1949 Land Rover Series 1

In May 1949 Rover received the first major order from the Ministry of Supply for 1,878 Land Rovers for use by the British military. 

Production began in August 1949, with each vehicle being assigned a War Department registration number in the range beginning '00BC01' and ending '18BC78'. 

This exceptional vehicle has the very rare and special distinction of being one of that very first batch of military Land Rovers delivered. 

It has been extensively, expertly and expensively restored to original specification, and has retained many original components, including the engine, gearbox and axles.

A 1950 model, the Land Rover offered here was completed in December 1949 as part of that first contract and registered as '12BC68'. 

It served for a little over ten years before being decommissioned and sold off in 1963, when it was registered for civilian use in Birkenhead and led an apparently normal working life in that area for the next 20 years.

In the early 1980s the vehicle passed into the hands of a member of the Land Rover Series 1 Club as a good solid runabout, albeit one that had by then suffered the indignity of being brush-painted in 1970’s brown and cream fence paint. 

Taken off the road in the late 1980s, it was subsequently treated to an extensive restoration to original specification. The chassis was shot blasted and repaired, and the bodywork was repaired and renewed where required. All aluminium was chemically stripped. 

Mechanically, the block was rebuilt, the cylinder head was acid cleaned and tested, and new pistons and values were fitted along with cam shafts. The gearbox was acid cleaned, rebuilt with new seals and bearings, and the clutch was renewed. A new fuel tank, fuel pump and pipes were installed. 

The radiator was re-cored, and new hoses and clips were fitted. The (Girling) brakes were renewed with new hoses and pipes. The steering was given new track rod ends, and a refurbished steering relay, steering box, steering wheel and chrome swivels. 

The vehicle you see today is finished in the correct factory Bronze Green exterior colour with an interior re-trim in correct matching green vinyl. The speedometer was changed and zeroed at the time of the restoration which was completed in 2020. 

The vendor bought the vehicle at the September 2023 Bonhams Beaulieu Sale. 

He spent over £1,000 on recommissioning, servicing, tuning and general fettling and tweaking in December 2023, and no aspect of the car’s condition has materially changed since then.

The vehicle presents extremely well from every angle and is a tribute to the skills of both the people who built it…and those who restored it.

The bodywork is free of any dinks, dents, creases, folds or ripples of any consequence and the Bronze Green paintwork has an impressive depth of lustre and shine wherever you look.

The panels are smooth and even, and the gaps and shut-lines are crisp and consistent.

The wheels (all five of them) are in very good order, as are the tyres.

The canvas is in exemplary condition and fits snugly without any unsightly creases. 

All exterior fixtures and fittings look to be both in excellent order and entirely period-correct.

The good news continues unabated on the inside, where everything looks to be true, authentic and in commendably impressive condition. 

The green vinyl seat covers are untroubled either by use or time.

The Jaeger dials and instruments are clear, legible and functional. 

The steering wheel, handbrake and gear levers are all in irreproachably fine fettle, as is the green paint work, front and back.

We didn’t tweak every lever, press every knob or flick every switch but we’ve no reason whatsoever to doubt their functionality or efficacy.  

The engine bay is clean, shiny, dry and tidy. 

The vehicle’s undersides look as good as new and appear to be possessed of a great deal of structural integrity.

The vehicle comes with various bills, receipts and invoices covering work done before, during and after the restoration – we will upload the documents as and when they become available to us.

The vehicle has a clear HPI check.

This remarkable 'Landy' is pretty much in a class of its own in terms of military provenance, quality, originality and integrity.

It has just completed the first 75 years of its life. 

We think it’ll out-live all of us and still be going strong in 2099 and beyond. 

We are happy to offer this important vehicle for auction with an estimate in the range of £35,000 - £40,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.