1967 Land Rover Series 2A 109" Fire Engine

Delivered to Brighton Fire Brigade on the 7th of March 1967, this wonderful Land Rover 109” ‘Firefly’ served for 22 years as a restricted access fire appliance in the Old Lanes area and marina, putting out small fires in the sort of tight places a conventional appliance couldn’t go. Its four-wheel-drive ability also saw it serve as a first response vehicle to cliff rescues as far away as Newhaven, a role it excelled in.

It was retired in 1988 at 31,777 miles, at which point it was purchased by the vendor’s father, who served with the vehicle when it was operational, and has remained in the family ever since. Now owned by his son (who served with it too!), it was repainted only a few years ago and is fully equipped with all of its ladders, hoses, and other equipment, so is still fully operational and how the father and son remember it.

Wonderfully, it also comes with its original registration, which shows that someone in the purchasing department of Brighton Fire Brigade had a sense of humour as it is a nice triple nine number. Only for sale because its owner is thinning his collection (“it hasn’t been used for a couple of years and I’d hate to see it continue sitting there”) it’s being offered with a very sensible reserve.

The Land Rover was resprayed in 2008 by Horseman Commercial (slide #297) at a cost of £1,645. This work followed a chassis restoration in 2005 (#298). As you can see from the photos, the work – and ensuing curation – has left the vehicle looking superb; few vehicles look better than a Land Rover with a purpose and this one combines decades of dutiful service with a show-winning presentation. It really is rather lovely and a credit to Brighton Fire Brigade and its subsequent family owners.

HCB Angus supplied and fitted the custom rear bodywork. Based just along the coat in Totton, Southampton, they produced more than 6,500 fire appliances in their lifetime, so the conversion you see here is both top-notch and well-proven.

With twin side lockers for the RRI Flex canvas fire hoses, the 300 gallon-per-hour pump and associated gauges are slotted neatly underneath and accessed via a door on the nearside. There’s a simple sight gauge to show you how much water you’ve got left although at full chat the 60-gallon tank will be empty in short order…

The rear load area hasn’t been neglected as it is stuffed to the gunnels with all sorts of rescue equipment including blankets, personal protective equipment, searchlights, the water tank, a spare wheel, hand-held fire extinguishers, spares, and extra seating.

There’s a proper capstan winch up front too (none of your lightweight 12-volt malarkey here…) plus a heavy duty towbar at the back. A blue light of course, plus two tones on the top of the cab. This is the antithesis of a Halfords-special; everything on here is fit for purpose and only there if it contributes to its core role of putting out fires and saving lives.

There is a nod to the vehicle’s past in the form of wooden coat of arms and nameplate on the doors.

The red steel wheels are fitted with a matching set of four Runway Enduro A/T tyres, all of which have good tread. There’s a spare wheel in the back, too.

Work to do? Nothing. Nada. Rien.

The interior takes the word ‘purposeful’ to a whole new level; with Dynataped switches galore plus an array of additional instrumentation, it’s still every inch the working vehicle it was for so long.

There’s a genuine ‘Hazardous Loads’ book in a fabric sleeve too, plus a switch for the ignition; keys get lost and you can’t have someone dying because they can’t find the key, can you?

Of course, it also has the usual Land Rover accoutrements including four levers sprouting from the floor and analogue air-conditioning in the form of two opening flaps above the bonnet line.

The three front seats are flat and unyielding. Covered in black vinyl, they’re slippery and going to be as hot as hell in the summer and uncomfortably cold in the winter. OK, yes, they are in an unusually good condition but you’d better hang on tight if you’re cornering in a hurry because the only lateral support you’ll be getting is from the fire fighter sitting next to you and the doors - and no, there are no door cards to soften the impact of the painted metal either. The carpet is a simple rubber mat.

It is, therefore, an intimidating place but then it was never designed to make clueless civilians feel at home; if soft-touch fabrics and a coordinating colour palette is your thing then, with respect, this isn’t for you.

Work to do is minor. If you were to fit three new door seals then we could do nothing but commend you. Other than that, you should really leave it as it is. No, really, just leave it alone. Okay?

It received repairs to the exhaust system in March in 2019, at which time Hortisurve Ltd also replaced the fan and alternator drive belts, set the points, and fettled the air cleaner hose.

The work in 2008 also saw the brake system refurbished, and the years since then have seen many other parts replaced. Please take the time to browse the history to see how well maintained it has been – and note the handwritten service record (#333-336) as well as a copy of its inventory (#337 and #338); this was clearly a much-loved member of the firefighting community.

It’s running beautifully, and ticks over nicely. The two-and-a-quarter petrol engine is an absolute gem; it might not be the most powerful engine of its size but it’s sewing machine-smooth and far nicer to drive and own than a diesel.

It also drives as it should, but then with less than 40,000 miles on the clock, it’s probably got another quarter of a million miles in it yet.

The engine bay is workmanlike rather than concours, but that’s okay because few concours vehicles have the distinguished past of this Firefly.

Oh, and it also has a 60-gallon water tank that can be emptied via a genuine fire hose and a 300gpm pump. There a two-piece aluminium ladder too, plus lights and a two tone.

The underside is solid and in need of nothing. But then you’d guessed that by now, hadn’t you?

The Land Rover doesn’t have a current MOT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MOT’d at the earliest. The cost of an MOT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the vehicles condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

And yet, even though its last MOT expired in July 2017, its record is almost unblemished – but then what would you expect of a vehicle upon which people’s lives depended? The mileage also stacks up too, which – again – isn’t surprising given that it would have spent most of its life asleep waiting to be called upon to work. (Anyone suggesting the same is true of fire fighters is a very naughty boy indeed.)

It also comes with a potted history of the vehicle and plenty of expired MOT certificates and tax discs. The recent Vehicle History Check shows nothing of note.

Everyone loves an old Land Rover because, like the family’s elderly border terrier, while they might be a bit smelly and cantankerous they’re long-standing members of the family which means you’re prepared to forgive them their foibles.

They’re faithful and reliable, too; while most modern cars won’t tolerate standing for weeks at a time without flattening their battery, a Landy can sit in a corner for months ready to spring into life at the turn of a key. This makes them ideal for anyone with a need to keep mobile in the foulest of conditions in between displaying it off at their local classic car show.

This popularity is starting to be reflected in their price, too. While you used to be able to pick a scruffy Land Rover up for a few hundred pounds, we’re starting to see even barn-finds going for silly money, which makes our guide price of £12,000 and £17,000 for this fully operational, restored example look like spectacular value.

Especially as this is a genuine working fire appliance, one that’s served the community faithfully for more than two decades. It would make a great centerpiece of a collection, or as a promotional vehicle for your company.

Of course, if the special someone in your life has a bit of a thing for fire fighters, then this would be the ultimate way to make their fantasy come true…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.