10 years after the first Land Rover left the production line, the Rover car company decided that their innovative off-roader was in need of some upgrades. The result was aptly named the Series 2 and was the first Land Rover to incorporate the 2.25-litre engine that would serve the marque in various iterations until 1984.

This very early example dates from 1958, making it considerably rarer than Series 2As which made up the majority of S2 production. It has undergone restoration work over a period of 12 years by the current owner and while it has been off the road for the past 4 years, it is a fine example that should be fairly straightforward  to recommission. 

Having been repainted in Bronze Green inside and out, the interior of this Land Rover is very smart. The spartan metal dashboard has clearly been painted well, displaying no signs of corrosion that we could see. What few gauges there are appear to be in good order and still have clear fascias.

Grey ribbed carpeting has been applied to the bulkhead and a similar grey cloth has been used to upholster the cab roof. We understand that this acts as soundproofing and it certainly makes the Series 2’s utilitarian interior a more comfortable environment. A stereo has also been installed above the windscreen, with speakers mounted inside the roof.

The seats front and rear are seemingly in good condition, with no rips or tears we could see. The central front seat has been replaced by a cubby box, giving this Land Rover a storage area that standard models didn’t have.

In the rear, there is some blue ribbed carpeting and a spare wheel secured to the bulkhead behind the front seats. The rear door also has a Campingaz stove and grill fitted to the inside, complete with a gas pipe and regulator.

The first Land Rover developed with any input from Rover’s styling department, the Series 2 was styled by David Bache who gave the car distinctive ‘barrel side’ waistline which would continue to be a prominent Land Rover design feature until the original Defender ceased production in 2016.

This Series 2 benefits from having been painted in the past, now wearing a coat of Land Rover’s iconic Bronze Green paint. The vendor describes the paint finish as ‘fair’, which we wholeheartedly agree with. While there are numerous blemishes around the vehicle, it is remarkably straight for an aluminium-bodied Land Rover - especially one of this vintage. All of this Land Rover’s formerly galvanised cappings are now finished in body colour, and this appears to have been done to a high standard. The front bumper has also been painted black which matches the remainder of the chassis. 

The owner informs us that a new bulkhead has been fitted as these are susceptible to corrosion. We also observe that elongated door mirrors have been fitted, although the nearside item has a crack in the glass.

Underneath, this Land Rover appears to be in really good order, with no evidence of corrosion besides a smattering of surface rust here and there that we could see. Evidently, this Land Rover is also equipped with a tow bar and the necessary electrics.

It sits upon smart black steel wheels and the vendor reports that the tyres are new. We understand that the car is supplied with two spare wheels.

We are informed the original engine has been replaced, although a 2.25-litre petrol unit still sits under the bonnet on this Series 2. 

The vendor reports that the engine is a rebuilt 5 main bearing example from a later Land Rover. These engines were renowned for their strength and slightly enhanced performance. This example runs well and although this Land Rover is fairly pedestrian compared to most cars on today’s roads, it outperforms many other Land Rovers of a similar vintage owing to its Fairey overdrive, effectively giving this Series 2 a further gear.

Due to a change in circumstances, the car has been off the road for the past 4 years and therefore, the vendor advises that some reconditioning work to features such as the brakes may be in order.

Having been subject to a great deal of work over the years, this Series 2 Land Rover is a really smart example that would make a great addition to any driveway.

These old Land Rover’s are amongst the most characterful classics out there and we’re sure this Series 2 will find a new owner who will adore it as much as the current one has.