Highlights

Extensively restored to an incredible standard, by renowned Land Rover restoration specialists King Rig Customs
Features a rebuilt engine, rebuilt gearbox and an impressive list of new mechanical components
Offers a fantastic finish both inside and out, with plenty of expert craftsmanship as far as the eye can see
Presents a brilliant opportunity for those on the search for a freshly restored collection piece, or podium-worthy show vehicle

The Appeal

Produced between 1971 and 1985, the Series III set out to expand upon Land Rover’s success with the incredibly well-received series vehicles before it, albeit with a few subtle upgrades. From the start, the Series III would feature the upgraded 2.25L engines previously offered as an option with the IIa, known for slightly greater power as a result of a higher compression ratio. The new series would also begin to feature synchromesh on all four gears, as well as an updated interior, and a series of light cosmetic tweaks.

No doubt a result of the subtle improvements over its predecessors, and with Land Rover’s legendary reputation at its core, the Series III proved to be incredibly popular, and would later become the most produced offering from the series lineup. Today, demand for the Series III remains high as ever, with enthusiasts and collectors across the globe on the hunt for tidy examples.

The search, however, ends right here, with this absolutely sublime 1976 Woodcote Green model. This low-owner Land Rover has recently been subject to an incredibly extensive restoration and now boasts a mightily impressive overall condition, with a specification and new parts list nothing short of a mile long.

Offered in fantastic condition, with superb mechanical health, a tasty array of much-welcomed upgrades, and a fresh coat of paint, this 1976 Land Rover Series III is more than ready to shine as part of any exquisite collection.

The History and Paperwork

First registered on the 8th of June 1976
Offered with 5 former keepers, and 46,572 displayed miles
Recently fully restored, with an incredibly vast list of new parts, refurbished components, and light upgrades
Includes a selection of history, including previous MOT certificates, and the current V5C document

First registered on the 8th of June 1976, this Series 3 is believed to have been enjoyed by just 5 former keepers over the years, as per the current V5C document. Upon their purchase in 2022, the current keeper decided this fantastic Land Rover was overdue for refreshment, and booked the vehicle in with renowned Land Rover specialist King Rig Customs, for an incredibly thorough restoration.

Not ones to leave any stones unturned, King Rig Customs have ensured the vehicle receives an incredible array of new, and refurbished components as far as the eye can see. The fully restored vehicle now features the likes of a rebuilt engine and gearbox, fresh Woodcote Green paintwork, a galvanised and coated chassis, galvanised bulkhead, overhauled suspension, a fresh interior and plenty more.

As a full breakdown of the restoration process would indeed use about half a rainforest’s worth of paper, history with the vehicle is somewhat minimal. That said, there’s a range of catalogues for parts used, a selection of previous MOT certificates, a few useful diagrams, and the current V5C document, ready to sign over.

The Interior

Beautifully restored interior, featuring new luxury front seats, and new rear benches
Comes equipped with LED interior lighting and a Land Rover Bluetooth speaker
Features a new hood, covers, and a swing-away galvanised rear half door
Offers a very tidy finish throughout, reflecting quality craftsmanship

The Series III interior arguably sits right in the sweet spot, reminiscent of the earlier minimal series models, with slightly more modern tweaks. Perhaps most notable in terms of updates to the model, include a new dashboard, and the relocation of the instrument cluster to the driver’s side.

Having been fully restored, the interior of this particular series is a fantastic showcase of the original design, with plenty of refreshed components to show. As part of the process, the interior received new LED interior dashboard lighting, a new Bluetooth Land Rover speaker, a new hood and covers, as well as new luxury front seats, and handmade rear bench seats.

As the vehicle has covered a mere handful of miles since being restored, you’ll find the cabin presents itself beautifully today, with hardly any signs of age or wear. Both front seats offer very clean finishes with plenty of comfort, and the hand-made rear benches appear as though they have never properly been sat upon.

Facing forward, the dashboard and accompanying instruments also reflect excellent care and show no immediately noticeable signs of age or wear. Controls and contact points also show minimal signs of use, as do both tidy door cards, a set of new rubber floor mats, and the fresh hood.

Overall, the interior of this Series III is in superb condition, especially for the age of the vehicle. With new seats front and rear, new LED lighting, new rubber floor mats and tidy surfaces throughout, the interior certainly leaves very little to fault.

The Exterior

Expertly restored by renowned Land Rover restoration specialists; King Rig Customs
Finished with genuine Woodcote Green metallic paintwork
Features deep dish 1-Ton wheels, with BFGoodrich A/T Tyres
Equipped with a galvanized, etch primed and Raptor-coated chassis
Features a galvanised bulkhead, front plate, door tops, door bottoms, and cappings
Benefits from a new hood, and galvanized heavy-duty stick set
Offers a superb overall finish, ready to impress at shows

Finished with a stunning coat of Woodcote Green paintwork, this nearly 50-year-old Land Rover offers a truly impressive finish, arguably capable of rivalling the sleekest of sports cars. Expertly applied, the fresh paintwork offers plenty of metallic flake, whilst also taking on a mesmerising range of both green and yellow hues in the sunlight. With only a few incredibly minor light blemishes, you can expect this finish to attract the admiration of onlookers wherever it goes, particularly at historic shows.

Accompanying the sublime paintwork, are a set of 16” 1-Ton steel wheels, offering a much deeper dish than standard. Freshly refurbished in black, the wheels boast fantastic finishes all around and come wrapped in a set of BFGoodrich all-terrain tyres with plenty of tread left to enjoy.

This Series III also features a galvanised chassis, which has been etch primed and finished with a smooth coat of matte black Raptor coating. In addition to the chassis, there’s also a galvanised bulkhead, front plate, door tops, door bottoms, cappings and a heavy-duty hood stick set. Atop the new galvanized stick set, sits a new hood, offering a watertight, damage-free finish.

With far too many new components and instances of skilled craftsmanship to note, this is a finish that deserves to be admired in person, where it will no doubt impress for many years to come.

The Mechanics

Powered by a rebuilt 2.25L petrol engine, upgraded with a 5-bearing crankshaft
Features a rebuilt manual four-speed gearbox, fitted with new overdrive
Comes equipped with a huge list of new suspension, drivetrain, and electric components
Runs and drives beautifully, with no known faults to note
Comes ready to enjoy, with advisory-free MOT until the 1st of February 2024

As part of the restoration process, this Series 3 also received its fair share of mechanical refurbishment, including a gearbox rebuild, and engine rebuild. Built to a high standard, the rebuilt 2.25L engine also features the stronger 5-bearing crankshaft introduced to later Series 3 models, ensuring greater longevity. In addition to the rebuilt drivetrain components, the vehicle also features an impressive array of new suspension components, new LED lighting work, new fittings, a new exhaust and plenty more.

As you would expect given the extensive mechanical restoration, the vehicle fires up right away and performs brilliantly across each gear. There are no known issues to note, and with a fresh service under its belt, this 1976 Series III is ready to hit the roads.

Summary

As the most popular Land Rover Series vehicle, it should come as no surprise that the Series III presents a delightful classic Land Rover experience, packed with charm. These highly sought-after utility vehicles offer dependable motoring, impressive capability, near-unrivalled practicality, and rather simple maintenance.

This particular example is worthy of further praise, in thanks to its freshly restored finish, brilliant overall condition and an impressive array of new or rebuilt mechanical components. If you’re searching for a vehicle to take home the trophy this show season, or simply seek the next star of your collection, this beautiful 1976 Land Rover Series III is the vehicle for you.

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