1977 Land Rover SERIES III 88

Vehicle Location: Port Freeport Texas
Auction Type: Reserve
Mileage: 92,648 km
Engine: 2250
Transmission: MANUAL 4X4
Exterior: YELLOW AND BLACK
Interior: BLACK
VIN: E25723256
Party: Broker

*Be sure to check out the (7) videos below

Legally imported to the United States in 2021, this 1977 Land Rover Series III 88-inch has just two owners since new, the first of whom was reportedly an executive with a banana company in South America. This Series III has undergone an extensive restoration since 2019, including a rebuilt engine and gearbox, professionally media-blasted frame and underbody, and updates to the interior. The body was restored, with all of the new parts manufactured per the manufacturer’s specifications in aluminum.

POWERTRAIN

This Series III is reportedly equipped with its factory engine, a 2.25-liter petrol-powered inline four-cylinder. The selling dealer reports that the engine was completely rebuilt in 2019. In 2021, the selling dealer fitted a new Zenith carburetor, which certainly looks new in the photos. The engine bay appears to be clean and well cared for, and the 10,000 miles claimed since its rebuild appear to be appropriate for its current condition. The four-speed gearbox was reportedly repaired in 2021. The selling dealer notes that the engine fires immediately even when the temperature is in the 30s—which happens in Texas from time to time. One noticeable change under the hood is to the wiring system. In place of the four glass fuses on a typical Series Land Rover, this example has a robust battery of relays with completely new wiring. There are a half dozen videos attached to this auction listing showing the vehicle from a cold start, idling, and driving.

EXTERIOR

The seller has provided a number of photographs showing the Land Rover as it was being disassembled and restored. The selling dealer notes that the tub was media blasted and painted prior to reassembly. The paintwork appears to be in significantly better condition than a Land Rover painted at the factory in 1977, with a glossy yellow finish. The door bottoms, fender tops, and rocker panels are protected with aluminum chequer-plate panels. In 2021, the soft-top was replaced with a new black canvas top with plastic windows, and rollup side and rear curtains. The top appears to be in new condition. The roof bows are reportedly original to the Series III and were repainted before reinstallation. The updated wiring harness allowed for LED headlamps and Hella driving lamps. A Hi-Lift jack is mounted at the rear, near a non-original backup lamp for better lighting in reverse. On the opposite side is a 20-liter auxiliary jerry can.

INTERIOR

During the restoration, the shop replaced the original removable floor panels, and painted them and the bulkhead yellow to match the exterior. The seats were replaced with much more supportive chairs than the original Land Rover low-back buckets. These seats have generous bolsters on the bottom and seat back, imitation black leather upholstery, and yellow diamond-patter stitching to match the exterior. The upholstery appears to be in excellent condition. Between the seats is a console with a lockable, flip-up armrest, as well as pockets in the front that can store small items and bottles. The cargo area has side-mounted jump seats on the wheelwells, with seat and back pads upholstered in black vinyl. The floor is protected by a black rubber mat. The selling dealer reports that the gauges are all functional, but like all Series Land Rovers, the speedometer isn’t completely accurate. The gauge lighting was updated with LED bulbs for better visibility.

CHASSIS

The selling dealer has provided photos of the frame during the restoration process. It was reportedly media blasted and repainted. If you’ve looked at Series Land Rovers, you know that unlike the body, the frame is made of steel and is susceptible to rust. The photos of the frame show what appears to be solid main sections, crossmembers, and body outriggers, painted black before the body was reinstalled. Ball joints were reportedly replaced in the manual steering system when the vehicle was being restored. The selling dealer’s notes point out that the suspension has new shocks, springs, and bushings as of 2021. The brakes were updated with a vacuum booster. The brakes are four-wheel drums with Booster braking mechanism and new wheel cylinders, shoes, and hardware. The truck rides on 16-inch steel Land Rover wheels mounted with four vintage-style Peruvian Lima Caucho Cordillera tires, sized 7.50-16, which the seller notes were purchased in 2021, and have approximately 1,500 miles.

DOCUMENTATION AND EXTRAS

This vehicle will be sold with an overseas title with U.S. Customs importation documents. This vehicle is currently located in Port Freeport, Texas, where it was imported to in June 2021 following a 10-month restoration. The seller affirms that they will provide all importation and sale documents required for a buyer to register the vehicle in their home state. Refurbishment documentation with photos will also be included. It is delivered with the legal, EPA and customs documentation, with an invoice for the buyer to register it in the state of their choice. The documents provided with this sale include: title of origin, certified translation of title of origin notarized by a United States notary, legalization and tax documents in the United States [CBP Form 7501 (06/09), CBP Form 3461 (10/09), EPA Form 3520-1, HS-7 (Rev. 07-2014)]. Also included is a certified commercial invoice.

LOCATED IN:

Port Freepor Texas, United States.