Vehicle Description
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.