1950 Land Rover Series One Reborn

We see a lot of Land Rovers arriving at the portals of our Oxfordshire HQ.

Many of the Series I and II models that come our way have been refurbished and restored, and often to very high standards.

The Series I we have with us today is different.

It hasn’t been restored by a couple of knowledgeable Land Rover fans.

Nor has it been worked upon by a handful of gifted enthusiasts.

It has been restored and rebuilt by Land Rover.

The equivalent, if you’ll excuse our somewhat lofty comparison, is like getting Carl Fabergé to repair the eponymous egg your cat knocked off the mantelpiece.

Or commissioning Les Paul to bring your electric guitar back to prime condition.

This car is number 25 of the original 25 cars restored as part of the Land Rover Reborn programme.

The objective of the programme was to create rebuilt cars that were entirely and utterly authentic, down to nut and bolt levels, using the original build plans of the cars and ensuring as-new standards of build and finish across every aspect of the car’s engine, drivetrain, chassis, bodywork and…everything else.

Completed by Land Rover Classic in early 2019 this car is a 1950-specification ‘lights-behind-the-grille’ version of the 80" Series 1 Land Rover.

The customer who commissioned the vehicle requested a few special additions, namely tan leather seats, additional rear bench seating, a cabin heater and a set of rubber mats to protect the painted floors.

Those nods to modernity aside, the car is exactly as specified on its original build sheets.

It is utterly immaculate and a joy to behold, drive or even just contemplate.

Anyone travelling back in time to 1950 would assume that this vehicle had just left the factory, having been lovingly assembled by chaps called Alf and Claude – people who smoked pipes, had pencils and micrometers sticking out of their jacket pockets, enjoyed a pint of mild, and kept allotments somewhere on the leafier outskirts of Solihull.

It is in time-warp condition.

There are no faults with the bodywork and we failed to find any dinks, dents, dimples or creases.

The classic ‘Bronze Green’ paintwork is rich and lustrous. It is also free of any stone chips, scratches or scuffs worthy of a mention.

All of the galvanised ‘brightwork’ is beyond reproach.

The wheels are in pristine condition.

So, too, are the tyres.

The fabric cover is following the same script, as are all of the vehicle’s shackles, clasps, brackets, hinges, handles, fasteners, lights, lenses, grilles and badging.

It’s the same time-warp story of faultlessness on the inside.

Everything (aside from the tan leather seats, additional rear bench seating, cabin heater and rubber mats) is 100% authentic and in wholly irreproachable condition.

It’s all squeaky-clean, minty-fresh and as-new wherever you choose to look.

The seating, front and back, has yet to earn so much as a crease.

The painted surfaces are as pristine as their galvanised counterparts.

All controls, dials, switches, levers and instruments are in first-class order.

It is, literally, as good as new.

With fewer than 600 miles under its various belts since being ‘Reborn’, you shouldn’t be too surprised to learn that everything is clean, solid, sound and in its right and proper place.

We just can’t fault it.

We don’t know what this vehicle was doing between 1950 and 2019.

If we find out in the coming days, we’ll let you know.

What we do know that it became an effectively brand-new Series I Land Rover in 2019.

We’ve described restored Land Rovers as being ‘The Best We’ve Ever Seen’ on several occasions in the past.

And, every time, that’s been an honest opinion and one that held true until a better one presented itself.

Well, a better one than this will never come our way and its only equals are the other ‘Reborn’ cars created by Land Rover themselves.

So, if you want the very best, most authentic example of a Series I anywhere in the world... this is it.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £70,000 - £80,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.