Prices for tidy Series Landies taking a tumble

Signs that private buyers may be staying at home might be evidenced by some recent low auction bids on Land Rover Series IIS, IIIS and later Defenders. Once an evergreen seller with some strong prices achieved, usable turnkey Landies look to have softened this month. At Manor Park Classics’ May auction, a very tidy and ‘on the button’ 1982 SWB Series III with seven seats made a premium-inclusive £5865. And it was the petrol version with a recent parabolic spring conversion. In the same month, SWVA dispatched a decent ’71 Series IIA LWB Safari, just out of 11year ownership, with 88,000 miles and a long list of new cooling, brake and suspension parts fitted for £7000 plus premium. Solid, good-looking Safaris usually make £10k-plus.

H&H sold a 2001 90 TD5

Defender, looking sharp in white with black wheels, lights upgrade and snorkel for only £6188. ACA sold a ’78 Series III 88in diesel in white with upgraded bonnet, doors and interior for only £4320. There was a time when smart, solid examples performed better in the market.

What makes these achieved prices significant is that none of this quartet were battered, tired projects, but up-together, decent driving, straight specimens. I’ve always seen Seventies, Eighties and Nineties Landies as a bellwether of retail buyer enthusiasm at auction. Most are bought to tinker with and improve, and buyers have always approved of their aura of rugged non-conformity. That those enthusiasts aren’t bidding right now could suggest that the costof-living crisis and push back against the climbing price of fuel is influencing the market sooner than we expected.