1969 Land Rover Series IIA Defender 88

Description

If you travel to the most remote, hostile places on earth, this 1969 Land Rover Series IIA is probably how you'll get there. Famous for going where other vehicles fear to tread, the brutally simple and utterly reliable Land Rover is your best bet when you're miles from help.

Nothing says adventure like that canvas top and traditional steely blue paint job. Iconic? Yep. Every safari show you've ever watched has one of these in the background, right? So you know what we're talking about here. But what you may not know is that not all Land Rovers were bashed to death in some jungle adventure. This one's aluminum flanks (yes, they were all made of aluminum to save weight) are in excellent condition, showing no signs of off-road abuse or being battered by an angry rhinoceros. The Series II moved the headlights from their traditional center grille location to the fenders to comply with lighting regulations in the civilized world, but otherwise it remains the same shape that has been famous around the world for decades. Heck, even the paint was originally army surplus stuff they had laying around after World War II, and that look continued throughout production, so this truck, with its recent repaint, probably looks better than new.

Inside, accommodations are spartan because luxury was a luxury you couldn't afford in the middle of nowhere. Reliability was paramount, and as a result, the interiors were made of durable, easy-to-maintain materials that would wear like iron. All the necessities are there, including comfortable bucket seats in three-across configuration and a full array of instruments that are as close to universal as you're going to find. It's basic, don't get me wrong, so don't get in expecting a plush Range Rover experience, but if you're a fan of adventure and going places without roads, you'll definitely appreciate the no-nonsense approach. The entire interior has been restored to factory specs without so much as an AM radio to distract you from your mission. The rear compartment will accommodate perhaps four more passengers or a ton of cargo, and shows light wear, but it's definitely ready for more. Even the canvas roof remains in great shape, having never been baked in the desert sun, and with roll-down sidecurtains, it seals up reasonably well.

The 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine won't win any drag races, but for rock climbing and severe duty, it's all about durability and gearing, and this engine excels. It's also relatively efficient and easy to service under all conditions. This truck shows signs of proper maintenance and it looks great with all its submersion gear designed for fording rivers and keeping Saharan dust storms out of its carburetor. It's quite clean, suggesting that it hasn't been in the real dirt for quite a while, and it runs well with a trucky grumble from the exhaust. A 4-speed manual is easy to use, and the 4-wheel-drive system is arguably the world's best; only a mountain goat goes uphill better. The frame is grossly over-built, and all the original equipment remains intact to give you the genuine experience, basic as it may be. Even the factory-issue steel wheels wear tall, skinny 7.50-16 off-roading tires and not fat radials, so it looks exactly right.

Clean Land Rovers are none too easy to find, and if adventure is your game, this is your ride. Call today!