Land Rover Series I 80"

Click Here for Full Screen Image - Click Here to Download Image

The Land Rover was a brilliant idea from the outset, filling a gap in the market identified by the civilian demand for decommissioned US army Jeeps, as well as using surplus aluminium left over from war-time production, steel being in short supply.

First shown in 1948, early models used a rather feeble 1.6-litre ioe engine which struggled with the unreasonable burdens these work horses were usually asked to carry. In 1952, rescue came in the form of the 1,997cc unit donated from the Rover 60, which made a world of difference. Over the years, the wheelbase grew in length making the Land Rover more versatile, although the cross-country ability of the short 80-inch was never really bettered.

As is so often the case, it is the early cars which are the most sought after and anything that left the factory before the end of 1949 especially so.

This November 1949-built, early 1950-registered machine certainly qualifies and would have originally been fitted with one of the 1.6-litre engines and ‘ring-pull’ gearboxes. These are the ones to have for the serious collector. They also had their headlights behind the grille which hid a pair of Butler lamps, the lumens from which just about made it as far as the front bumper!

The early history of this one is not well understood, but it has at some point, some considerable time ago, been updated with parts from a later 1953 model – with engine, gearbox and front grille to name a few parts.

A common trick in period, it not only gave your older Landy a lot more torque, but updated its looks into the bargain.

There are plenty of clues on this one as to its real identity, a steel steering box and a 1949 radiator being just a couple and it has been in the vendor's hands since 2006, who in-turn acquired it from a friend who had owned it since 1987. It is only up for grabs through lack of use and the recent increase in values which has made it hard to justify sitting in the barn.

The paperwork includes an old-style logbook, a sale receipt for £500 dated 1980 and eight old MOTs. There is evidence of expenditure looking at the car, including recovered seats by Exmoor Trim, the vendor adding that it works well.

In nicely patinated condition, it is on offer for considerably less than a completely original lights behind grill example, but it would be possible with little work to bring this one up to original spec, or simply use as it.