SOTW: Land Rover Series III

Shed is well aware the 'Speed Matters', but the recent arrival on the PH fleet of our very own brand new Land Rover Defender - and the subsequent groundswell of PH love for the venerable off-roader - has had Shed scouring the classifieds for a Landie of its own for some weeks now.

Now, the PH Fleet's oh-so-shiny Keswick Green long-wheelbase Defender might seem a world away from the rugged little workhorse that is today's SOTW, but the indomitable go-anywhere spirit that shines through from every panel on this little Series III is still evident in the newer car.

Mind you, there's no doubt that the Series III is the purer expression of Landieness - the CD player, part-leather seats, six-speed gearbox, electric windows and 'proper' dashboard that makes towing My Caterham to race tracks less of a chore do somewhat soften the earthiness that remains at the heart of a Defender.

There's no such cushioning with this Series III, however. Wheels, seats, an engine and a steering wheel are about all you get. That's about all you need, though: whether you plan to take it green-laning, use it as a workhorse to chug about the farm in, or just to live out your Heartbeat or Emmerdale fantasies with it, few cars will do so much with so little fuss.

This early Series III looks a little weathered and grimy, but then that's more a badge of honour on an old Landie rather than a negative point.

The advert is endearingly terse, not saying whether this 1972 model has the 72bhp petrol or 61bhp diesel 2.25-litre four-pot engine, what sort of service history it has - or even whether it has any tax. These things are clearly just not important to rural Land Rover folk.

What it does say is that there are four nearly-new tyres on it, that it has freewheel hubs (allowing you to make it rear-wheel drive by disconnecting the front driveshaft) and that it has an MOT until September.

The vendor discloses literally no more information than that - but you don't need to know much more, do you? That's the beauty of an old Land Rover - much like the advert, it's an uncomplicated, speak-as-you-find sort of affair - and I really like that.

When the inevitable comes and a man from Gaydon takes away my Defender I hope there's an old Land Rover like this one out there in Classified Land. Because if there is I will be buying it.

Advert is reproduced below.

Land Rover Series 3 SWB
£950 ono
Excellent workhorse, only 200 miles on 4 new tyres, freewheel hubs, MOT Sept.

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