﹒Re-trimmed with Exmoor trim tan leather upholstery
﹒New Turner engine at cost of almost £5,000
﹒Over £10,000 of receipts for new parts alone
The Background
A Land Rover is more than a vehicle. It is a global icon; something with a shape and a character that is instantly identifiable all over the globe.
And it's the Series IIA Land Rover that is the model that properly fuelled Land Rover’s growth. Its simplicity of build, coupled to its rugged utilitarian and go-anywhere ability, made it an enduring icon the world over. Having started off as a relatively low volume product it was during the 1960s that Land Rover’s popularity really started to boom .
This example is one of the very last Series IIAs. It was first registered in January 1972, just before the introduction of the arguably less stylish Series 3. Unlike earlier Series IIAs, it has the headlights in the wings - an important safety move as the earlier Land Rovers’ inset headlamps made them look like narrower vehicles in dark conditions.
This example is fresh from a ground-up rebuild. Less than a year ago it was a tired and decrepit project, but it has been fully transformed by a highly regarded Land Rover enthusiast and restorer on the Hertfordshire/Buckinghamshire border.
He is an ardent fan of early Land Rovers and is passionate and enthusiastic about rebuilding them, having worked on them all through his adult life.
Very little is known about the early history of this vehicle but in many ways there's not a huge amount of the original vehicle left anyway. In the past 12 months it has been rebuilt on a new galvanised chassis, which has been painted to match the upper bodywork.
It retains a number of its original panels, which have been repaired and repainted, while it has also been fully re-trimmed and fitted with a brand new engine.
The bills and receipts that come with this Land Rover document well over £10,000 worth of parts alone, including a boxed reconditioned Turner engine that cost the current owner almost £5000 alone.
There is a thick file of paperwork that includes all of the items purchased for the Land Rover’s rebuild, from the chassis and engine right down to the smallest screw or bracket. It comes with a full UK V5.
There’s not much inside an original Series Land Rover, so in terms of overall condition and things to go wrong, the list is pretty moderate. But that’s not to ignore the amazing quality and detail of restoration work on this vehicle. The three front seats have been hand-trimmed in tan leather and are immeasurably better than anything ever offered by Land Rover itself.
The original ID plate and gear selectors are present and correct while the instrument binnacle is also carried over from the original vehicle, while it also has a bespoke leather-trimmed steering wheel that matches the colour of the seats.
Fresh from its rebuild, the SIIA looks amazing in Fuji White, and the body is free of blemishes, scuffs or dents. It has been rebuilt on a brand new galvanised chassis and the tub has been completely restored, while it also has a galvanised bulkhead and windscreen surround.
The doors were restored and a pair of door tops are included in the sale, along with a new tan-coloured canvas tilt and roof poles Which were not available at the time of our photo shoot but will be supplied with the vehicle. A further accessory is its swing-away rear wheel carrier which allows the tailgate to be dropped without bearing the weight of the spare wheel.
It comes with a set of brand new Colway re-grooved tyres and an LED light conversion, which replaces the original bulbs with much brighter LEDs. These were added by the current owner to make it more usable as the lighting is far more effective, but he is happy to supply a set of original lights with the truck.
The underside is as clean and shiny as the Land Rover’s upper body while all of the bolts, brackets and mountings are spotless and as new.
Under the bonnet the Land Rover features a Turner Engineering 2.25-litre petrol engine, a new radiator and all new hoses and ancillaries. It has also been fitted with a reconditioned transmission to make it as close as possible to brand new mechanically. The suspension includes brand new parabolic springs, picked out in blue, while it has also had new brake pipes, cylinders and linings and a new wiring loom.
The engine fires up on the button and sounds absolutely beautiful, while there are no signs of smoke or rattles.
Make no mistake, this is a top quality restoration that is ready for its next owner to take on and enjoy very much as a show vehicle rather than a workhorse. It looks absolutely fabulous and is undoubtedly one of the very best SIIAs on the market right now. It's not original but what modifications have been made are there more to improve the Land Rover to be used in a more modern context.
It's a wonderful looking and high quality restoration that fully deserves to become somebody's long-term pride and joy.
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller.
More about buying with us
1972 Land Rover Series IIA
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