1960 Land Rover Series II

This South African Land Rover 109 pickup has been in the care of the seller for the past seven years. He bought it out there from a friend of his, just after Land Rover in Durban had finished restoring it. Believed to have been a fire marshall’s vehicle originally, he drove it every couple of weeks for a bit of fun before emigrating to the UK three years ago. He put it into storage in his home country for a couple of years before importing it at the end of last year. Of course, because it’s spent the vast majority of its life in such a warm and sunny climate it’s about as rust-free as your ever going to find. This should mean cheap ongoing maintenance and strong residuals, making this a classic 4x4 you can buy with your head AND your heart.

The panels are in great shape, being straight and true and well finished in the iconic shade of green. While it is true that nothing wears a patina better than a Land Rover, they look just as good freshly restored, as you can see here. The painted steel wheels are fitted with Dunlop Universal LT cross ply tyres in a 7.50-16 size. 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 huge pickup loadbed has been sprayed with a durable black coating, which should help keep it looking good no matter what you throw in there – and given this is a 109” example, you’ll be able to throw plenty in there. Oh, and the front radiator grille is the proper metal one that everyone claims to have used for barbeques. The bonnet also has the bracket to store a spare wheel on it and the wipers have hefty Lucas wiper park ‘gates’:This is a pukka example of a world-beating 4x4. Things to do? Well, we can’t see much that would trouble us bar the rusty offside mirror and the slight dink in the tailgate.

With seating for three, the Land Rover is a more practical vehicle than its pickup cab might suggest. Not that you’re overburdened with luxuries because it lacks a headlining, door cards, and floor coverings. As for fripperies such as air-conditioning, if the South Africans can manage by opening the three sliding windows and the bulkhead vents then we think you’ll be okay, even in the current hot weather. Mind you, that’s as it left the factory, so you can’t blame the vendor for short-changing you. That said, there is some tidying up still to do but the extent of that depends on your attitude towards completeness and originality. It’s certainly very useable as it is, so you could finish it off as and when motivation and money coincide.

The engine bay is tidy and nicely presented, but the engine bonnet "stay" is currently adrift. We did also note that four-cylinder petrol engine was a bit reluctant to start, plus the linkage does not seem to allow the throttle to fully open. Perhaps this is a by-product of the new non-standard carburettor, so it would appear a degree of "fettling" is required. However, once sorted, this engine is traditionally known to be a lusty and smooth powerplant – and who doesn’t want something lusty and smooth in their life? In addition, our vendor is especially keen for potential bidders to appreciate the wiring, an aspect of the restoration he feels ably demonstrates the quality of the work that went into it. But, for anyone used to looking at rotten and badly patched UK examples, we think the solidity and almost complete absence of visible rust on the chassis and underside will be the thing you notice first…

The Series II’s history file includes the importation paperwork for its move from South Africa to the UK – including its old numberplates - but that’s about it. This isn’t unusual with imported classics as the paperwork often goes missing but it does mean you’ll have to base your bids on its current condition rather than relying on a paper trail. As we mentioned earlier, the South African paperwork showed it belonged to a fire marshall, which probably explains its condition; vehicles like that tend to be obsessively serviced so they’re ready to jump into action at the drop of a hat. 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 it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, 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…

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. This popularity is starting to be reflected in their price, too. While you used to be able to pick a scruffy Land Rover up for a few hundred pounds, we’re starting to see even barn-finds going for silly money, which makes our guide price of £12,000 and £15,000 for this fully operational, restored example look like very good value.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, 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’.