1980 Land Rover Series 3

This is a pleasingly honest and usable example of the desirable 88in soft-top Series III.

It’s powered by a rebuilt 2.25-litre Rover petrol, offering the best balance of drivability, economy and period character, and it’s been recently painted in the beautifully distinctive shade of Pastel Green. Being a soft-top, the windscreen folds forward – perfect for summer greenlaning.

The Land Rover’s first career was with the military. After being demobbed it served as a coastguard vehicle, and from there it went to a private owner who had both the engine and gearbox rebuilt before the current owner bought it last year.

The current owner embarked on a mainly cosmetic overhaul in partnership with his 11-year-old son, having found the mechanicals to be in excellent condition and much better than the shabby Bronze Green bodywork. This was their third project together. “I’ve owned a few Land Rovers, and mechanically this is probably the best I’ve had,” the seller tells us. “There aren’t any major leaks – just the kind of minor seeping that you’ll always find with an old Land Rover – and the brakes are unbelievably strong.”

Please zoom into our high-res photos to get a feel for the paintwork. It’s fresh-looking, smart from a few feet away and you’ll struggle to find any scratches, but there are corners where flakes of the previous layer can be seen.

The wheels are all extremely smart, thanks to the recent blasting and powdercoat in the correct Limestone colour, plus recent dustcaps and black-painted hub flanges. The wheels are fitted with period-looking Deestone 6.00 tyres which loosely evoke the old Firestone SATs.

As for dents or wonky panels, there’s very little to fault. This is good bodywork that has been assembled and aligned with care.

“We tried to keep as many of the original parts as possible,” says the seller. “The canvas hood is brand new, but all the exterior parts are original, including the galvanised cappings and the hood sticks. We tried to aim for a cross between a nice pristine restoration and something that would be more usable.”

You will find a little patina around the galvanised cappings – arguably more attractive than the bright finish that comes with fresh galvanising.

A tow bar and towing electrics are fitted, giving an extra dose of versatility, and lifting eyes are attached to the front dumb-irons – a military-spec upgrade that’s useful for vehicle recovery. They sit either side of the period-style numberplate, mounted atop a new-looking bumper (the original military one would probably have been painted).

There’s basic squab seating for seven friends, with lap belts in the front that appear to be brand new, and all the seat vinyl is intact. The recent respray included the interior, which is largely free of serious dents, and the rear has a new rubber floor mat.

The current owner has done a smart job of retrimming the dash with new leather. It’s not quite an original finish (replacement Series III vinyl dashes have become extremely expensive) but it’s arguably nicer to live with. The dash also houses a period ammeter, but the Lucas switch for the panel lights next to the instrument binnacle is missing.

The pedals and footwells are recently painted, and fresh rubber gaiters and pedal rubbers are fitted. There are cosmetic signs of rust in the driver’s footwell – something to keep an eye on, but we understand that this remains structurally sound.

The door frames are mostly excellent, so they have probably been replaced at some point, and the rubber seals are also recent. You will see some corrosion to the inner steel frame of the bonnet – a ubiquitous problem, and this example is better than many.

The engine bay is smart, free from modern extras, and the painted engine – complete with colour-matched inlet manifold, sump, and ancillaries, with intact paint around all the bolts – suggests that the engine has required no major intervention since its professional rebuild. Fuelling is via an original Zenith 36IV carburettor, correct for the period, with the words ‘British made’ signifying that it isn’t a modern copy.

You’ll find no major oil leaks underneath, and minimal accumulation of greasy muck. It’s not spotless, but clearly a lot of time has been spent making this Land Rover ship shape,

The chassis and bulkhead are in very strong condition throughout. They are both understood to be non-galvanised, and the chassis received some welding prior to the current owner’s tenure (some evidence of that can be seen in our photos).

Parabolic springs are fitted all round, in place of the original leaf springs. They’re a subtle but sensible upgrade for a Land Rover that’s going to be used properly, giving much better ride quality as well as more axle articulation off-road. Bump stops and check straps are all present and correct.

The brake pipes are extremely tidy, and close inspection will reveal some recent parts – including the speedo cable and a stainless steel rear exhaust box. The smartness of the axles, together with rust-free condition of the chrome swivels, suggests that they have previously been rebuilt, perhaps along with the engine and gearbox, although we cannot confirm when this work may have been done.

The owner tells us that when he bought this Land Rover last year, it had only covered 1500-2000 miles since its engine and gearbox were rebuilt. The indicated mileage is now 61,762.

A few receipts accompany the vehicle, but not many. Obviously little is known of the vehicle’s history during its MOD years but clearly much work has been done to it since then.

The chassis prefix (before the serial number) is correct for a 1980 Solihull-built RHD soft-top 88in with 2.25-litre petrol engine, confirming that underneath its civilian appearance this Land Rover is still in its original guise.

We are told by the seller that it will have a new MoT by the time of sale.

If you’re after a smart Series Land Rover for playful weekends, this could be just the ticket. It’s MoT-exempt, however, the current owner will be obtaining an MOT prior to the collection of the vehicle.

There are plenty of minor details here that point towards a thoroughness of the build – from the covers on the chains for the rear tailgate to the new check straps.

Newcomers to the old Land Rover ‘experience’ would be wise to select a late example just like this, with its gently upgraded spec that will noticeably improve its drivability without sacrificing its period character.

We estimate that it will sell for between £18,000-£22,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in London. 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’.