Today’s Nice Price or Crack Pipe Land Rover shows that when you build a car long enough, having hand me down parts doesn’t really matter. We’ll still see if this one’s price makes it worth the sum of its parts.
I’m sure many of you folks living in countries where driving on the left is commonplace looked askance at yesterday’s 1989 Toyota Hilux 4-Door, wondering what all the hullabaloo was about.
You see, here in America only postal workers, meter maids, and Sebring racers drive on the right. Those are all hugely aspirational advocations, hence the extortionate interest in right-hookers. Right-hand drive proved to be oh so wrong with that Hilux however, or at least it’s price did, and the JDM truck fell in a surprisingly substantial 82% Crack pipe loss. Hmmm, maybe you were right all along... even if you drive on the wrong side of the road.
Before we get to today’s car let’s have a quick primmer on the concept of condition not always equating to value. Take Keith Richards for example. These days, that guy looks like something that accidentally fell out of a Mummy’s butt, however if you want him to show up at your birthday party it’ll cost you an arm and a leg, and maybe even some coke.
I bring that up because this 1972 Land Rover Series III 88 is also British, and presents as pretty rough around the edges—and in the middle. It’s still priced just north of five digits left of the dot, and, being a classic off-roader it just might just be worth all that and a bag of crisps.
The Series III, built from 1971 to 1985, was the most proliferate of the marque’s most iconic model. These are probably exactly what you picture when someone says “imagine a Land Rover or I’ll shoot this dog!” This one’s a little unique owning to its half-cap and locale. Like yesterday’s Toyota it’s right-hand drive, and also like that truck from the other side of the world, it’s a diesel.
The oil burner presently in residence is a 2.5-litre four cylinder out of a mid-‘80s Defender. That was the Series III’s successor so it should fit as snug as the UK in the EU. Oh wait…
The ad notes that the truck was imported from the UK and came with a rebuilt four-speed manual, companion clutch, and some other kibbles and bits to keep it conversant with modern trends. There’s “minimal structural rust” according to the ad and some recent work that includes a new wiring harness imported from England, new timing belt, rebuilt injectors, brakes, starter… well, you get the picture.
As I noted the truck looks a little rough in places. The more modern seats clash a bit with the dash that looks like it once fought Rommel, and the alloy body shows some dings here and there.
On the other hand, the ad says all the lights work and it appears to have participated in some sort of Land Rover gathering according to the pics and they have standards, don’t they. No, you’re right, probably not. Still, for $10,500 you could have those same all-inclusive standards, and fill this Series III with your own choice of Bobcat delivered material.
What do you think, is this rough but ready Land Rover seemingly worth that $10,500 asking? Or, is that just another sign of the decline of the British Empire?
You decide!
Kansas City Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to Glemon for the hookup!
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