Land Rover S2A 88 inch Diesel

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As it is with the Jaguar E-Type, so it is with the Land Rover: although everyone loves the Series One, there is no denying that the Series Two is the better vehicle in all material respects.

The Series II Land Rover arrived 10 years after its much-coveted forebear in 1958, and it is no exaggeration to say that it was a vast improvement over its predecessor. Stretched by two inches, its wheelbase was now 88”, the extra length added directly to the load area.

It was the first Land Rover to have been through Rover’s styling department, not that many of its customers worried too much about that, but its more modern shape cleverly accounted for the vehicle’s wider track, while managing to retain the much loved, rugged appearance of the earlier vehicle.

Engine size went up to 2 ¼-litres, making the Series II much livelier on the road, with little effect on fuel consumption and perhaps best of all, the wayward steering of the Series I was changed to a vastly superior setup, as anyone who has driven both types will confirm.

The Series IIA replaced the SII in 1961 and also remained in production for 10 years. There were some minor cosmetic changes, but the most significant change was under the bonnet in the guise of the new 2.25-litre diesel engine. Body configurations ranged from SWB soft top to the top-of-the-line five-door Station Wagon. By February 1969 the headlamps had moved into the wings on all models, and the sill panels were redesigned to be shallower a few months afterwards.

This Series IIA diesel dates from February 1967 and is a bit of a peculiarity in that the headlamps had already been moved outboard when it was made (a feature that is not that unusual in the complex story of the SII, or so we are led to believe by various Land Rover cognoscenti). Whatever the facts may be, it has had just one owner since 1987 and was in regular use and running well when laid up in dry storage several years ago due to illness.

Prior to this it had been the beneficiary of many new parts, especially underneath, and we are told that the chassis remains in good condition today. About two months prior to this sale, we are also told that it was hooked up to a new battery, fresh fuel added, and was coaxed into life fairly easily, although run only briefly.

Being offered here as a recommissioning / light restoration project, it comes with a nice (dare we say SEXIE, if we squint, cover one eye and drink half-a-pint of whisky?) transferable number plate, GBX6E, that has recently been valued at considerably more than the low estimate.

Alluringly priced at any rate, it should not take more than a few weekends’ hard graft to get it back on the road and will no doubt keep someone out of mischief over the coming winter season - provided they stay off that number-transforming whisky…