovers but both had that kind of badging etc etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted December 3, 2010 Report Share Posted December 3, 2010 Wow, never seen one like that! The only ones I've ever spent any time in were the previous shape to that, perhaps that kind of badging drove away the existing customer base they had then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted December 4, 2010 Report Share Posted December 4, 2010 Lol, even with over finch written on the back most peop,e wouldn't notice it. Let's face it, you would have ti be a bit of a geek ti notice it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted December 6, 2010 Report Share Posted December 6, 2010 Lol, even with over finch written on the back most peop,e wouldn't notice it. Let's face it, you would have ti be a bit of a geek ti notice it. Tell you what Sam - you need to get the hang of typing on that iPad a bit better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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