1984 Land Rover Series III 88"

This lovely 88” soft-top Land Rover is a delightful old thing. Reeking of Old World charm yet boasting an impressive advisory-free MoT that suggests the odometer reading of 41,000 miles might be genuine.

In the care of the vendor since July 2021, only a knee operation forces its sale, a sale that’s doubly sad because he’s lavished a fair sum on it in the past three years including the fitment of an expensive Canadian-built Roamerdrive overdrive.

All-in-all, this is a charming example of the breed that could be loved and used as it is, or bought as a canvas for its new owner to wrought whatever changes and improvements they see fit.

The fit of the panels is Land Rover-authentic, and while the green paintwork could never be called pristine, it’s presentable and most would be very happy to leave it as it is.

A set of headlamp guards and a radiator muff hint at the Landy’s all-terrain, all-season work ethic, while a galvanized steel front bumper does double-duty as both icon and protection.

The tan soft-top, which is in great shape, was already in place when the seller bought it. He, like you, was attracted both by its condition, which is free of rips, tears, and other damage.

Versatile, too because it offers a choice of how it’s utilized; it could be left fully up, taken completely off, or rolled-up in various configurations depending on the weather and what the vehicle is being used for.

The 16-inch Limestone steel wheels aren’t only in great shape, they’re also fitted with a matching set of Deestone Extra Traction tyres. In a 7.50-16 size, they’ve got a greater depth than anything this side of the Mariana Trench and could claw their way up Ben Nevis.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Of course, it’s also fitted with a towbar.

As for flaws, there is some rust on the bulkhead, door pillars, and front panel, which will need some investigation.

But, the patina on the paint is less of an issue; with some lifting paint plus a few scratches, scuffs, and dents, few vehicles wear their working lives more lightly than a Land Rover so the amount of work you’re facing will vary from nothing upwards depending on your attitude towards a working patina.

While the outside might be slightly worn, the inside looks fresh and inviting. The three-abreast seats, for example, are almost unmarked and still firm and well-padded.

The black vinyl covering on the outer two is undamaged and a pair of headrests provide extra passive safety in the event of a bump, while their bolstered shape provides useful lateral support, something the originals lacked.

The low-backed centre seat looks like the original in both design and condition, and a pair of simple bench seats in the rear allow you to juggle passenger capacity with load-hauling depending on what you’re up to.

The usual floor-mounted levers are joined by another for the overdrive. The Roamerdrive overdrive provides a 28% reduction in engine revs at speed, benefiting both fuel consumption and civility.

Good rubber mats cover the floor and add a little more soundproofing as well as protection.

Like the Mini, the lack of a window winding mechanism and door cards allows for greater room than would otherwise be the case. It’s a simple design but an effective one – and you don’t miss what you’ve never had, do you?

In fact, the combination of a patinated exterior with a more civilised interior is a beguiling one; you get all the street-cred of driving a working vehicle plus a greater degree of comfort than you might have expected.

The engine bay is as workmanlike as the rest of the vehicle.

The naturally aspirated diesel engine might not be the last word in power but it’ll keep going forever with only routine servicing, which is more important than winning any traffic light Grand Prix, surely? We’ve taken it for a short test drive and found it drives as it should, something the seller confirms to be the case.

The underside has clearly had some welding in its past, something the MoT history seems to confirm. The chassis and underfloor areas are well protected by underseal.

We do note a few leaks, including from the swivel joints.

The Series 3’s MoT certificate is valid until October 2023. Wonderfully, it was gained with no advisories, which isn’t something you get to write about a 40-year-old Land Rover very often.

Sadly , apart from its book pack, V5 registration document, some old MoT certificates, and one invoice, there is little history file with the Land Rover, so you’ll need to base your bids on its condition rather than being able to lean on a paper trail to help guide you.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and it comes with two keys.

If you enjoy sipping a hot drink from the comfort of your heated seats while driving to work (remember when we used to travel to get to work?) on a frosty winter morning then this ain’t the vehicle for you. Not only does it lack heated seats, it doesn’t even have a cupholder to hold your soya-milk latte…

And yet, if you don’t mind going Old School then running a Series Landy holds many delights, not least of which is that they can be left sitting for months at a time without worry; all you do is jump in, pump the throttle a couple of times and it’s almost certain to fire into life. This makes them ideal for folk who want an occasional classic for beach barbeques, a spot of muddy fun, fetching logs, or just to keep mobile in the snow.

It is also enormous fun to drive, drawing crowds wherever it goes; we’re all becoming used to a near-constant stream of bad news, so the value of having a vehicle in your life that never fails to lift your mood and bring a smile to your face cannot be under-estimated.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located 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’.