Land Rover Land-Rover 80 (Serie I)
Car-ID: XT0104
Vehicle Description
In 1953 – the year of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II – this Land Rover 80 was built and registered to its first owner, a certain Captain Bethell in Aberlour, northern Scotland. He left the car in his will to Joanna McGregor, in whose ownership it remained until 1996. By this time, the Land Rover is said to have been in very poor condition. The third owner subjected it to a restoration in Aberlour, during which it was completely stripped and a new chassis frame fitted. All original body parts were refurbished, treated and repainted in their original colour. A new canvas hood, as well as a new set of tyres were fitted. The brake system was completely overhauled, including master cylinder, wheel cylinders, steel pipes and flexible hoses. Wheel bearings were replaced where necessary. In order to conform with current MOT regulations, front and rear indicators were fitted and a dash panel switch added.
In this condition, the car was purchased by its current owner, who imported the Land Rover into Germany and drove it sparingly but regularly. The Land Rover comes with German registration documents, valid technical approval until 02/2018 as well as historic plates. A set of old MOT certificates as well as repair receipts are also included. At 63 years of age, this Series I Landy couldn’t be further away from retirement.
After 68 years, Land Rover production finally came to a close, with the last “Defenders” rolling off the production line in Solihull, West Midlands, on 29 January 2016. By this time, just over 2 million of these trusty, iconic vehicles had been built. Their story had commenced in 1947, when Maurice Wilks, chief designer at Rover, harboured the idea of a simple, rugged vehicle that could be field-serviced, a farmer’s car, a rover for the land. The name had stuck.
In the early post-war economy, steel was in short supply, so the body was made from an aluminum alloy. The basic construction with its ladder frame chassis meant that the Land Rover was very versatile, and indeed it was adapted for countless uses, military and civilian likewise.
Even though ownership of the brand changed rather frequently – from Rover to British Leyland to BMW to Ford to Tata Motors – the shape and basic principle of the Land Rover remained pretty much unaltered, continued technical improvements notwithstanding. As much a classless as a timeless car, the “Landy” has always been popular with her Majesty, the Queen, who is said to have owned Land Rovers since 1952.
Vehicle Overview
Interior Features
- Brown
- Leatherette
Exterior Features
- Green
