Land Rover Series 1 88-inch Hard Top

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One of the most iconic vehicle designs of all time, the go-anywhere Land Rover was to remain in production for nearly 70 years.

The rugged Defender, the last true descendent of the 1948 Series 1, ceased production earlier this year shortly after the two-millionth car rolled off the Solihull production line. Initially only available with an 80-inch wheelbase and 50bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine, it was soon offered with a much more useful 2-litre petrol unit which came in extended 86-inch or 107-inch form.

From 1957 a 2-litre diesel engine option was offered which entailed extending the wheelbase by a further 2-inches in order to accommodate the new engine. This new chassis was standardised across both petrol and diesel models, the basic machine remaining in production until the arrival of the more civilised Series II at the end of 1958.

This lovely 88-inch petrol Hard Top with side windows was ordered as part of a batch of Home Office Civil Defense vehicles (order number 1059) which were all registered with SXF prefix numbers. The buff logbook lists the Secretary of State as its first owner, transferring to Newport County Council thereafter.

It was decommissioned in 1972, falling into private hands for the first time. Its first civilian owner lived near Alton in Hampshire and he kept the vehicle until selling it to the vendor in 1994. By this time it was showing under 23,000 miles on the odometer, a figure which is thought to be correct although there is insufficient documentary evidence to support this.

The accompanying Heritage Certificate confirms that it was built on 13th January 1958 and despatched on the last day of the month. The engine and chassis numbers match the certificate confirming this as a 'matching numbers' car.

In sound but slightly shabby condition when acquired, the vendor decided to give it a full restoration, work that was completed by 1998 when it was put back on the road. Every single nut and bolt was removed, cleaned, painted or replaced as well as many of the rivets to the body which were renewed with Land Rover originals.

The vendor is able to confirm that the chassis is original to the car and is in superb condition, the main panels remaining in lovely straight condition with the possible exception of the lower tailgate. The engine was rebored +020” and in a nice twist of fate, the new pistons arrived in ex-MOD waxed paper dated 1958 – the original year of manufacture of the car.

Since completion 16 years ago, this lovely 88-inch Series 1 has covered just 785 miles. Over the years the restoration has gently mellowed from a position of shiny perfection to utterly lovely, the vendor advising us that it is nice to drive and retains its original features including the rear lights which often get damaged over the years. Twelve old MOTs are on file, its current ticket expiring in May 2016 although of course it is exempt from such things.

Not so perfect that the new owner will be scared to drive it, but still very much as it must have been when it left Solihull in 1958, this ostensibly low mileage, original and fully restored Series 1 is one of the nicest we have had the pleasure to offer.