Like any restorative work, bringing an old Land Rover to a roadworthy state will take time. You can hire a professional to complete the job or do it yourself. Completing the restoration yourself will seem financially appealing but can end up costing more overall.

Ensure you have a large space to complete the work and a knowledge of what parts will be required. There’s nothing worse than ordering a part and waiting around for it.

You will also need to research whether the spare parts are available. If you have a schedule, then waiting for these parts to be delivered can hold you up or you may need to pay more for fast delivery. Investing in a catalogue for your Series Land Rover can help you locate the right parts and avoid mistakes.

Uniquely, this Rover had the steering wheel positioned centrally in the vehicle. This meant that individual left-hand drive and right-hand drive models didn’t have to be manufactured. However, this design proved impractical, and towards the end of the 1950s, most had been dismantled. 

This was also the first model that offered a new colour of bronze-green. Every model before 1949 came with paintwork of light green. The 1950s saw the manufacturing of fifty pre-production vehicles, all with 2 litre engines. As time progressed, the truck cab model was available instead of the full-length soft top.

Over time this did cause problems in certain weather conditions. Initially only available in light green but later bought in bronze green, the seven-seater proved to be a financial failure. Six hundred fifty vehicles later, this model was discontinued. 

Again, these were available in bronze green. Despite being 2-litre, this Rover offered much more power and torque to its drivers.

Vehicles built before 1955 kept the “siamese-bore” 2-litre engine but then switched to the “spread-bore”. The repositioned cylinder centres held within allowed greater movement of water. Manufacturers now expanded the colour range of these Land Rovers. These classic vehicles were available in Bronze, Green, Beige, Blue and Grey.

Still proving popular among the classic vehicle community, they are excluded from road tax. Becoming more expensive as time progressed, they are now highly sought after in the right condition and specification. Models that are exceptionally well restored or offer additional features provide better value. 

Some of the most recognisable changes were the movement of the headlights to the wings and the introductions of the Maltese grill and razor style bonnet. If you can successfully search for such a model, you will be in ownership of a coveted vehicle. 

Engine types began to differ with either a four-cylinder diesel engine or a 2.25-litre petrol engine. Following 1971, all Series 2A Land Rovers were fitted with an all-synchromesh gearbox. The seats were switched from grey to black in 1968.

The Series 3 received an improved dashboard, a new heater, and upgraded dials and switches most famously. Also improved was the station wagon, now capable of holding six people. This model became more popular among families due to its increased size and comfort.  It was also possible to convert the cab from hardtop to soft top easily. To this day, the Series 3 is a classic car favourite among the community. When properly maintained and cared for, this is a valued classic British car. 

The 88″ Land Rover 3 Series came prepared with hardtops, truck cabs, a full soft top, or a station wagon. The colour options ranged from the classic Light Green to Bronze Green, Marine Blue, Mid-Grey, Limestone and Sand.

With the 109″ vehicle, Land Rover introduced the six-cylinder engine for petrol and diesel to replace the four-cylinder. Produced as a Series 2a station wagon replacement, the 109″ was available in ten and twelve-seater versions.

Some models survived the military and have become very popular amongst collectors of vintage cars. If you come across an ex-military Land Rover, it can be an excellent investment to restore it.

Since they are lightweight 24v vehicles, they were commonly used in radio communication. Becoming known as FFR (fitted for radio) vehicles, they were incredibly lightweight and waterproof. This meant they ended up in many unique scenarios, so every model has a story. 

With a 100″ chassis and a V8 inside, this Range Rover has served the community incredibly well for decades. Limited by bodily control but providing a pleasurable and fast commute, it can prove worthwhile to restore when you find one. The older you can find a two door model, the greater the potential return. 

Newer models such as Range Rovers can provide excellent fuel efficiency, despite what you may hear online. Even older models can be converted internally, so they work with new parts despite looking the same. 

After 1991 these vehicles were named Defender to differentiate from the Discovery. These vehicles came in many conversions and variations, including ambulances, fire engines, and pick up trucks.

The Classic Land Rover Defender is known for its off-roading capabilities. The early models were produced with 2500cc petrol engines. Many classic Series and 90 Land Rovers have been retrofitted with improved engines, however. The 200tdi, 2495cc, turbo-diesel engine offered long mileage without fault and are still running today.