LAND ROVERS ABOUT TO CLIMB?

As the venerable mud-plugger hits 70, is it time to look at Landie values afresh?

‘It wouldn’t surprise me if they enjoy another boost’ JAMES DENNISON, BRIGHTWELLS

This year sees the 70th anniversary of the Land Rover’s launch – and major anniversaries such as this are inevitably joined by market reappraisal and possible changes in value.

The end of Land Rover production saw a value uplift as buyers scrambled for a slice of the action. Models of all ages, from the very earliest to the last, enjoyed a rise in interest and values remain stable – although the glory days of strong value upsweeps are, for now, something of the recent past.

‘Most enthusiasts we speak with see Series I models as over-valued museum pieces: We’ve sold them at pushing £20,000 but realistically £10,000-15,000 is considered enough money for a good restored example,’ says Mathewsons’ Derek Mathewson.

‘ We find Series IIs and IIIs are the best sellers, maybe because they are still very usable, but traditional in appearance. Also, buyers are, by their nature, prepared to pay a little more for the one they want and are prepared – and often capable – of doing the work required to bring them up to the desired condition. To younger buyers Defenders are old Land Rovers, and this will push values up.’

How much effect a notable anniversary will have is always a matter of conjecture, but any effect is much more likely to be positive rather than negative.

‘It is always difficult to say whether anniversaries have any discernible impact on values, although the publicity they generate certainly creates a buzz about the model,’ says Brightwells’ James Dennison. ‘ When the Jaguar E-type hit 50 in 2011 there was a marked jump in prices for the earliest Series I cars, although it only seemed to last a few months and

they soon dropped back a little, only to continue rising at a gentle rate thereafter.

‘ We have already noticed a dramatic rise in values for Series I Land Rovers in recent years so it wouldn’t surprise me if they enjoy yet another boost in the aftermath of the 70th anniversary.

‘To give a concrete example, a 1950 Series I 80in we sold for £4500 in September 2009 made £20,350 when we sold it again in July 2017, in exactly the same condition as it was the first time we offered it.’

But even the slightly later models could experience a slight rise in value this year, as James Dennison continues: ‘Series II and III values have been dragged up by the Series I effect, but nowhere near as dramatically. The early 80in Series Is are worth more than the later 86 and 88 models and there is a significant premium on the very first “headlights behind the grille” Series I models.

‘ We sold just such a car – a nonrunning barn find 1949 model – in November 2017 for £26,100.’