MAKE & MODEL: Land Rover Series 180” (Lights through the grille)

REGISTRATION: KXS574

YEAR: 1950

COLOUR: Bronze Green

ENGINE SIZE: 1595cc

CHASSIS NO: 06113763

ENGINE NO: 06113936

FRONT AXLE NO. 06114254 - REAR AXLENO. 06114342

DOCUMENTS: V5C, Heritage Certificate

Land Rover entered production in 1948 with what has later been termed the Series I. This was launched at the Amsterdam Motor Show. It was designed for farm and light industrial use, with a steel box-section chassis and an aluminium body.

Originally the Land Rover was a single model offering, which from 1948 until 1951 used an80-inch (2.03 m) wheelbase and a 1.6-litre petrol engine producing around 50bhp (37 kW; 51 PS). The four-speed gearbox from the Rover P3 was used, with a new two-speed transfer box. This incorporated an unusual four-wheel-drive system, with a freewheel unit (as used on several Rover cars of the time). This disengaged the front axle from the manual transmission on the overrun, allowing a form of permanent 4WD. A lever mechanism in the driver's foot well allowed the freewheel to be locked to provide more traditional 4WD. This was a basic vehicle: tops for the doors and a roof (canvas or metal) were optional extras. In 1950, the lights moved from a position behind the grille to protruding through the grille.

Our matching numbers “lights through the grille” Land Rover (according to the heritage certificate) was built on 19th June 1950 and dispatched on the same day to Morsmith Motors Ltd of Cardiff. It spent some time abroad in Israel (where the weather is kind to the chassis and bulkhead) and was purchased two years ago by a Land Rover enthusiast in Dorchester who has carried out pretty much a full restoration that is documented separately. It retains the original engine, freewheel gearbox, distributor, axles, chassis and bulkhead making it very rare and desirable vehicle indeed. Increasingly sort after by investors,these Land Rovers are fun to drive and own.

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