Chassis No.: 26101893

Engine No.: 24123784A

Registration: KSL 915

Sold £21,280 | Sold

In the aftermath of the Second World War, Rover's chief engineer Maurice Wilks used a ‘demobbed' Willys Jeep around his farm in Anglesey and was impressed with its abilities. Eventually, it wore out and he was keen to replace it with a British vehicle. However, nothing remotely similar was available. Coincidentally, his brother Spencer, who was Managing Director at Rover, had reached the same conclusion as he struggled to get his Rover 10 to reach the more inaccessible parts of his estate on Islay.

This is where `The Best 4x4 by Far' started - a utility vehicle devised in 1947, they would have no idea that Maurice's resulting design would become an icon and launch a whole new industry sector. The vehicle appeared as the 'Land Rover' in 1948 and proved so popular with the military and the farming fraternity that demand massively outstripped supply. Produced in 1951 and originally issued to the Armed Forces in 1952, this Land Rover was released to private hands in 1960 and first registered in 1963. All of which is documented in a detailed summary of its history, accompanied by a full photo album of its restoration which took place in 2007.

The restoration, described as extensive and expansive, was carried out by The County Workshops – a father and son run Land Rover specialist. Since the restoration the car has weathered and developed a fabulous Land Rover patina while still retaining new seat pads. The file for this Land Rover contains a V5C registration document and bills and receipts, coupled with an MoT test certificate until February 2023. In classic Land Rover Green with an authentic patina, the canvas covers are also in good order. This Land Rover Series I is a fine example and given the values achieved by recent sales of similar models, appears to be extremely well estimated.

https://www.historics.co.uk/auction/lot/?lot=4958&au=80