1972 Land Rover Series III

The Land Rover was conceived by the Rover Company in 1947 during the aftermath of World War II. Before the war Rover had produced luxury cars which were not in demand in the immediate post-war period and raw materials were strictly rationed to those companies' building construction and industrial equipment, or products that could be widely exported to earn crucial foreign exchange for the country. Also, Rover's original factory in Coventry had been bombed during the war, forcing the company to move into a huge shadow factory built just before the war in Solihull near Birmingham, previously used to construct Bristol Hercules aircraft engines. This factory was now empty but starting car production there from scratch would not be financially viable. Plans for a small, economical car known as the M Type were drawn up, and a few prototypes made, but would be too expensive to produce.

The 1972 Series III crew cab pickup offered here is a good restored example of a rare body style. Either done by the factory or a factory subsidiary and purportedly 1 or 5 built and 1 of 3 still existing it will make for a not oft seen great daily driver, beachcomber, or even haul you and your comrades on a safari through suburbia. With a modern diesel drivetrain, it's a great Series III that can be enjoyed in all seasons, winter fun kept warm with the factory heater or top off beach cruising, this truck could possibly be the best model built due to the sheer levels of versatility it offers.

Exterior
An all “aluminum” body bathed in newer olive drab covers the iconic exterior panels of this truck all of which have well minded gaps and minimal inclusions in the paint. The front with its large rounded fenders with the lighting behind protective screens allows you to cruise through the urban jungle without fear of losing your way at night. A deeply inset grille is hidden behind more mesh screen bordered by the short hood with the spare attached right to the middle. A nice galvanized front bumper with dual tow hooks and a heavy-duty rope for extra pulling in or out of trouble are attached. Removing the hardtop and upper door sections, then fold down the windshield and you will have clear and open access to photograph any of the flowers, fauna and scenic views you may encounter on your way to soccer practice. On the back is a flat paneled Land Rover logoed tailgate and below, sans bumper, is a hitch set up, simple round tail and signal lighting and obligatory mud flaps. This tailgate leads to a black painted bed with signs of prior use but no abuse. The inner wheel wells stretch the entire length of the bed and could double as seating for those brave enough to be exposed to the errant squirrel or barking deer spider while touring the great savannah of the suburbs. Almond colored powder coated factory wheels are wrapped in like new period correct Coker rubber.

Interior
Upfront are 2 utilitarian low back bucket seats. These are wrapped in simple black vinyl with a central tuck and roll stitched pattern and smooth bolsters. These seats flank a metal central console that holds the gear shift and 4wd selectors as well as a small added on cupholder. The simple dash has all the essential gauges centrally mounted in a nice black cluster and just below is the industrial styled Smiths heater. The original 3 spoke Land Rover steering wheel shows at the end of the very basic steering column and presents with some paint loss particularly on the center hub. A 70/30 split bench seat in black vinyl sprawls between the rear doors and appears to never have been sat in. Of special note is the high lift jack mounted across the rear of the front seats in case a blowout occurs while exploring the urban jungle. Basic black rubber mats cover the light blue painted steel flooring, and all 4 doors display in the same color and full steel jacket.

Drivetrain
Carefully wedged into the engine bay is a 5.9 Liter 12V courtesy of the folks at Cummins. This is a turbo diesel and is fed by fuel injection. Some patina and wear are seen but overall, it looks like this could have been factory installed. On the back is a Getrag 5-speed manual transmission and bringing up the rear is a Rover axle with 5.40 gears.

Undercarriage
Leaf springs are on both the front and rear to provide the ride along with front power disc brakes and rear power drums. All components are rust free and present with a clean black coating. A single exhaust system funnels spent diesel fumes down a long straight pipe ending just in front of the passengers rear tire. An item of note is a custom oversized aluminum fuel tank.

Drive-Ability
I climbed in with my partner in crime and we were off to the wilds of Morgantown, PA. Here we climbed over hill and dale with ease and tackled the highway and all held together nicely. Keep in mind that comfort wasn't the primary consideration in the design of this truck but overall, it is a comfy ride and cruises well through anything our test track has to offer.

Navigation of the suburban and urban jungles is becoming increasingly difficult these days so why not do so in the ultimate vehicle: The Land Rover Series III in ultra-long wheelbase form. Seating for 5, plenty of cargo space in the bed, and all the raw necessities for you as you strike out on your next adventure!

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.