1951 Land Rover S1 £24,995
Just in time for winter, this early 80-inch has undergone a recent sympathetic restoration and drives beautifully, says Mike Renaut
All mechanical parts of this Land Rover appear to have been reconditioned, while other areas have deliberately been left in their presumably as-found appearance. For instance, the paint on the instrument panel is worn but the speedometer, petrol gauge and ammeter all work perfectly.
The vehicle was built with an alloy bulkhead and the engine bay looks virtually as-new. The engine itself wears a layer of patina and is the only mechanical part not to have been repainted. No serious leaks were noted, though it had dropped a little oil while parked in the showroom – by all accounts that’s normal for these. It fires from cold on the button with a little choke and soon settles to a steady idle.
Smooth changes through the fourspeed gearbox require a little practice but both the gearbox and clutch feel in excellent shape. The brakes are good too – particularly for an old Land Rover – and the handbrake operates correctly.
The ride is bumpy, but that’s to be expected and not a suspension fault. Flat-out at an indicated 45mph means you won’t buy this Land Rover to get anywhere in a hurry, and it’s noisy too. The steering is typically slow and vague, although with less than two inches of play it’s actually better than many of this vintage. An electric windscreen wiper is fitted on the driver’s side. The seat covers and floormats look new, as does the khaki canvas roof.
According to the V5 this Land Rover was first Uk-registered in July 1986, but other accompanying paperwork – including a Heritage Certificate – confirms that it was built in December 1951 and is a genuine Uk-market, right-hand-drive 80-inch with original engine, gearbox and axles. Six previous owners are noted and the indicated mileage at the time of testing was a little over 72,000.
The restoration is understood to have been completed very recently, although we found no receipts or evidence to suggest an exact date. The bodywork – finished in an appropriate green with a suede finish – is undamaged and all panels display perfect gaps. The doors open and close perfectly, don’t drop and don’t need to be slammed.
The surface finish varies – some panels have obviously been painted over earlier layers of sanded-down paint, which seems in keeping with this vehicle’s character. Door tops with side screens are included along with a small number of spare parts.
The chassis and underside are largely coated in black underseal and the exhaust system appears to be stainless steel. All five tyres are in excellent condition.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable vehicle to drive and one of the best Land Rovers we’ve tested. Prices for these are on the rise and early examples like this tend to more than hold their value – so with winter weather on the way, now might be a good time to grab yourself a useful classic at a sensible price.