Description

1982 Land Rover Stage One V8 109" Station Wagon

Just two owners from new, the first for 33 years; new galvanised chassis in 2017; rebuilt 3.9 V8 engine with high ratio transfer gears for more relaxed cruising; rare Stage One V8 with acres of room inside

By the late 1970s the Land Rover was coming under pressure from rivals like the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Nissan Patrol which had more powerful six-cylinder engines than the four-cylinder units in the Solihull machines.

So from 1979 – 1985 a more powerful Stage One V8 was offered which had the 3.5 Buick engine from the contemporary Rover car range. Based on the Series III LWB 109” platform, it had permanent four-wheel drive, leaf spring rear suspension and the same four-speed LT95 gearbox and transfer box as the contemporary Range Rover. Rarely seen in the UK, most went to the export market, the V8 finding big favour with the New Zealand Army who bought almost 600 of them.

Supplied new by Julians of Reading in March 1982, this V8 has had just two owners from new, the first being the boss of RMW Construction of Bracknell who kept it for 33 years and used it regularly, old MOTs showing that he covered around 110,000 miles in it. He also fitted a Sterling stainless steel exhaust with a lifetime guarantee in 1989.

Our vendor acquired the vehicle in 2015 and has added another 4,000 miles, the odometer currently showing 114,259 miles. In 2017 it was treated to a new galvanised chassis supplied by Richards Chassis of Rotherham which cost £2,666. The original 3.5 V8 has also been replaced by a larger 3.9, rebuilt and dressed to look like the original unit. The transfer box gears have also been replaced with high ratio gears for more relaxed cruising. There is a height-adjustable tow bar with working electrics at the rear and a period spare wheel cover has been fitted to replace the original.

The interior seems all original including the door cards and roof lining. Apart from a new n/s/f wing, we are told that all the body panels are original, as is the Limestone paintwork which is now fairly matt and faded - who wants a shiny Land Rover anyway?

Starting easily and running well as we have moved it around on site, it comes with an MOT until April 2023 with no advisories recorded and retains its original handbook and service book with just one stamp at 1,361 miles in May 1982.

With bags of room inside (you could probably get a dozen people in there), this rare and powerful Land Rover will be a handy bit of kit to have around and doubtless has at least another 40 years of useful life ahead of it.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email [email protected]