1970 Land-Rover Series 2a (IIa) 88", wonderful condition

Description for Land Rover Series 2a, SIIa 1970

Up for auction is my 1970 Land-Rover late Series IIA 88”. This is a straightforward truck with unmatched style that has been my driver of choice for nearly 20 years. I bought it in 1999 in southern California from the previous owner, ho lived in Washington before CA, nd purchased it from Virginia. The owner prior to me made some substantial improvements to the truck (detailed below) and I’ve updated, aintained, nd loved it accordingly for the past 2 decades.

The truck has 99,000 miles on it, nd the 2.25 liter petrol engine has about 23,000 miles on it. The new motor was purchased from British Pacific (have receipt for engine and installation for $4,500, t 76,500 miles) in February 1999. It is a stock engine but with some very desirable upgrades that make it both more powerful and usable today, ncluding 8:1 compression, .5 cam, nd no-lead head. It has lots of power. A compression check verifies that it is in great shape, ith high compression evenly across all 4 cylinders. It also has a Rochester carburetor conversion, nd the carbs were rebuilt very recently.

The frame of the truck is very solid, ith a new galvanized rear cross member. The truck was painted with OEM paint in Red/Limestone in August, 995. The body is mostly straight, hough there are a few dings that I’ve tried to show in the pictures (see the rear door, or example, hich has always been munched up a bit). The truck has larger than original 16” wheels, hich have been painted to match the top (the original 15” wheels are included too), ith 5 Dunlop 235/85/R16 all-terrain tires. Of course it also has a bonnet-mounted spare (as all self-respecting Land-Rovers must), ith hardware for 2 more spares if you want to go on safari (one on the rear door and an interior mount too).

The truck has Superwinch overdrive, hich makes highway driving not only possible but easy. Transmission was professionally rebuilt in 1997 and it shifts easily and perfectly smoothly. The truck cruises very happily at 60-65 mph, nd still mostly happily at 70 mph. It may go downhill with the wind at its back to reach 75+, ut I wouldn’t do that personally (buy something else if you want to go fast). My advice is not to buy any Series Land-Rover without overdrive, nless you want to drive exclusively from one pasture on the farm to another.

The truck also has a number of nice upgrades and additions to make it more comfortable and practical, ut without sacrificing its character and originality. It has a Delco alternator conversion, eries III Door-latch upgrades with locks, nertial seatbelts and center seat seatbelt & mounts (used by me for a baby seat for a decade), nd Defender style exterior rearview mirrors. It also has very desirable freewheeling hubs. And all 3 front seats are new and in perfect shape.

And…I’ve done a lot to the truck in terms of maintenance and fixes, eyond of course changing the oil every 2,000 miles or so and maintaining other fluid levels, tc.: it has a newer radiator that was recently confirmed to be in great shape (truck NEVER overheats), istributor, uel sender, rake booster, lutch slave and master cylinders, xhaust and intake manifolds, nd exhaust system.

In the last several years I have also replaced the following: fuel pump, tarter, ew wheel cylinders, rake pads, nd lines on all 4 wheels, istributor cap, lug wires, oints, ondenser, gnition wires and spark plugs, eater control valve, adiator hoses, ater pump, i torque starter, olenoid, attery cut off switch mounted in cabin, peedometer cable, uel tank, any exterior lenses, nd Rocky Mountain parabolic springs and shock absorbers, oth front and rear.

I have receipts for everything mentioned here (and much more) from the previous owner and from me. The owner totaled up his investment in parts, ills, nd purchase price when he sold the truck to me to be $22,106 when I bought it in 1999 (his purchase price was $4,500 back then), ut I haven’t had the heart to do the same. The short version, hough, s that a lot of money has been put into this truck to keep it in good shape.

Old Land-Rovers are somewhat noisy (but not deafening), rash, nd noticeable. They typically leak: oil comes out from below and water comes in from above -- not much of either, ut more than your Honda (my favorite Land-Rover quote is “if it ain’t leaking it’s probably empty”). The paint is gloriously faded, verywhere, nd is peeling in a few small places on the top. I personally love this look and have intentionally let it weather. It looks like it should be in a Territory Ahead ad…and, n fact, t was. My goal has always been to have a mechanically superior truck with a great patina, uch that I can both drive it and park it anywhere, nytime, ithout concern. If you want a shiny truck, his is not it (although, must say, t is a perfect candidate for becoming fancy – the mechanicals are already very sound and the body and interior could very easily be brought to a high quality finish standard if that’s your thing…though I personally hope it’s not...along those lines, lease NOTE that the last photo is of the truck when I got it, efore its faded paint -- I include this to give you an idea of what it would look like if you were to give it a simple respray). If you want a beautiful truck, his is it. The aluminum body is, f course, ust free. The bulkhead is not rusted, ut the floor panels in front have some small rust-through holes (these can easily be swapped out and replaced).

Here is what I know to need attention, ther than what I’ve mentioned above: The heater blows but it’s not hot so probably needs the element fixed. The headliner was falling apart, o I’ve removed the front portion of it for now; I of course have the frame, hich also holds the center-mounted rearview mirror, ut the headliner will need to be replaced. The odometer stopped working just last week and I haven’t gotten around to fixing it yet. The bench seats are in rough shape and should be recovered or replaced eventually. It has no clock since, ell, ho cares what time it is in the Rover?

Sold as is where is of course. Shipping is at your expense but I will of course cooperate/coordinate with the shipper. $500 nonrefundable deposit due within 24 hours of auction close, alance due with 3 days via wire transfer only.

It’s not for everyone but it may be just the thing for you, f you seek a supremely cool, unctional truck that is so hip even the hipsters haven't discovered it yet (thank god).