Description
1949 Land Rover Series 1 – Extremely Rare & Highly Original Example
A very special 1949 Series 1 Land Rover, featuring the sought-after lights behind the grille, and presented with an exceptional collection of period-correct accessories and equipment.
This Land Rover has been 10 years in the restoration, with great attention paid to originality, correct period specification and sourcing the rare extras that make this vehicle particularly special.
It retains its original chassis with the chassis number still stamped into it, adding considerable authenticity and provenance.
Period-correct equipment & rare features
• Complete set of wire-top doors, included with the sale
• Period-correct front winch
• Period-correct rear pulley
• Extremely rare period-correct governor, making the rear pulley fully usable
• Governor took 6 years to source and is complete with the correct linkages and throttle
• Correct period heater
• Rear tub LED downlighting for rear passengers
• Period map light
• New hood and rear bulkhead canvas supplied by Exmoor Trim
Engine
The engine has been fully restored by Hamlins of Bridgwater, at a cost of approximately £4, 000.
This is a particularly rare opportunity to acquire a Series 1 that has not only been restored, but has also been fitted with a remarkable collection of hard-to-find, period-correct equipment.
The combination of its 1949 specification, lights-behind-the-grille front end, original chassis and chassis number, rare governor, winch, rear pulley and extensive period accessories makes this a genuinely unusual Series 1.
A restoration spanning 10 years, with some components taking years alone to source.
A very rare Land Rover in this condition, with all the extras.
Thanks for looking.
I bought this Land Rover because I’ve always had a real passion for the early Series 1s, and this particular 1949 example stood out immediately. There is something very special about the early Land Rovers — they are incredibly simple, purposeful machines, and this one has the character and authenticity that is becoming increasingly difficult to find.
What really attracted me was the combination of its original chassis and stamped chassis number, the 1949 specification and, particularly, the lights behind the grille. It also had the potential to become something genuinely exceptional because of the rare period-correct equipment that I was able to source for it.
The restoration took around 10 years, and I spent a great deal of that time tracking down the correct parts rather than simply fitting modern alternatives. The rare period governor is probably the best example of this. It took me six years to source, and it is complete with the correct linkages and throttle, meaning the original-style rear pulley can actually be used as intended.
For me, that is what makes this Land Rover unique. It isn't just a restored Series 1 — it is a very carefully put-together example with an unusual collection of genuine, period-correct accessories and details. The winch, rear pulley, governor, wire-top doors, correct heater and period lighting all add to its character.
It has also been properly enjoyed by our family over the years. It has been used for family dog walks, taken out to collect our Christmas tree every year, and enjoyed at various Land Rover rallies and events. Those are some of the things that have made owning it so enjoyable — it has been part of family life rather than simply sitting in a garage as a collector's piece.
My favourite thing about it is probably the way it looks with the lights behind the grille. It has that unmistakable early Series 1 appearance, but knowing how long it took to source some of the parts and how much time went into getting everything right makes it even more special to me.
It is a Land Rover that has been restored because of a genuine love for the vehicle and its history, but it has also been used and enjoyed exactly as a Land Rover should be. I think that combination of authenticity, rarity, attention to detail and family history is what makes this one particularly special.
