The Land Rover was designed to only be in production for two or three years to gain some cash flow and export orders for the Rover Company so it could restart up-market car production. Once car production restarted, however, it was greatly outsold by the off-road Land Rover, which developed into its own brand that remains successful today. Many of the defining and successful features of the Land Rover design were in fact the result of Rover's drive to simplify the tooling required for the vehicle and to use the minimum amount of rationed materials. As well as the aluminium alloy bodywork (which has been retained throughout production despite it being more expensive than a conventional steel body) other examples include the distinctive flat body panels with only simple, constant-radius curves (originally used because they could be cut and formed by hand from aluminium sheet on a basic jig) and the sturdy box-section ladder chassis, which on Series vehicles was made up of four strips of steel welded at each side to form a box, thus cutting down on the complex welding required when making a more conventional U- or I-section frame.

The Land Rover Series III SWB offered here at Autostorico is a 1973, 2.25 litre, petrol example which has covered an indicated miles from 127,339 miles. Finished in Green with Black interior this immaculate example has just undergone a no expense spared nut and bolt restoration which was carried out by the well-known and respected Land Rover specialist FW 4 x 4. Works included removing the engine and gearbox and stripping the whole body down before it was built back up onto a new galvanised chassis and bulkhead. A large amount of time and money has been spent rebuilding this stunning car to its near perfect condition. Works have included a bare metal respray, Mechanical overhaul including engine, gearbox, axles, suspension, braking and cooling system, complete re-wire with attention then passing to the interior trim and new canvas hood.

Supplied with a current V5 registration document, various invoices and other related documentary history.

Viewing is strictly by appointment only.