1952 Land Rover 80in Series One
Entered from a private collection 

Registration No: 386 UHW
Chassis No: 26104193
MOT: Exempt

• Subject to a photographically documented, older restoration
• Not road registered until 1963 suggesting it might have been seconded to the armed forces
• Previously sold by marque specialist John Brown 4x4 of Thirsk for over £30,000 in 2015

This is where `The Best 4x4 by Far' started - a utility vehicle devised in 1947 by the Wilks brothers for use on their farm and inspired by the wartime Jeep. Aluminium panels meant the bodies did not rust and thanks to an ingenious high/low ratio four-wheel drive system, the new small truck was possessed of incredible climbing ability. Initially powered by a 1595cc Rover engine, a 2-litre unit was soon adopted.

Built in 1952 but not issued with the Bristol number plate ‘386 UHW’ until October 4^th 1963, chassis 26104193 is presumed to have spent the intervening eleven years on secondment to the armed forces. A copy continuation logbook on file shows that the Land Rover belonged to H. Howe & Sons Ltd of Bridge Garage, Bleadon by the early 1970s. Remaining in the South West for much of the next two decades, it was entrusted to Stephen Ogg Engineering of Downton, near Salisbury for a photographically documented body off, chassis up restoration during 1990. Emerging in Desert Sand, the 80-in was subsequently improved by G. Hiscock Esq of Ascot during the late 1990s / early 2000s including a rewire. Registered with The Land Rover Series One Club Ltd, ‘386 UHW’ had belonged to P. Wade of Kent for ten years and been repainted Bronze Green when marque specialist John Brown 4x4 advertised it for sale during summer 2015 as: “A beautiful and original, early 80-in Land Rover. It has a superb, sound chassis and lovely straight bodywork. She is presented to a high standard throughout, with gloss professional paint to all areas”. Acquired by its last keeper for £30,157, the Series I entered the current ownership in July 2018. Sparingly used as part of an impressive multi-marque collection, ‘386 UHW’ started readily and ran well during our recent photography session. Now presenting as an older restoration with a gentle patina, the Landie has lost none of its charm and is offered for sale with V5C Registration Document and history file.

For more information, please contact:
Damian Jones
damian.jones@handh.co.uk
07855 493737