Description
RARE VEHICLE, UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY. It's also the very definition of a survivor. One of a batch built by Land Rover in 1954 for a Middle Eastern military contract which fell through, most of the batch was then exported to Australia. Another survivor from this contract turned up recently in the ITV drama "Ten Pound Poms"... The desert Beige paint I'm told, was a factory option for just the one year, but the rest is an early standard 88 inch model and the arid climate down under has obviously been kind because the one you see in the pictures has not only survived, but has never been restored. Apart from the wheels, it's never even been painted, certainly never been welded and as you can see in the pictures, has never even been undersealed. The odometer says 39000 miles, and since it still works, I can't see any reason to doubt the figure. It certainly drives as if that's correct. One of the local Land Rover aficionados says it's the best driver he's ever encountered. I haven't driven that many so I can't say for sure but it certainly doesn't wander, pulls up straight, the axles are oil tight and quiet, all gears select nicely, the synchros work and the engine is sweet. It's just had a thorough recommission, new ignition system and battery, new carburettor, and there's a new canvas top and frame and recently retrimmed seat covers. The only visible parts, as far as I can tell, which didn't come out of Solihull in 1954... There are a few dents, acquired over the intervening 71 years, but since it hasn't been restored, so there should be. Now... it depends whether this sort of thing is important to you. You could certainly buy one that's been restored, probably for less money, and from a distance, it will look much as this one did when it left the factory in 1954. But in 2025, it won't be the same thing, and it probably won't be finished in Beige... They are only ever original once. The Collector's Car specialists valued it at 27K because it's so rare to find anything that has barely been touched, so perhaps we can start there and see where we go. I'll have a sensible trade or swap, the wackier the better, or something outrageous and American, but nothing modern please, unless it meets the aforementioned criteria... Recent and thorough recommission. New carburettor and ignition system (all the old ones are with the vehicle), recent new top and frames, retrimmed seats and repainted wheels.
