1970 Land Rover Series 2A

Our example hails from 1970, by coincidence, so would have been one amongst 60,000 others to find homes that year. Surely not too many from that year can present as well as this one does today, with a condition that belies its 52-year history.

Not too much is known about our Land Rover’s early history other than it was, and remains, an 88” short wheelbase 2.25 litre petrol example. The 2.25 litre petrol engine made its debut in the Series II Land Rover of 1958 and very quickly became the stalwart of the range despite a 2.25 litre diesel and a 2.6 litre 6-cylinder petrol engine joining the fray during the IIA’s production run.

Current owner, Philip, is a dyed-in-the-wool Land Rover enthusiast. “I’ve just acquired a Series I and I have a couple of Defenders in various states of restoration” confesses Philip. Acquired by him in 2018, this IIA became an opportune lock-down project. “I started working on it in late 2018 but progress was slow due to other commitments” says Philip. When the various lockdowns arrived this afforded Philip the time to make more rapid progress.

“I’ve always been a hands-on Land Rover owner,” says Philip. “If there’s anything I can’t handle my son is an agricultural engineer, so I call him in when needed.” Between them Philip and his son have done an impressively thorough job on this IIA. There is very little on this vehicle that hasn’t been recommissioned, replaced, or refurbished.

Finished in Land Rover Bronze Green this IIA looks like it could have rolled out of Solihull just days ago. The thought, effort and skill expended on this Land Rover is admirable. The longer you look at it the more period-correct details you notice.

First off is the truck cab roof which, like just about everything on a Series, is easily removeable if required. The roof consists of a rear panel featuring a sliding rear window and curved quarter-lights. This section is finished in Bronze Green. The roof panel bolts into the rear panel and screen top and is finished in contrasting Limestone.

A “razor edged” bonnet is fitted complete with a spare wheel mounting bracket. The rarely retained round mirrors are present and mounted on the extremities of the wings, making them truly “wing-mirrors.” Mesh light guards are fitted over the headlamps and tie in nicely with the familiar IIA mesh radiator grill. The load bay is protected by a new, high quality canvas hood with taped seams for optimum weatherproofing. A hinged tail gate is fitted and located with galvanised drop lock latches.

The steel wheels are finished in Limestone having been fully media-blasted back to bare metal and diligently repainted. A matching set of new off-road BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A tyres are fitted. Generous, and very useful, Land Rover rubber mud flaps are fitted at the rear.

It is no accident that this IIA looks so good, of course. Philip has diligently replaced and repainted to deliver this level of quality. Top and bottom door panels and the front galvanised bumper are amongst the many exterior components replaced during the project.

By now it will come as no surprise to see that the interior is no less of a tour-de-force than the exterior. Despite the Series IIA having an interior entirely appropriate for a 1970 utility vehicle, there is much to enjoy and appreciate in here, nonetheless.

The Series signature three-abreast seats are a set of new “deluxe” articles. The seat bases can be easily removed to access storage lockers and some mechanical components. The central instrument binnacle houses the familiar, white-on-black Jaeger gauge set.

The other controls consist of the Bakelite, three-spoke steering wheel, the charmingly dog-legged gear lever, the red-topped range selector lever, and the yellow topped four-wheel drive selector. Philip has fully attended to those Series Achilles heels of footwells and bulkhead. The bulkhead and footwell panel was media blasted then galvanised by Classic Bulkheads of Birmingham. The sliding windows feature window locks and new door lock mechanisms have been fitted.

The rear cabin features twin folding passenger benches with removeable vinyl cushions. A spare wheel mounting is present on the tub’s rear bulkhead. A new tub floor panel has been fitted.

Much like the rest of this Series IIA, this interior has been thoroughly scrutinised by Philip’s forensic eye for detail. Anything and everything that he considered worn or below standard has been replaced, restored, or recommissioned. It is very hard to fault in here.

Philip has found no need to undertake a full rebuild of the robust and long-lasting 2.25 litre petrol engine. However, he has undertaken some well-chosen upgrades and replacements to help ensure longevity and usability. These include a new water pump and radiator, new Webber type 34 carburettor, electronic ignition, uprated coil and new clutch and brake master cylinders. Moving backwards, a new clutch is in situ and the gearbox and transfer box has undergone a full £1,500 rebuild courtesy of specialists Whitehouse & Son.

The underside of the Land Rover is a bit of a revelation for a 52-year-old mud plugger! First and foremost, there is a new galvanised chassis in evidence supplied by Davey Chassis in Bristol. There is so much else under here that is new or improved that space prevents us listing it all. The highlights, however, include a new exhaust, parabolic springs front and rear, new Munroe shocks, brake lines, prop shafts, swivels and housings, brakes, hubs……….and breathe!

Given the amount of work expended on this Land Rover, it is no surprise that it comes with a significant depth and breadth of provenance providing paperwork. Much of this archive consists of invoices and parts manifests from various specialist suppliers that span the period of the restoration.

The current V5 is on hand and is in Philip’s son's name. The Series IIA is registered as an historic vehicle and hence is understood to be MOT and VED exempt.

Back in the day there were plenty of unkind jokes about Land Rover panel gaps and what they had in common with the Great Wall of China. What those jokes missed, of course, was that a Series Land Rover was designed to be easily dismantled, in a muddy field or battlefield, with some very basic tools. That underlying ethos, that could be traced back to Wilks, made it almost impossible to deliver the bank-vault-esque shut lines that are so admired today.

Take a look at this example, however. We don’t remember the IIA’s panel gaps being so good back in the 70’s. The fact that Philip seems to have exceeded the original factory specification in this regard speaks volumes and sets the tone for the rest of this sublime example and the quality of the restoration.

With many in the know considering the IIA the quintessential Series Land Rover and with the prices of Series I’s becoming unattainable for many reflects very favourably on this fine example. It’s a popular vintage with many people encountering the Land Rover for the first time in IIA form.

Not only is this likely to be a decent investment given the market dynamics already mentioned, but this Land Rover remains an eminently useable and practical vehicle to regularly use and enjoy. Thanks to Philip, this is likely to be one 52-year-old Land Rover that still has many productive and enjoyment giving years ahead of it.

We estimate this vehicle to fetch between £15,000 - £20,000 in auction.

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’.