Land Rover Series III 88-inch Safari Station Wagon

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Just how many curtain-calls can the Land Rover Defender pull off? Due to cease production a few months ago, it received a stay of execution, production now planned to continue until at least the spring of next year, such has been the clamour to obtain one of the last of these iconic machines.

Launched at the Amsterdam Motor Show way back in 1948, the iconic Series I Land Rover gave way to the more sophisticated Series II in 1958, the Series IIA getting a larger more powerful engine along the way. The Series III arrived in 1971 and was the last of the Land Rover line to mirror almost exactly the design of the original, subsequent examples getting soft coil springs and fancy overhead valves.

The original design is still perfectly relevant today, not only for being one of the few 4x4s to have a genuine 3 ½ tonne towing capacity, but also offering superior off road capabilities to most of its modern counterparts, being far more simple to maintain and with a parts back up service second to none, with everything available at very modest cost.

One of the more attractive variants was the seven-seat Station Wagon. Based on the standard 88-inch wheelbase hard-top, it got rear side-windows, roof lights, two sideways facing bench seats at the rear and a Safari roof - a secondary aluminium skin with extra vents below which helped keep the occupants cool in hot climates. The three abreast seating remained up front and extra trim was added here and there to reduce noise and make things a bit more civilised.

Dating from September 1983, this attractive and original pale green Station Wagon retains its correct upholstery, one rear seat having been temporarily removed to accommodate the essential black labrador (which isn’t included in the sale although the seat is). It is fitted with an original fire extinguisher (by now probably of more interest to the originality freak than the person with flames around his ankles) and correct Safari roof.

The rare front door panels are present and a number of extras have been added including front light guards, free-wheeling hubs, a tow bar, rear work light and Land Rover rubber floor mats. In nice original condition, the chassis looks to have had the rear cross member replaced at some point in the past and in 2014, during a major service and overhaul, one front bulkhead outrigger was also replaced.

In late 2014 the Land Rover was clearly getting a bit hot and bothered, the head being removed and skimmed and new valves and stem seals fitted along with a new gasket and exhaust studs. A new radiator and thermostat were added for good measure, the vehicle now running to temperature as it should.

At the same time, the gearbox was replaced and the car given a comprehensive service and brake overhaul. All fluids were changed, including the oft-forgotten steering box and brake fluid. The chassis was waxoiled and the tracking checked, the car passing its most recent MOT in October of this year with no advisories.

Probably the most useful Series Land Rover to own, a late 88-inch Station Wagon offers the smallholder, countryman or city dweller a practical and fun machine that will tow, go anywhere, seat seven people and keep on doing just that for decades more to come.