1968 Land Rover Series 2A

Fitted with a new galvanized chassis and bulkhead, this freshly rebuilt short-wheelbase Land Rover Series IIa was first registered on the 20th of February 1968, making it 363 days older than your author.

A classic car collector, the vendor was offered the vehicle six months ago and was so impressed with its condition that he couldn’t resist adding it to his garage where it joined another five Land Rovers. The previous owner, he was told, spent 3-4 years restoring it but sadly died before being able to use it. It then sat in storage for another three years before being lightly recommissioned by the vendor followjng its sale.

Fitted with the silky smooth petrol engine and the weather-tight hardtop, he’s since driven it for less than a hundred miles in total so it will need shaking down and a few things tuning and tightening up as the miles creep up.

Always popular, this charming old Landy is only for sale as he simply isn’t using it as much as he thought he would, so it is now looking for a new home with someone who will derive as much pleasure from the doing as the driving, a state of mind that’s essential if you’re to enjoy driving pretty much any classic car now we come to think of it!

The vendor, a man we know well and one whose opinion we have come to trust, rates the paintwork as a 7/10. We think we might be being a bit harsh, especially when you factor in the quality of the panels and the way they’ve been so neatly fitted and aligned. There are no dents or dinks, and the paintwork itself is very good, perhaps lacking only the final sheen.

Even so, it is almost certainly better than the factory managed and the whole thing hangs together very convincingly; while this sort of thing might sound a bit like the sort of nonsense sprouted by new age travellers, we’re firm believers in the adage that if a vehicle looks right then it is right.

The galvanized cappings, for example, haven’t been over-done and are matt-finished and show the sort of discreet marbling that comes with a proper job. The rear crossmember on the new galvanized chassis peeks out cheekily from beneath the painted rear, the badges have been left lightly patinated too, and the headlamps have been discretely upgraded with the installation of Lucas-style tribar P700 halogen units to give better illumination without ruining the aesthetics.

The rest of the light units are very good, as is the glazing. The Series IIa still wears a metal radiator grille too, the sort that can be unscrewed and used to support an al fresco barbecue on the beach.

The steel wheels have been neatly painted before being shod with matching 7.50-16 Deestone Extra Traction mud tyres, tyres whose depth of tread can be measured in good old-fashioned inches rather than new-fangled, namby-pamby millimeters.

Plus, as we will never tire of explaining, our 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.

If it were ours – and we really wouldn’t mind it sitting in our garage – then we might be tempted to buy a matching spare to adorn the bonnet in place of the age-cracked one that’s there at the moment.

That done, we wouldn’t touch a thing; few vehicles wear a patina better than a Land Rover and what little blemishes there are actually add to its character rather than detracting from it.

The interior has been very well painted, too. Even sporting a Smith’s heater, it carries the usual number of gear-levers sprouting out of the floor; proper, mechanical levers like this encourage the air of indomitability that old series Land Rovers wear so proudly.

The front has been fitted with three-abreast seating. New, or nearly new, they’re much more shapely than the flat slabs it left the factory with and so provide extra comfort and support in equal measure.

The rear has been fitted with side-facing bench seats and lap belts. Room enough for another four friends, this seven-seat Landy might not be your first choice for an inter-continental run but it would be unbeatable for a bit of fun in the snow or on a sun-kissed beach. There are rear windows there too, in stark contrast to the metal sides of almost every other Series Land Rover you’ll see.

The rear seats fold up and out of the way, clearing a space for a tip run, or logs for the wood-burner, or a few dogs; this is a vehicle that can earn its keep with the same ease as it draws admiring glances.

And if you do use it properly then the painted floors are protected by utilitarian rubber mats, a choice that it utterly in keeping with both the Land Rover’s spirit and new role in your life.

While the door cards are, of course, absent an element of civility has been installed courtesy of a sound-deadening and condensation-preventing headlining.

Problems? Well, not a problem per se but the instrument panel could do with freshening up a little, not least because the rest of the interior is so good.

The vendor dispatched it to his local garage for some light recommissioning, work that included fitting a new battery, fuel sensor and fuel pump plus some miscellaneous fettling including fresh fluids and freeing off the brakes.

We’ve driven it and can report that it starts, runs, and drives well. The gears are easy to select and the clutch bites nicely but, as the vendor pointed out, the fuel tank really needs draining and cleaning and the carburettors tuning.

The engine bay is very neat and tidily presented. The underside is similarly well presented and utterly solid. That new galvanized chassis gleams and the whole thing seems to have been assembled with more than the usual diligence and attention to detail.

Other work yet to do? Well, the eagle-eyed will have noticed that the offside rear is sitting slightly lower than the nearside. This is due to the suspension needing shimming – and the shims you will need come with the car.

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 the car re-MOT’d at the earliest. The cost of an MOT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s 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…

Sadly, the Land Rover comes with little history so prospective bidders will need to set their budget based on its current condition. That said, the quality speaks for itself and we’d welcome you here for a socially distanced viewing in order to fully appreciate what a great job he did of restoring it.

The vendor has also included suspension shims purchased from John Craddock Land Rover specialists in order to correct the slightly low rear right hand side. 

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

Everyone loves an old Land Rover because, like the family’s elderly border terrier, while they might be a bit smelly and cantankerous as long-standing members of the family 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 the 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 shift firewood, dogs or even to keep mobile in the foulest of conditions.

This popularity is starting to be reflected in their price, too. While you used to be able to pick a scruffy one up for a few hundred pounds, we’re starting to see even barn-finds going for silly money, which makes our guide price of £16,000 and £24,000 look like spectacular value given the vast sums lavished on it in the recent past.

Besides, given we’re all going to hell in a hand basket in a post-Brexit COVID-19 funk, you might as well withdraw your hard-earned cash from the building society and splash on a post-Christmas treat to cheer yourself up, eh?

Inspection is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.