1949 Land Rover Series 1 80"

This charming example of the Land Rover 80” hails from June 1949. These early models would only retrospectively be named the “Series I” on the arrival of a heavily revised model in 1958. By the time this example left Solihull around 8,000 Land Rovers, many immediately exported, had been built and the British Army had just acquired a batch for extensive testing and evaluation.

Our car’s chassis number of R8666634 reveals it to be a factory right hand drive model from the 1949 model year. With the chassis number sequence starting from 3001 for 1949 (the 866 now being a generic prefix and the R or L prefix designating steering wheel position) we can confirm this 3,633rd model of 1949 and the 6,633rd production Land Rover produced.

The original Logbook shows that the first owner resided in the Salop area and retained the Land Rover until 1963 when it relocated across the Welsh border to Cardigan. Here it was thought to have been predominantly laid up until it was then bought again in 1981. The current owner is thought to be, seemingly, its fourth only and he acquired this 80” in 2018.

With no expense spared the vendor has ensured that the mechanical condition of this Land Rover is as good as it could be. The work detailed in the documents gallery, which you would be well advised to take a good look through, shows considerable work (and no doubt spend), with key outlays including a full engine rebuild, gearbox reconditioning, media blasting, repainting of the chassis and bulkhead, and a significant recommissioning of the brake system.

In the year this Land Rover was built, the British Army became an early adopter of the nascent utility allrounder. They ordered 1,878 vehicles in 1949, and so it was decided to finish all early Land Rover’s in military green. The colour was an RAF surplus paint called “cockpit green” and was snapped up by Rover at a heavily discounted price after the war.

The vendor’s approach of retaining this Land Rover’s charming patinaed finish is currently a very popular one and you can see why. This 80” carries the scars, scuffs and blemishes of a long life for all to see, as a badge of honour across its Birmabright panels. Despite the delightfully crusty state of the paintwork, those alloy panels are broadly devoid of the usual significant dents, dings or galvanic reaction. The originality quotient is high, and this early model is notable for having its headlamps protected behind the tough, mesh radiator grill.

Whilst the exterior is predominantly unrestored, there are some more recent upgrades in evidence. The “D-style” rear lights are recent period correct additions, and the canvas hood cover is clearly a welcome newer, but original style, update. The painted steel wheels appear to be shod in a set of more recent off road tyres that retain plenty of tread and appear to be date stamped from 2016. Period look, raised numeral, white on black number plates are included but “Daisy,” the friendly Friesian is not, unfortunately.

That delightful originality continues in the spartan cabin of this Land Rover. All key components appear original with just the signature, three abreast “spade-back” seats appearing more recent replacements. These are trimmed in the period correct, hard wearing green vinyl. The detachable seat squabs can be removed to reveal storage lockers and access to PTO controls. The central instrument binnacle houses the original, white on black British Jaeger gauge set.

The other controls consist of the Bakelite and steel, three-spoke steering wheel, the charmingly dog-legged gear lever and the red-topped range selector lever. The pre-1950 Land Rovers featured permanent four-wheel drive negating the need for a yellow-topped four-wheel drive selector. The front cabin is enclosed under a canvas hood which can easily be removed as required. Removed in concert with the folding windscreen and removeable door tops and this is a vehicle that can be completely opened to the elements quickly and effortlessly.

The rear tub is accessed by a bottom hinged, drop down tail gate. A spare wheel is mounted to the cabin bulkhead in traditional style.

To keep the costs of developing the new Land Rover as manageable as possible in those austere post-war days, the early vehicles relied on extensive raids on the Rover P3 saloon’s parts bin. The engine and gearbox were both kindly donated by the P3 in this example.

The 1,595cc four-cylinder petrol unit produced a modest, by today’s standards, 50hp but a healthy 80 Ib-ft or torque which is more significant for the conditions in which the Land Rover would often encounter. The cost expended on this Land Rover in it's current ownership has predominantly been lavished on the car’s mechanical systems, and running gear. A  gearbox reconditioning and a engine rebuild are key amongst these works and were carried out by marque specialists in 2022.

The engine bay looks very clean and tidy with plenty of polished alloy in evidence. The original workshop prompt plates are present and the inner panels have been repainted as part of the bulkhead restoration. The main infrastructure of the underside has benefited from media blasting and refinishing during 2022, also. As a result, it appears to be future proofed for many years to come.

This Land Rover comes with a decent breadth of provenance providing paperwork. The current V5 is on hand and the Series I is registered as an historic vehicle and hence is understood to be MoT and VED exempt. A number of earlier MoTs are present in hard copy. The most recent was done the day before delivery to us, and is valid with no advisories.

Other highlights here include the original, buff logbook and some other miscellaneous correspondence. The remainder of the ephemera consists of numerous invoices detailing the extensive work undertaken between around 2018 and today. These include documentary support to the schedule of works previously referred to.

There tends to be three broad types of Series I Land Rovers remaining today. There are the fastidiously restored examples which are not just “factory gate” standard but, often, even better than that. Then there are still a few complete basket cases dotted about, languishing in barns or providing a magnesium alloy shelter for indigenous wildlife, often with a range of domestic flora sprouting out of them. The last category consists of those that retain the hard won scars and marks of a life excitingly and usefully lived but with fully restored and functional mechanical systems hiding underneath. Only one of those three loose categories are conducive to regular use and enjoyment, of course.

This delightful example proudly and loudly espouses the last of these approaches to Series I stewardship. To our eyes, it looks superb. It is delightfully crusty and scuffed and exhibits several layers of historic paintwork in true “carchaeology” style – one of which is almost certainly that heavily discounted RAF “cockpit green.” Under this charmingly patinaed bushel hides mechanical and structural components that have wanted for nothing in recent times. The result? The best of all Series I worlds. An example that can be immediately used and enjoyed without concern.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £27,000 - £32,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.