1982 Land Rover Series 3

Finished in Marine Blue with an Oxford Tan interior, this fully restored SWB Land Rover Series III was rebuilt onto a new galvanized chassis and treated to a bare metal respray.

A new hood too, plus new matching tyres, and an Exmoor Trim interior including Puma XS seats.

It won’t surprise you to learn that the engine bay contains a rebuilt petrol engine and that all the other mechanical components have been either refurbished or replaced. And, despite not needing one, it comes with a full and advisory-free MoT for extra reassurance.

It is, therefore, a Proper Job, one undertaken over a six-year period by a lifelong Land Rover enthusiast who was finally able to pour his heart into this restoration following his move out of London.

It’s an absolute beauty, so without further ado, we’ll break down his achievement for you.

Originally green, we wholeheartedly approve of the change to Marine Blue because the new hue combines the Series 3’s heritage looks with a modernity we love.

This one has also been painted very well indeed; a friend of the vendor’s did it for him and the care that was taken to strip each panel before treating it to a multi-stage repaint on both sides (not a trace of the original colour remains) is evident.

As is the care with which the panels were fitted; doors, bonnet, and tailgate all look terrific, as do the various bits of trim. Mind you, apart from the door tops and bottoms, which were supplied by Paintman Panels, the rest of the outer panels are the originals and it’s lovely to see the Series III’s heritage being acknowledged in this way.

The front bumper is nice and straight too, and it’s fitted with a couple of recovery points, just in case you manage to exceed even the Land Rover’s legendary off-road ability.

The windscreen, which can be folded down of course, is finished in silver, complementing the front bumper, door cappings, and bonnet hinges. It’s a lovely detail and one that also contrasts nicely with the Marine Blue coachwork.

But then there are a lot of details we love, like the Wipac headlamps, which are joined by a pair of Britax spot lamps and LED sidelights and indicators.

And the parabolic leaf springs, which are painted blue. And the galvanized fittings, which are excellent. And the Land Rover bottle opener that’s going to come in handy on those beach barbeques you’re going to take it to.

Speaking of the outdoor life, the canvas roof and sticks allows you to juggle the roof to suit your mood and the weather; from giving you full protection with it all buttoned down, to rolling up the sides to give you shade from the sun and plenty of ventilation, or even removing it completely. Of course, being new, it’s all in great shape.

The 16-inch steel wheels were stripped and powdercoated, leaving them in an excellent condition. They’re also fitted with a full set of road-biased but still usefully chunky 205/80R16 Toyo Open Country A/T tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that 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.

The rear end benefits from a towbar and electrics, a wide step to aid entry, a full suite of LED lamps, and some substantial mudflaps.

Sorry, but if you’re a tinkerer there’s nothing for you to do. But let’s check inside, shall we?

Exmoor Trim is widely admired for the quality of its products and nowhere is this more evident than here, in this wonderfully trimmed Series III.

Because the Oxford Tan vinyl seats look amazing, don’t they? A straightforward bolt-on replacement for the flat, lifeless originals, the Puma XS-spec seats raise the interior to hitherto unknown heights of decadence and comfort – and they can be wired to provide heating, too.

The seat rails are excellent. Fitting new ones, or making sure the old ones are properly restored, might be a small detail but it is one so many people seem oblivious to. The fact these are so good is typical of the attention to detail the seller has paid to every aspect of this long-planned restoration.

As with the outside, it’s the details that mark this as a cut above the rest. Details like the perfectly restored instruments, neatly labelled switches, and canvas door cards from Exmoor Trim that provide useful storage space in an area that’s usually wasted.

And the chrome trims around the floor-mounted levers. Levers that provide enough ways to manipulate the four-wheel-drive chassis that you’re unlikely to ever get stuck, while the Fairey overdrive cuts down engine revs and noise at cruising speeds.

There’s a wood-rimmed 1948, 17-inch Heritage steering wheel too, plus a leather-trimmed cubby box-cum-armrest and cupholder combo.

The rear door might be trimmed with a bit of galvanised sheet metal but don’t let that fool you because the rear is as beautifully fitted out as the front.

A pair of full-length seats, trimmed to match those in the front, provide seating for four. Lap belts help keep them safe while another Exmoor Trim pocket provides storage for their bits and bobs.

Carpets from the same source throughout add another dash of luxury while rubber over-mats help keep everything nice and clean.

If you’re looking for a job then the handbrake lever isn’t up to the same high standard as everything else but that’s probably all that will need doing.

The 2.25-litre petrol engine has, as we mentioned, been fully rebuilt and the work was typically thorough.

The seller commissioned a machine shop to re-bore it to +20 thou with the top being skimmed true at the same time. The bottom-end was then rebuilt with new pistons, rings and bearings followed by new timing gear and tensioners.

The cylinder head was also professionally machined and fitted with hardened valve seats that allow the use of unleaded petrol.

Electronic ignition and a spin-on oil filter bring extra reliability and easier servicing, and the suspension is now courtesy of parabolic springs for an improved ride.

A Fairey overdrive was fitted, and all the output shaft seals were replaced. Oh, and a Synchro Gearboxes Slick Shift gear lever helps make changes nicer and more effortless than the stock arrangement.

The result is a sweet, free-revving engine that runs like a sewing machine and is much nicer to drive than the diesel everyone thinks they want, especially when you factor in the civilizing influence of the overdrive on the gearbox.

The engine bay it sits in is nicely presented but then you’d probably guessed that by now, hadn’t you?

The Land Rover’s new galvanized chassis was supplied by Nick Davey of Mad About Mud and painted to further help its longevity. Stainless-steel nuts and bolts of the appropriate tensile strength do their bit too, as do acid-dipped and re-galvanized body cappings and ancillary parts.

The bulkhead benefits from new footwells and door posts, and the rear tailgate has been converted to a ‘swing open’ design for easier access.

A new wiring loom has been fitted with a 21-circuit fuse box. An auxiliary relay panel sits under the front passenger seat and provides power to an additional fuse box and relay feeds for vital circuits as well as a 12V charger and two USB outlets on the dashboard.

A fastidious man, he got his local garage to do the final checks and to give it an MoT.

And that MoT, which is valid until June 2024, was gained, like so many before, with no advisories.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear too, and the history file comes with the usual sheaf of old invoices and expired MoT plus more than a dozen old tax discs.

That’s pretty cool, isn’t it?

Everyone loves an old Land Rover because, like the family’s elderly border terrier, while they might be a bit smelly and cantankerous they’re long-standing members of the family which means 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 their 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 keep mobile in the foulest of conditions in between displaying it off at their local classic car show.

And this one is very showable; perfectly judged and expertly executed, it’s hard to believe this is his first restoration. (We doubt it’s his last, either…)

But, this quality will cost you. While you will be able to find plenty of cheaper examples we very much doubt you’ll find many that are better, which makes our guide price of between £20,000 and £25,000 look like very good value indeed.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ, United Kingdom. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.