Lot Ended
Description
Showing only 3,909 miles; highly original
genuine Series I 80-inch home-market model; wearing the numberplate EVL 861;
period Coventry Climax Godiva fire pump trailer; starting and driving on site
This delightfully honest and highly original
early Land Rover is a genuine Series I 80-inch home-market model, carrying
chassis number 26100416. The chassis falls within the desirable 2610 prefix
sequence denoting a right-hand-drive, petrol-engined Basic specification vehicle
supplied new to the UK market, placing it amongst the earliest surviving 80-inch
Land Rovers produced at Solihull and believed to date from the summer of 1951,
wearing the numberplate EVL 861.
The vendor currently can't locate any
paperwork for the vehicle, should any come available then It will be passed
on.
Power comes
from the original-type 1,595cc four-cylinder petrol engine, coupled to a
four-speed manual gearbox with selectable four-wheel drive. Developed as a
simple and durable working vehicle, the Series I quickly established the Land
Rover's reputation for versatility and rugged dependability, becoming one of
Britain's most significant post-war automotive exports.
Offered complete with a period
Coventry Climax Godiva fire pump trailer, together with its hoses and associated
equipment, the outfit represents a wonderfully evocative piece of post-war
British utility and emergency service history. Coventry Climax Godiva pumps were
widely used by fire brigades, local authorities and industrial operators
throughout Britain and were frequently transported behind Land Rovers in rural
firefighting and emergency support roles. As such, the trailer appears an
entirely fitting companion to this early Series I, creating a charming and
highly displayable period ensemble.
The Land Rover has remained in single ownership
for approximately 35 years, spending that time in dry storage. Refreshingly, it
appears to have escaped the extensive restoration work so often encountered on
early Series I examples and instead retains the honest wear, patina and
character accumulated through a working life well lived. The odometer currently
displays 3,909 miles, although as with most vehicles of this age, this reading
cannot be warranted.
For the purposes of our video, an external fuel
supply was connected, and we are pleased to report that the engine started
readily, and the vehicle drove around the Brightwells sale yard with little
persuasion. Whilst the Land Rover showed admirable enthusiasm for moving
forwards, the braking system was somewhat less committed, offering more of a
polite suggestion than any genuine stopping power. Prospective purchasers should
therefore regard the vehicle as requiring sensible recommissioning or
restoration before any return to regular road use.
Opportunities to acquire such an
early and unmolested 80-inch Series I are becoming increasingly scarce,
particularly examples offered from such long-term ownership and accompanied by a
period accessory as appealing as the Coventry Climax Godiva fire pump trailer.
Whether preserved exactly as found or sympathetically recommissioned, this
charming outfit offers huge appeal for collectors, enthusiasts, shows, rallies
and preservation events alike.
An exceptionally early and wonderfully
authentic Series I 80-inch Land Rover, offered from over three decades of single
ownership and accompanied by a period Coventry Climax Godiva fire pump trailer.
Fresh from long-term dry storage, running and driving, and retaining the sort of
honesty and originality that cannot be recreated, it represents a rare
opportunity to acquire a fascinating piece of post-war British motoring
history.
Contact:
david.tassell@brightwells.com