Description
NB Please no more messers / time-wasters
Two people have placed deposits and disappeared.
Third time lucky!
PERFECTLY PATINATED...
GALVANISED CHASSIS...
OVERDRIVE...
LOW MILEAGE...
LOW OWNERS...
THE EPITOME OF COOL !
Over the years I've owned many, many Land Rovers.
From Old School 2 and 4 door Range Rovers to Series 1's, 2's, 2A's and 3's to the only Series 1 double-cab ever made.
Land Rover Monthly magazine ran a 7 page feature about me and my Landys a few years.
In a nutshell, I love 'em.
For me the sweet spot for Series Land Rovers is a late Series 3.
They're analogue, basic and beautiful.
Classic, timeless and huge fun to drive.
The challenge is finding one that's not been over-used, abused or mutilated with chequer plate hiding myriad problems.
Some people like them restored to "as new" condition with everything renewed or replaced or restored.
A mint Series 3 will cost over £25K and will probably be "too good to use" for many.
A Series 3 needing restoration is not an attractive proposition for most of us, as the cost of restoring can become mind-blowing (as well as time-consuming) and very frustrating.
My preference is a genuinely patinated car that's led an easy life.
A car that doesn't need lots of work.
Just the usual fettling and fine-tuning to appease personal tastes.
Series 3's are analogue vehicles devoid of ECU's that'll drive you mad.
They are basic and pretty much everything can be addressed.
The first questions normally asked are "How's the chassis?", then "How's the bulkhead?"
There's an obvious reason this.
RUST.
Chassis on old Landys rust like there's no tomorrow.
And that brings me to the car I'm advertising here.
It's a late Series 3 with overdrive which makes it a joy to drive.
It's covered less than 70K miles which is pretty much unheard of.
It's got a relatively rare diesel engine which purrs and doesn't emit any smoke whatsoever.
I've had several petrol Series 3's over the years and appreciate some Landy fans think a petrol Series 3 is preferable to a diesel Series 3.
Well I'm not one of them !
This Landy is as spritely and perky and fun as any petrol Series 3 I've driven.
In my experience I'd say they are like for like.
I guess the diesel is a tad noisier but there's not much in it.
Certainly not enough to deter or put off.
It's an old Landy after all.
Not a Toyota Prius.
I bought this car from the talented, skilled owner of a bodyshop who'd been using it as his personal "bit of fun", taking his young lad out in it on sunny days.
Being his personal car he went to great lengths to make it as safe and reliable and comfortable and sorted as possible.
This Series 3 has spent many, many years baking in the sun in Spain.
I have a folder of Spanish MOT's from the early 2000's confirming this.
As a result the patina is better than I've seen on any Land Rover.
Ever.
If you appreciate that imperfect is perfect when it comes to Series 3's then you'll LOVE this truck.
I can't enthuse more or overstate just how perfectly imperfect the patina is.
Only many years sitting in the sun will create the bleached out fading found all over this gorgeous beast.
I think it's the main reason to buy it.
I was thinking about machine polishing the coachwork but I've decided to leave it exactly as it is.
The owner of the bodyshop bought 3 new, late, supportive black seats.
Two have been fitted.
One is ready to be fitted if required.
They are all brand new and unmarked.
There's a full set of "hoops" with with car.
This means it will support a full canvas soft top if required.
I've removed the rear section of the hoops and left the front section in place.
This means we can fit a brand new, khaki, bikini soft top.
I think this looks dead good and it's also very useful.
I have removed both door tops as I prefer the look.
They are both in good condition and come with the car.
Whilst I like to drive Series Landys with the front screen folded forward, having a token soft top keeping us dry and less battered by the wind isn't such a bad idea.
The unused section of the hoops comes with the car.
Next step for my consideration was the wheels and tyres.
Being a massive fan of Cool&Vintage from Lisbon I was very keen to buy a set of ET0 Wolf rims and 235/ 16 tyres.
They look very cool indeed.
However, I've asked several (aesthetically aware) people what they think about the painted steel wheels and tyres that the truck arrived with and they all say they love how they complement the patinated bodywork.
So I've left things "as is".
Thankfully the bodyshop I bought the truck from saw the potential and appreciated just how rare it is to find patina this good, so they jumped in at the deep end...
They took the bodywork off the old chassis and fitted a brand new, galvanised chassis.
While they were at it they fitted a brand new exhaust system.
And new brakes pipes and brakes. Unique opportunity to buy the best looking Series 3 on the market.
Quintessentially cool with perfect patina, galvanised chassis, new seats, new exhaust, low miles, low owners and the unburstable diesel engine.
Huge fun to drive.
Excellent value.
This is a private sale.
Not trade.
V5 is in my name at my address.
Tax free.
MOT free.
Very cheap to insure.
