1971 Land Rover Defender

Description

1971 Land-Rover Deluxe Safari Station Wagon.  In my professional opinion t
his late Series IIa Land-Rover represents the pinnacle of Land-Rover’s engineering prowess. The advent of the Series III,
with numerous “improvements” of dubious merit,
to my way of thinking, began the downturn of
the early
Land-Rover, whose standout advantage and brilliant innovation assured early Land-Rovers with a place in automotive history that placed the marque in the highest echelons of world acclaim. This superlative
example of the best of the last of the “all-metal dash”
Land-Rovers
, and, astoundingly, this exact machine incorporates unique features virtually unseen in Land-Rovers here in the United States, chief among which, for example, are the
factory dual anti-sway bars that make for
unbelievably
flat cornering, the f
ully rebuilt driveline (ENGINE, GEARBOX AND RECENTLY-NEW SALISBURY EXTREME-DUTY REAR AXLE, its exceptionally low mileage (just a bit over 14,000 documented miles showing), seating with twelve-passenger specification ("regular 5-door North American-spec machines were only 10 -passenger), factory-spec
removeable
doortops
on
all
side doors, dual heated windscreens,  full military build specification, with all-original factory 12-volt electrical system.  W
ith all the Ministry of Defense bells and whistles: [Dual fuel tanks.
Military oil cooler kit with eight–blade tropical fan and dual-belt drive, military undercoating, military-spec engine, heavy-duty suspension, strengthened military wings (“fenders”), center under-seat tool tray, special gearbox support, etc.] Recently-new paint in factory Deep Bronze Green. Full-spec Deluxe Safari roof fitted. All Genuine Land-Rover bodywork, much of it factory-fresh. All new seats for 12 persons, new three-point inertial safety harnesses [front outer seats]. New Genuine Land-Rover door trimming with map pockets in front doors, and Genuine Land-Rover floor mats throughout. Recently-new Genuine Land-Rover dual-circuit heater-defroster system.   Newly rebuilt, brilliantly quiet engine and gearbox. New Genuine Land-Rover/Zenith carburetor. Recently-new Genuine Land-Rover fuel pump, dynamo, distributor, voltage regulator, water pump,  radiator, exhaust system, four Genuine Land-Rover side entry steps and much more.  All Genuine Land-Rover side door tops are removable for tropical operation and the windows are both openable! This is an
extremely rare
option (Probably fewer than 2% Land-Rovers in America offer this option, if even that many!). Rear end door can be replaced with factory tailgate (not included in sale) available at additional cost for complete through-flow summer ventilation. Astounding mechanicals throughout. Nearly-new Goodyear Wrangler Load Range E tires with excellent tread. This exceptional machine is being offered by North America’s most-decorated restoration specialist and the recipient of more than 60 international restoration awards, of which half are first place, best in class, Best in All Rover Classes, Best Debuting Restoration of the day, etc., At my very first professionally-judged Concours d’Elegance our flagship short wheelbase was awarded first in class.
(One of my other Land-Rovers was also written up in America’s only Land-Rover magazine, LAND-ROVER LIFESTYLE, in an article entitled “Six of America’s Best Land-Rovers." ) PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS PARTICULAR MACHINE HAS NEVER BEEN SHOWN IN ANY SHOW AND IS NOT the recipient of ANY of the awards pictured.
These are included to indicate the caliber of work for which I have been well known for more than 50 years.
Please call 360.866.2254 with any questions you may have about this fine machine or any of the other exceptional Land-Rovers painstakingly-restored by Dare Britannia, Ltd., of Olympia Washington. This ad has been carefully composed but be advised that we consider it the shared responsibility of both buyer and seller to verify up-to-the-minute accuracy of the above information. While we consider this an exceptional Land-Rover not everyone may agree with our evaluation. This truck, as fine and unusual example as it may be was NOT built to be a hangar queen. That said, in my professional opinion I feel confident in identifying it as described above and consider it in the top 5 percentile points of long wheelbase Safari Station Wagons in America today.