BUYING GUIDE
Market news, model guide and the secondhand marketplace
WE are all rightly proud of our Land Rovers. Whether it’s a classic which attracts “I used to have one of those” comments, to a lifted rock-crawler which makes young kids jump up and down with excitement, we love the attention and admiration our vehicles attract.
But perhaps we crave the respect of our fellow Land Rover enthusiasts the most. We want to turn up at a show in something which raises the odd eyebrow and sparks a conversation. It could be something painstakingly restored, creatively modified or just plain rare.
This month we have spotted something for sale which appears to be all three. It has the added advantage of giving you somewhere to make a cup of tea and have a nap when you tire of talking about it.
Nene Overland is offering a professionally built overland camper based on a 1969 Series IIB Forward Control. It certainly ticks the rarity box, as just 2305 of this generation left the factory. Most were flat-bed pick-ups, but this particular version is almost certainly based on an original military ambulance.
Unlike the earlier 2A version, it’s powered by Rover’s 2.6-litre straight-six, which means the performance is acceptable and the sound inside the cabin will at least be bearable. The boxy back has all the mod-cons a camper would have expected in the 1970s when the 2B was converted, including a pop-top roof, sink, hob and twin batteries.
A winch and dual fuel tanks will help if you really do choose to take it on a genuine overland adventure – which is exactly what the previous owner did, taking it from England to Mongolia and back with his family on board.
After that sort of adventure perhaps it deserves a retirement, providing an enthusiast with a comfortable way of touring around Land Rover shows without ever having to erect a tent or fork out for a Travelodge. And the price? A mere £29,995, meaning it costs less than a modern motorhome or a fully restored Series I or IIA. If your partner throws you out for spending all the savings on it, you will have somewhere to live, too.
Forward Controls like this are generally going to get you noticed at a show while also being exceptionally useful and capable all-terrain load carriers for the rest of the time. Values vary massively, with the current prices of examples in adverts ranging from £15,000 to £125,000. The main issue with them, other than the running costs, is the sheer size. You’ll need a barn, farmyard or very understanding neighbours to be able to store one.
If a Forward Control is a little too big for you, then how about a 1981 Series III Lightweight which has become a bit of a heavyweight? The ex-securicor semi-armoured van sold this month on ebay for £3500 and had the usual bodywork replaced with quarter-inch thick aluminium plate when it was new.
It spent its working life transporting cash between banks in London and still has the special rotating drum and deposit chutes which were used to safely dispense the bags of money from inside. Faded signwriting shows the original ‘Shield Transit’ logos, too.
It has been bought by enthusiast Aled Rees who intends to have it restored it to original condition and hire it out for film and TV work, as well as taking it on the show circuit. He currently has a collection of vintage bin lorries, so is used to unusual vehicles. He says: “I used to have a Series II and fancied a Lightweight but wasn’t keen on the whole military thing. This car means I can have something unique.”
He can be sure that he’ll not see another at a show, and that no one will steal his wallet off the dashboard either. “I’m a bit worried someone might try to break in while it is parked though, thinking it’s full of valuables. I might have to get a sticker saying: ‘No gold bullion is kept in this vehicle overnight’!”
The adaptability of the Land Rover product range means there are thousands of equally diverse oddities to cater for all tastes and interests. At an auction they will find their own natural level, but pricing them on the open market has always been a subject of guesswork because they appeal to such niche buyers.
Not everyone has the space to keep
vehicles such as a Forward Control, the need for a fire engine or a desire to keep a 1960s recovery truck in original condition. Their worth will be balanced with the value of the parts if the car is stripped down or returned to standard form.
We hope there will still be plenty of buyers who have the desire to be different – our showgrounds will remain much more interesting as a result.