1959 Land Rover Series II 109″ Station Wagon (Chassis No6) – Auction Car of the Week

A far cry from the original Series I, as well as the Series II and III, Land Rover today is a global luxury brand, often mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley. And that’s quite remarkable when you consider how the original design was about as opposed to any definition of “luxury” as you could possibly imagine, even by the standards of the time.

Introduced during the challenging early post-war years as a “stop-gap” for the Rover Car Company, the Land Rover was never intended to be a longstanding feature of the range. The irony, of course, is that it would go on to outgrow and, indeed outlive Rover itself.

Inspired by the exceedingly capable Willys Jeep, Rover’s chief designer Maurice Wilks recognised that a go-anywhere, do-anything vehicle was exactly what war-torn Britain needed. Like most motor manufacturers during the War, Rover’s Lode Lane plant in Solihull had been building parts and engines for aircraft and tanks. Consequently, there were no new Rover models ready to go until 1948 and to make matters worse, rationing of materials (including steel) continued. That’s where the Land Rover started to make sense. It was straightforward to build and pioneered the use of lightweight “Birmabright” – an aluminium alloy used in boat and aircraft production. Even ex-RAF “cockpit green” paint was used for the earliest examples. Nothing went to waste.

So where does this rather lovely 1959 Series II fit into the whole story? Well, we believe it played a vital role in Land Rover’s ascension to luxury brand status. Allow us to explain…

After ten years of production, having proved itself on farms, overland expeditions and in military service, the introduction of the “Series II” proved that the Land Rover was here to stay. So much for a post-war “stop-gap”…

But to secure its future, Rover needed to broaden the Land Rover’s demographic, finding people who’d buy it because they wanted it, rather than because they needed it. That meant the Series II would have to appeal on more than off-road capability alone. So, for the first time in Land Rover history, the styling department was ushered in and £240,100 was allocated to the project in a Board meeting of February 1956 – more than 7.5 million in today’s money. Rover’s Chief Stylist, David Bache, embarked upon the redesign, one of evolution rather than revolution that modernised and to some extent refined the original concept.

Deep side skirts hid the chassis and exhaust from the side view and widening the body with the new “barrel sides” would become a Land Rover feature until the original Defender ceased production in 2016. The Series II also gained a much-improved interior, with more comfortable seats and such mod cons as door cards, and a headlining! Silly as it sounds, they were onto something. The Series II was aimed squarely at the landed gentry, whom Rover rightly envisioned would be proud to park such a vehicle outside their country piles. In fact, the earliest indication of the Series II redesign was the one-off 1956 ‘Royal Station Wagon’ – prepared especially, as its name suggests, for the British Royal Family’s use.

Britain’s great estates had first commissioned coachbuilt motorised “shooting brakes” during the 1920s, a period of great popularity for game shooting as well as the rapid advancement of the motor car. By the 1950s, these old Rolls-Royce 20/25s and the like were getting to be rather long in the tooth, so the four-wheel-drive Land Rover was an increasingly attractive proposition. Of course, the whole point of a shooting brake is passenger carrying capacity. It needed to haul a team of guns and all their paraphernalia across rugged open terrain. That’s where the new Land Rover 109” Station Wagon came in handy, with seating for twelve, plus the odd dog, shotguns, ammunition and likely a good deal of claret. It was practically purpose-made for estate work and all aspects of country life. And as an added incentive, the twelve-seater model was classed as a bus in the UK, thus avoiding Purchase Tax and Special Vehicle Tax. It was even permitted to drive in bus lanes!

It’s adoption by the British aristocracy significantly broadened the Land Rover’s appeal. Much like the Barbour jacket or Rolex watch, the Land Rover had a rugged authenticity that made it as at home on the farmyard as the streets of Knightsbridge. According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, “Luxury” can be defined as “something expensive that is pleasant to have but is not necessary”. For most buyers, that’s exactly what a Land Rover was.

In our view, the introduction of the Series II, in particular the Station Wagon versions, undoubtedly marks the point Land Rover’s rise to luxury brand status began. Therefore, Car & Classic is delighted to offer one of the vehicles that started it all.

This is chassis number 161900006 – the 6th Series II 109″ Station Wagon ever made and believed to be the earliest surviving UK market example. It wasn’t road registered until October 1977, and that’s understood to be because it was either a Land Rover demonstrator or bought new by an estate. Either way, it’s reported that this Land Rover likely began life driving around the grounds of one or even several large country houses.

In more recent years, this Series II was sold to someone hoping to use it for ferrying guests around their country hotel. This never came to fruition, so following a period in dry storage, the Land Rover was recommissioned for the road by marque specialists John Brown 4×4 and bought by the present keeper.

As seasoned rivet counters will note from the photographs, there have been a few sympathetic upgrades to the interior, with Exmoor seats with headrests and three-point seat belts, as well as aftermarket matting and carpeting fitted for additional sound deadening. These changes are all reversible and better still, the original components are included in the sale – truly the best of both worlds. Delightful period details include the early style valance with twist style type vent hinges, original horn, original ‘Deluxe’ door cards, original ‘Deluxe’ bench seat, Tropical roof, Clayton round cabin heater and free-wheeling front wheel hubs.

The Land Rover has weathered well over the years, further supporting the belief it’s spent most of its time on estates rather than enduring the hard farming life so many others have. The “Birmabright” bodywork is very straight, considering how it dents as easily as an old biscuit tin, while the original chassis has been cleaned and professionally WaxOyled by John Brown 4×4. Recent work includes the replacement of the rear half shafts to address free play, and the vendor reports sparing usage on dry or semi-dry days with no off-roading during their ownership. We’re assured it starts first time, every time and runs smoothly with no overheating or other known issues to report.

Any Series II is a rare thing – it was only produced from 1958-61 – and as the earliest known surviving UK market example in this specification, this Station Wagon is worthy of any collection.