1974 Land Rover Series III 88" Lightweight

Highlights

Only 36,500 miles from new
Rebuilt in 2005
Recent maintenance including new front prop shaft and clutch master cylinder
Original fibreglass rear door
Chassis believed to have been replaced in 2005

The Appeal

An air-portable 'Lightweight' is a Land Rover in its simplest form. Designed to be cradled beneath a Wessex helicopter, they're paired-back even further than the already spartan civilian versions, making them simple to service in the field and exceedingly rugged. Now the service life of all Lightweights has come to an end, they make for an incredibly useful tool. The owner of this 1974 Series III example bought it to tow their boat - a task it has fulfilled admirably.

If you fancy a fun classic that's simple to maintain and useful to have around, you have to consider an ex-military Land Rover and this one has a lot going for it. The vendor believes that the chassis was replaced in 2005 prior to their ownership, and in recent years, several important mechancial jobs have been attended to, ensuring it's ready to use. Due to its age, the Land Rover now benefits from MOT and road tax exemption, making very reasonable to run.

History and Paperwork

Registered in 1974
Acquired by the vendor in July 2021
Exempt from MOT and road tax
Rebuilt in 2005
November 2023: had new front prop shaft and o/s/r front spring bush and bolt
September 2021: new clutch master cylinder
File full of invoices
CD of pictures

The Condition

Very straight bodywork for an ex-military Land Rover
Original military-spec fibreglass rear door
Chassis reportedly in good condition, believed replaced in 2005
The colour of the hard top is not the best match but remains serviceable
New set of front seats fitted when purchased
Rear seats in good overall condition
A rubber mat has been fitted to the load area; underneath, the floors appear in good condition
Slight bubbling along door bottoms

The Mechanics

2.25-litre four-cylinder petrol engine
Four-speed manual gearbox
Selectable low-range and four-wheel-drive
The vendor reports that the engine starts immediately and runs well
All gears reportedly selecting smoothly
Four-wheel drive high and low in good working order
The vendor notes a slight steering "klonk" when turning sharply
Goes along happily between 50 and 60 mph
Bought to pull a boat, which we're informed it does "without fuss"

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