Land Rover® Series 3 *Incredible Patina – MOT & Tax Exempt* (TJT)

For sale, Land Rover® Series 3 Ragtop in Marine Blue (1976). 

Petrol 2286cc. MOT & Tax Exempt. Weber Carburettor. Electric Cooling Fan. 750×16 Chevron Tyres With Matching Bonnet Mounted Spare. Tow Bar & Electrics. Rear Access Step. Rear Mud Flaps. Sand Canvas with Side Windows and interior storage pockets. Standard Front Seats & Rear Bench Seats – 7 Seater Vehicle. Front Door Cards with Deluxe Interior Trim Cover & Deluxe Rubber Floor Matting. Incredible original paintwork with patina – Paperwork Includes Series 3 Original Owners Manual.  71,259 miles showing.

We are delighted to present for sale this 1976 Land Rover® Series 3, which is finished in Marine Blue with Limestone Wheels & sand canvas with side windows. As can be seen from the photos – the bodywork sports an incredible patina – we suspect (but of course can’t be sure!) it has never been painted since original supply when it was new.

Externally, it has all the features one would hope to see – from the 750×16 chevron tyres with matching bonnet mounted spare, the rear mud flaps, the rear grab handles, the tow bar with electrics to allow towing, the canvas with side windows, original galvanised cappings (not refinished), rear access step – just to name a few. We certainly found this truck garners much positive attention and looks “right” wherever it goes – whether in the Market Square on our test route, or plodding across open ground for these photos… we left the vehicle parked for five minutes whilst we waited to collect the Fish and Chips for the workshop team – and when we came back, people were having pictures taken next to the car. This look is appealing to many – because it manages to marry old school cool looks, yet still is a good, solid truck provided with our detailed inspection schedule and warranty.

On the inside, there are three front standard front seats, with deluxe rubber matting to the footwells, and front lower door cards and bulkhead trim for sound deadening and a premium feel. The rear houses twin bench seats to bring seating for seven people including the driver, with a load mat to the floor area. The added benefit of a canvas with side windows means a light and airy experience no matter where you sit, and makes driving easier thanks to a much smaller blindspot. The interior again just feels right – and we have seen no need to mess with that. We suspect some of the seats are the originals too. We like the unfussy dash which looks just as it should.

Out on the road, the petrol engine pulls really  well to speed, aided by a Weber carburettor for additional power, and 750×16 tyres for additional gearing due to a larger rolling radius – this reduces cruising noise through lower RPM’s to. The engine is a real peach too – almost silent on tick over with a lovely tone through the exhaust. The steering is really light too – and the indicators cancel around the corners – all indications that the mileage might actually not be 171K or 271K. We can’t say for sure, and it would even be wrong to make suggestions we can’t prove, but we think you get the vibe here!  The oldest MOT is 2005 and shows 65,788 miles. We will let you do the maths. The whole package means this is as smooth and as economical as the original petrol set up can be  – it’s quick  up to speed and thanks to a recent brake service, it stops well too.

Don’t let the appearance of the bodywork deceive or deter you – this has been through our full in-house inspection and comes with our in-house warranty – but as we’ve not needed in this case to spend weeks sanding and repainting the vehicle, this allows us to pass as much value as possible onto you. HQ are aware that we get many requests for a Series 3 which isn’t “retail shiny” and also that these people want to use these trucks – this is ready for the Autumn, the shoot season, and to get you to work no matter the conditions – whether you plan to tow a horse box, or wait for that crisp Saturday morning without a cloud in the sky to head into the village for a coffee, the school run or you just fancy an excuse to hit the road……and of course, that faded look would look amazing on a slipway in Cornwall!!!

In summary then – this is a really original, great value Series 3 which can seat the whole family,  benefits from MOT & tax exemption, and qualifies for classic insurance – it  will drive about as well as the period set up really can – whilst looking like it’s always been an heirloom that you’ve passed down through generations… if you want to spin that yarn to the friends and people you come across – we won’t tell them! It is always very difficult for HQ to get a car with proper patina (minus huge dents and bad body damage) – many others who sell them as patinated mean “accident damage” or poor chassis  – this doesn’t apply here – and  it’s even harder at this price. Though we’d love to hang onto it as a showroom talking point, we don’t think it’ll be in stock long enough for that to happen……let’s see!

Priced at £14,995