1953 Land Rover Series 1 80″ *Sold £9,000*

Description

• Manufactured 1953
• Letter of authentication from Land Rover
• First registered 31st December 1991
• Manuals, invoices, handbooks
• Engine rebuilt
• Deceased estate

A Rover for the land. There it is. In those few simple words a cult classic emblematic of a golden era was born.

In the immediate post war period, necessity became the mother of all invention. ‘Make do and mend’. Like other small farmers, Maurice Wilks needed a lightweight multi-purpose vehicle. It would have to drag a trailer-load of hay, plough a field, and ferry the family to church.

As well as running a farm, Wilks was chief designer at Rover – where his brother, Spencer, was MD.

The brothers spotted the opportunity. A Rover for the land.

The team managed to pull together just 25 pre-production classic Land Rovers by the time of its October 1948 launch at the Amsterdam Motor Show. The reaction was overwhelming. Rover knew it had to get I ats finger out. It did and it never looked back.

Classic Land Rover Series 1 models are now highly prized. A word of caution. Tin worm is the enemy. Look for the very best one you can find, or alternatively, find one where someone else has done all the hard yards for you.

History and paperwork

This Land Rover Series 1 comes to us via Mark, who owns a garage specialising in Land Rover. He does not own this Landie.

A customer who Mark had known for about thirty years contacted him to say a family member who owned this Land Rover had sadly passed and could he help with the sale. Mark knew both the owner and the Land Rover.

The early ownership is not known. However, we do know it was built in 1953, because we have the authentication from Land Rover. But it wasn’t registered until 1991.

We suspect prior to that it was probably an agricultural vehicle or used in an area such as a dock or regional airport where it was never used on the road. It just drove under the radar.

Piecing together snippets of other information it is thought our vendor is the second owner.

What we also know for certain is that the now deceased owner rebuilt the Land Rover over many, many years. We asked Mark what he was like, he responded with one word, “meticulous”.

Mechanicals

• Original engine rebuilt
• Top and bottom end
• New wiring loom
• Brake pipes

The family have limited knowledge of the vehicle. But we do have a number of good sensible images and some information from Mark. We think it has had an electric fuel pump fitted and with the parts the owner bought over a number of years, a whole host of other bits too. he Landie is we’re told. “95% restored.. just needs a few finishing touches.” There are some invoices, but sadly that’s it. The images in our gallery tell a story.

Outside

Limited by budget and restricted by steel allocation the Land Rovers simple shape was imposed rather than designed. Today that classic profile is recognised around the world.

Steel may have been short, but there was an abundance of aluminium. Those pioneering British engineering skills are features that remain to this day on modern Land Rovers

We understand the critical areas such as chassis and bulkhead are sound on this one. We’re told the chassis does have a patch, as is common, but it is solid. Images are in the Gallery.

The outside was ‘restored’ we are advised. You can see from the images the classic Land Rover in Bronze Green looks fetching. The alloy ‘corner’ fixings look new too?

The doors were optional in 1953. This Land Rover Series 1 has them but no door tops, which isn’t uncommon and gives the outside a stylish look. If you’re inclined, the new owner will need to acquire and fit a tilt to the rear space as this one doesn’t have one.

Given the condition of this Land Rover, that suggests it’s been stored inside and its doubtful it has been out much, if at all, in inclement weather.

Inside

The interior space follows the same pattern as other cult classic Land Rover Series 1s.  It is minimal but functional and much better for it.

It has the usual set of three front seats in vinyl. One of them has a homemade cover for the back rest.

Because it is what it is, the new owner can see exactly what they getting. As with the lack of tilt, this is effectively a blank canvas to do with whatever you fancy. We’d be tempted to leave well alone, drive and enjoy it.

Our view

We all know what has been happening to classic Land Rover Series 1 values.

This one has not had a string of careless owners. For approximately thirty years one owner has loved and carefully put this one back to together. It has been done in such a way that the new owner now has a solid, blank canvas with a number of options, all of them good.

This a wonderfully characterful, lovely old thing. An extremely charming Series 1. Best of all it is reserved at a massive discount to where the market is and is heading. Don’t hang about.

 

Vehicle Location: Maldon, Essex CM9– it’s the responsibility of the buyer to make collection / transportation arrangements directly with the vendor.

Have a question about this Land Rover Series 1? Please contact the Evoke team at auction@evoke-classics.com and we will speak to the vendor on your behalf.

Guide Prices?

We’re different. But you know that. And we’re always honest. In a sector where no two classics are same, how does anyone put a ‘guide’.

Well, everyone knows the broad value of classic, let’s all be honest. So we don’t need to tell you what you already know, do we.

The ‘market’ decides and the old cliché that ‘it’s worth what someone wants to pay’ is no less true. So why kid everyone!

But, because we are different, if it really does matter to you, that’s fine, we want you to be happy. Just drop us a line at auction@evoke-classics.com and one of us will be delighted to ring you back and discuss, it’s what we do.

Tedious but it’s vital you read this, please.

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