Highlights
- Exceptionally rare ex-Royal Marines water wolf
- Believed to be one of fewer than 50 built
- Built to survive temperatures of -46ºC and water depths of 1.5 metres
- Strengthened chassis, specialist axles and suspension
- Special version of the Land Rover 300Tdi engine
The Appeal
Introduced in 1994, and based on the Land Rover Defender, the ‘Wolf’ is the definition of military hardware. Engineered for durability and reliability, with very little eye for comfort, these utility vehicles are a common sight in most military occupations, often going where the American military Humvees couldn’t.
The Winter Water Wolf is a specialised iteration of these - a rugged motor that’s built as a landing craft, capable of carrying personell through extreme temperatures and over 1.5 metres of water. Built in 1998, this one was in military service until around 2015, when it was decommissioned.
These vehicles were usually shipped from one exercise to the next, used strictly for these shuttling motions, and as a result rarely racked up much in the way of mileage. Their exact usage and movements have been classified and scrubbed - so we can’t tell you exactly where this example has been, or what it’s done, but we can tell you that it’s so scarce that the Land Rover Heritage Collection still doesn’t have an example.
Restored following purchase in 2015, this uniquely versatile utility vehicle is ready to hit the road (or water) with a new owner - a fabulous piece of military history that represents the best of British engineering.
The History and Paperwork
- Built in 1999 for military use
- The vehicle would have been serviced by REME during this period
- While we don’t have specific information, the military has very strict maintenance requirements!
- In service until 2015, when it was decommissioned and acquired by the vendor
- From here it was used a personal and leisure vehicle up until 2020
- The vehicle underwent a full restoration circa 2020, complete with repaint
- The work was carried out by Archimedes Engineering
- This was led by the former service manager of Mann Egerton Land Rover in Kings Lynn, Norfolk
- The vendor informs us this was a complete ground-up rebuild
- The vehicle currently indicates 1,206 Kilometers (749 miles) - due to the scrubbed history this is hard to verify but is believed to be accurate by the MOD auction company and the Vendor
- The vehicle comes with:
- V5C document
- Registration certificate
- Most recent MOT
The Interior
- Rugged, Spartan interior as you’d expect from military hardware
- Full specification matching its days in military service - bar the Marines radio
- Fitted with:
- First aid kit
- Warning beacon
- Fire extinguisher
- Flagpoles
- MOD-issue torch
- Ratchet straps
- Additional under-seat heaters for cold-water operation
- We understand that everything is working exactly as expected
This isn’t a luxury modern Land Rover - it’s a rugged piece of hardware with everything that’s strictly necessary for its duties. The result is that while there are plenty of bits and pieces, and extended climate control, there isn’t a focus on comfort.
The seats are wipe-clean vinyl, the floors are matted in rubber, and the instruments are borne from tactile, heavy-duty plastic. All of this has been fully restored to an exceptional order, with only the gentlest signs of use, no rips of tears, and barely a speck of dirt. It’s basically museum quality.
The rear has taken notes from the Exmoor trim, with benches capable of seating six people. These, similarly, are practically brand new - fully restored to the same excellent standards.
The floor pans are solid and freshly painted, and every hatch, pipe, heater and auxiliary water barrel presents just as well as it would have leaving the factory.
The Exterior
- Thoroughly restored
- NATO drab olive green livery
- Specific features include:
- Shovels on the bonnet
- Side-mounted spare wheels
- Extra-lengthened ‘snorkel’
- Roof rack
- Canvas tilt
- Military-grade tow bar
- Fully stripped, blasted, refurbished and repainted throughout
Highly authentic and beautifully restored, this rugged Wolf is practically pristine. Everything has been stripped, restored and repainted - and it shows in every detail. The boxy proportions are iconic enough, but the vehicle’s exceptional military-specific accoutrements really set it apart.
With every piece of heavy-duty military hardware restored to a high standard, the original steel chassis is in superb condition, as is every body panel, the canvas tilt and the colour-matched wheels. It’s perfectly in line with how the army ordered it.
Underneath, it’s just as remarkable - with not a spot of corrosion or deterioration anywhere in the car’s extra-strength-all-weather underside.
The Mechanics
- Powered by the tried-and-tested 300 TDi engine unit
- 5-speed manual transmission
- Fully rebuilt and refurbished
- Valid MOT until May 2024 with no advisories
- Exceptional condition with no leaks or signs of wear
While newer engines were available when the Water Wolf was ordered, the 300 TDi was the natural choice for the vehicle. Less complicated electronics made it a way better fit for water-wading, and the MOD engineers were well-experienced in it.
Everything here was rebuilt and refurbished, and as a result is simply resplendent. We can see very little sign of use or wear to this remarkable vehicle’s turbocharged diesel, which we understand to be in remarkable working order.
Thanks to its regimented military pedigree, and that remarkable restoration, you’ll get no surprises - just a remarkable, rugged runner that’s ready and waiting for adventures with its new owner.
Summary
Simply impeccable - this is likely to be the only opportunity you get to take on this piece of rare military hardware. With the extra features, the specialist hardware and that extreme-weather spec, we’re sure this will turn plenty of heads on the road - and impress even the most discerning Land Rover enthusiast.
Don’t let it pass you by - after all, it could escape you through water, desert, land and the Arctic…
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
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