4X4 Project: 1963 Land Rover Series IIA
This 1963 Land Rover Series IIA is clearly designated as a project vehicle. The seller has a reserve price that has not yet been met, but it is on its way, as it has reached $2,275 by 13 bidders at the time of writing. This Land Rover is located in Charlestown, New Hampshire. There is no VIN or miles listed but they do note that the title is clean. It is being sold as is where is, so you will need to transport it. You can view more on eBay.
This vehicle is the classic example of primitive, but effective. It is slightly hard to decipher just exactly what is going on based on the photos and the information in the listing. According to the listing, there is a new frame, which you can see in a photo, and that has an engine on it. The engine is a 200 TDI replacement engine with a turbo and there is an overdrive unit connected to the transmission.
That then indicates that potential the body is simply just a shell on a frame. Other parts that are listed as new are a parabolic suspension kit, wiring harness, and power steering unit. Beyond that, there is not much new in the interior. There are a number of switches missing on the dashboard and there is a lot of cobwebs and surface rust. It is going to need some work, but judging by the photos, it was under a car cover, so at least that might have saved it somewhat.
Since it is quite a project, one can only hope the price is not too extravagant, because it will cost a lot of time and money to finish it. There is a lot of potential here though, and it would be a great truck to rival the classic Broncos that are all the rage currently. Land Rover is starting to hit its stride here in America and this could be a good way to get in on the ground floor before the prices surge.
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Comments
New Chassis (Frame), New Engine (200 TDI is too Modern + overdrive box).
It’s a good job that the body is Aluminium, the only thing to rust is the steel bulkhead, and the wheels.
I wonder how many scrapyards they visited to collect all that ?
Not a numbers matching vehicle then, it certainly won’t get to Pebble beach, (unless it drives up the beach)
This is a pretty neat find. I think LR was the best 4×4 made, if Hollywood has taught me anything. It was the 4×4 of choice for any African safari film, and John Gage ( Randolph Mantooth of the hoaky TV series Emergency) drove one. Reportedly his own for the shoots. Jeep and Scout were the standard issue in America, but I think everywhere else, it was Land Rover. Living in 4×4 country( Colorado) I’ve seen just about every 4×4 made, but no Landies. Cool truck, all business, like these should be. O/D a huge plus, the diesel, not so much.
My parents owned two of these, a 1964 rag top and a 1965 wagon both were the 88” wheel base and both were gasoline models. The first we purchased new in Grand Junction CO and the second was also new in St. Louis, MO. My dad wanted a hardtop over the rag that was the reason for the trade. From what I remember growing up with them they were capable but no more than any other 4 x 4 of the era. They had weak axle shafts and gutless engines. I didn’t drive the first one but did drive the second one a fair amount mostly off road. I liked the idea of the aluminum body and bumper with galvanized frame and trim. The drove fine on and off road but not a long distance highway runner. I think the movies over hyped them as for as their ruggedness and abilities. Over seas in places as South Africa they were used a lot but at the time the Brits were settled all over that country.
I think I were looking for one it would be a later model only because I like the looks of the newer models. Personal taste but would only use the body and frame and swap in American drive train. Parts for Land Rovers we’re always hard to get and high priced back when we had ours so building an older model like this one, I couldn’t imagine finding parts.
We did have a lot of good memories in the old Land Rovers.
I would definitely try to keep this truck original and sell the newer parts to offset the cost of the project!! The early parts did the job well and I really don’t see any advantage to changing them!!!