Description
1949 Land Rover Series 1 80" Station Wagon Tickford Model
We are delighted to offer this exceptionally rare example. Uk registered, left hand drive example. Finished in both Sage and Bronze Green with matching interior.
One of the oldest surviving left-hand drive Series 1 Station Wagons produced. One of only some 20 survivors, originally supplied new to Poland. This vehicle was restored by a marque specialist during the 2000's it has recently had a light body restoration and recommissioning by ourselves. It will be supplied fully serviced and ready to use for the next owner.
"A Tickford was built for the landed gentry, for hunting and shooting and fishing, to be driven along a few dirty tracks and then brought home to be cleaned by the chauffeur. It's a coachbuilt upmarket, off-road limo for the post-war big spender." – Classic LRO magazine.
Introduced in 1948 on the 80" chassis, the very first Land Rover Station Wagon was built by Newport Pagnell-based coachbuilders Tickford Ltd; it featured an aluminium-panelled, timber-framed body, and was intended to extend the Landie's appeal beyond the agricultural sector. The result was this relatively luxurious, timber-framed vehicle with features such as wind-up windows, a heater, one-piece windscreen, self-cancelling indicators, and a split tailgate similar to that used on the first Range Rover some 20 years later.
However, they were not a commercial success, as the Station Wagon was treated as a car by the taxation authorities, adding a hefty chunk of Purchase Tax to its already considerable cost. Including PT, the Station Wagon cost £961 (you could have bought three terraced houses for the same money) against a regular (tax-free) Land Rover at £550. Only 651 vehicles were made, the vast majority going for export, many of which were used in overseas aid projects. It is estimated that only around 20 survive in road worthy condition, including one at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu and one at the Heritage Motor Museum at Gaydon, and today this early 'luxury' Land Rover is one of the most sought-after variants.
This vehicle was the first of a batch supplied to UNICEF in Poland and was the first left-hand drive example produced. Discovered in Poland during the late 1990s, it was brought back to the UK and painstakingly restored by John Taylor, one of the leading authorities on early Land Rovers, retaining the original 1, 600cc engine and running gear. The previous owner has enjoyed this vehicle for a number of years and has taken it on several trips around the UK and Europe. The vehicle has been to several Land Rover shows and it has won multiple awards including at the Land Rover Series One Club National Rally.
Tickford Station Wagons always attract a lot of interest from Land Rover enthusiasts, and it is not often that you see them on the open market. It also isn't often that you see them fully restored to this condition. So this is an exceptionally rare opportunity to by a very rare and sought after model.
Any enquires please call on the details below or the details below.
