Registration - NKU 163M

Chassis No. - 90604360A

M.O.T. - Exempt

Odometer - 50,879

This notably straight-looking pick-up is finished in blue, trimmed in black vinyl and rides on cream-coloured steel wheels shod with chunky Avon Rangemaster tyres. Its 2.5-litre diesel engine drives through a manual gearbox equipped with overdrive. According to VDI Check, ‘NKU 163M’ has had just seven keepers to date, the most recent of whom acquired the Landie as recently as this April. He informs us that it has been treated to a degree of restoration over the last five years, during which the engine and gearbox were overhauled and the brakes recently replaced. He describes the pick-up as a ‘great original car that has a very good chassis and drives very well’. In summary he currently rates the powerplant, transmission and upholstery as ‘excellent’ and the bodywork and paintwork as ‘good’. The odometer currently registers a total figure of 50,880 miles.

The Series Land Rover steadily progressed from a single offering powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine to a complete family of long and short wheelbase derivatives with an ever increasing choice of engines. By the time of the Series IIA of 1969-1971, production was at its all-time peak - over 60,000 vehicles per annum - and in addition to record sales, the model dominated many world markets. The Series III of 1971-1985 is the most common derivative, of which 440,000 were produced. Outwardly it was almost identical to the IIA, aside of a plastic rather than metal radiator grille. The diesel version benefited from a higher compression ratio and the gearbox from synchromesh on all ratios, while the cab featured a more modern, moulded plastic facia and the instrument cluster was moved from its long-standing home in the centre to the driver’s side.

In summary:

• A very presentable, usable example
• The subject of a degree of restoration over the last five years
• Seven keepers and an indicated 50,880 miles from new