Description
You would be hard pushed to come across a better 70’s Series 3 than LAN 863. This car needs no work.
This is a great period for Land Rover, retaining all the character and design of its predecessors the series 2 and 1 with all the updated and better mechanics and comfort.
The plate alone is a rare find with a high market value.
Previous mot's show the vehicle has had very little use in recent years and has covered only 750 miles since 2013. However it has been perfectly maintained and kept on the road each year.
First Registered on the 15th February 1976 this is now a tax and mot exempt vehicle.
It has the all important galvanised version of the original chassis therefore there is no need to worry about corrosion in the future.
I couldn’t help but purchase this car in 2022 and am having to part with it now to make room for two other current Land Rover projects. I have kept it in a dry garage the whole time, never bringing it out in rain. It has been a gem of a car, I took it on a 4 day road trip to the Isle of Wight with my son last year and it flew down there effortlessly, no roof all the way.
It is one of the most classic colour combinations Bronze Green with the Limestone Wheels.
To find an unmolested example has become very hard, but to find one that has had just six owners, retains all of its original panels, its original chassis, engine and gearbox is becoming a rare thing.
The bodywork on LAN 863 is very good and all the panels are straight with no dents or scrapes.
The bulkhead is sold as a rock.
The interior still retains the original style Deluxe front seat backs and bases. It has been carefully maintained to keep as many original parts of the vehicle. This vehicle has been so well kept that it has never needed a full restoration but has benefitted from careful preservation. This makes it a cleaner and more original car with the all important Galvi chassis.
Door cards are fitted to the lower doors so that the door tops can easily be removed for use in the summer. The dash is unmarked with no damage. The rear load space is very clean and LAN 863 has benefitted from never having been a working vehicle.
All windows open, all the window channels are good and because the vehicle has been kept under cover not rusted away as so often is the case.
LAN 863 has one of the best original engine bays I have seen on a diesel Series 3, extremely clean with original stickers still in place. The original 2. 25 engine starts very well with a 12 volt glow plug system and runs very well and there is no smoke with plenty of power as you would expect. The block and head have been repainted in the correct colours.
The factory fitted engine bursts into life on the turn of the key. This is a vehicle that has been maintained well and covered low mileage, it runs as quiet and smooth as any Series Land Rover that I have ever seen.
Four wheel drive and low range engage, as they should. The gears change up and down as they should it has a very quiet gearbox which is a good sign of it's light use over the years. The vehicle was fully serviced a year ago including engine, filter, main gearbox, transfer box, diffs ad swivels.
It has a perfect re-conditioned deluxe dish bonnet for the spare wheel on the front and the original plain bonnet included in the sale so you have the choice of wheel on the front or not.
It has a traditional 80’s radio and Ariel but the Radio has been converted to bluetooth so it syncs up with your iPhone to play any tunes you like straight from your phone.
It also has a brand new twin tow step, ball and ball plate and new Land Rover mud flaps at the back to finish it off nicely.
Almost all Series Land Rovers drip a little oil, some quite a lot. LAN863 is the exception though no drips of oil to speak of even after standing for weeks in the same place in my garage.
The steering is as it should be and the vehicle doesn't wonder on the road like some series vehicles do. The tracking has recently been done. All the tyres have been replaced recently and are all in good condition. A full MOT history can be seen online.
All the numbers match - the chassis numbers on the plates are the same as on the log book registration document and that stamped on the chassis itself. The engine number also matches that recorded on the logbook.
This Land Rover has obviously been cared for and cherished by its previous owners. It is very solid example that requires no work and is ready to use and enjoy.
If you are an enthusiast then you will not be disappointed with this vehicle as it is perfect in almost ever detail and is exactly as it left the factory 46 years ago. This is a very honest classic 47-year-old Series Land Rover.
You will have to go a long way to find a better vehicle. Anything on this Land Rover that required attention has been done, it is now faultless. You could pick this up and drive it confidently any where in the UK it’s so sound.
