1948 | Land Rover 80

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Cliveden House event, 8 July 2025.
Offered Without Reserve | £50,000 - £75,000 GBP

• The oldest known surviving military Land Rover
• Desirable “pre-1500” 80-inch chassis
• One of the first 20 vehicles dispatched to the Ministry of Supply in 1948
• Fully restored to its factory-correct specification
• Believed to have been dry-stored for the last 40 years

Please note this car is titled as 1962.

Leaving the Solihull factory for the Ministry of Supply on 16 December 1948, chassis R-860756 was number six of 20 vehicles from the first batch of Land Rovers ever supplied to the British military. It is thought to be the oldest surviving example from this initial order, with many destroyed during service. While the exact nature of the vehicle’s duties are unknown, it was later discovered that its Bronze Green bodywork had once been flanked by two red painted wings, indicating the possibility that it had at one point been used either for bomb disposal duties or as a munitions carrier.

The Series I was first given the War Department registration “M6278786”, followed by the service registration “90 YJ 00” in 1949. It then remained in service until 1961, when it was removed from duty before being sent to the War Department Storage Depot at Ruddington, near Nottingham, in April 1962 and sold at auction in July. The Land Rover was registered with the civilian registration “2350 PK” on 16 November 1962 and changed hands just one more time, in 1977, before being purchased by the vendor in August 1985.

Photographic evidence shows that a preliminary restoration was embarked upon at this point, uncovering a remarkably original chassis that had allegedly not required nor received any welded repairs. It was later decided that the Land Rover would be fully restored again over 2014 and 2015. This was executed by the owner—with the ongoing advice of an acknowledged expert from Dunsfold Land Rover—to ensure that the vehicle was historically correct wherever possible.

It is said that structural repairs were required only to the passenger footwell before a fresh coat of Bronze Green was applied, while retaining the factory-correct colour scheme of a silver chassis with black axles. The original side-plate engine was swapped for a reconditioned 1949 core plug unit whilst in service, which is work that is verified with the presence of the Ministry of Supply brass “overhaul” plate affixed to the engine block. This “upgrade” is commonplace among early survivors and should not detract from this vehicle’s unique history. The original, early “ring pull”-type gearbox/transfer box is still present, as are the correct, military-style split-rim wheels, currently fitted with period-correct 6.00 x 16-inch Avon Traction Mileage tyres.

Since its most recent restoration, the Land Rover has received many deserved awards and its factory-correct specification has been remarked upon by several leading restorers and marque authorities. This is an extremely rare opportunity to own not just a highly sought after “pre-1500” Series I, but a vehicle with an unprecedented history that helped begin the military’s long-standing relationship with Land Rover.


To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/ch25/.