Land Rover Diesel was sold for a very reasonable £9250 at Brightwells
Every week, we’re highlighting an auction bargain that we reckon was well bought. Thanks to our friends at Classic Car Weekly, and its roving classic car auction reporter, Richy Barnett, we’ll bring you some interesting classics at much lower-than-expected prices. This week, we’re looking at an interesting long-wheelbase Land Rover diesel that got nowhere near its upper estimate.
Car 1957 Land Rover 109 Diesel
Sold for £9250
Original estimate £8500-12,500
Long story short: It was a rare survivor
Brightwells pointed out what made this example so special, because not only was it a long-wheelbase, but that two-litre diesel unit made it very rare; only 153 109in diesels were made in 1957, this being the 43rd. Just eight others are known to survive.
Also in its favour was its early life spent as a fire engine, which accounted for the odometer reading of only 61,670, which was believed to be genuine. Thanks to the low mileage and regular maintenance, the vendor (who had owned it for 20 years) was said not to have carried out any engine work.
The vendor bought it from a local garage and carried out some repairs to the body and the chassis, including a re-paint, although there were a few places where the original red could still be seen. Later wheels were fitted, painted in contrasting RAF blue.
Because much of this model’s originality had been preserved, some features added to the appeal. These included a prop-shaft transmission damper, low-fuel warning light and a heavy-duty dynamo. Mere details to some, but for ‘real’ Land Rover enthusiasts wanting an extremely original example, these were potentially deal-tempting points.
Land Rover 109 Diesel price guide
Concours £18,000-22,000
Good £6000-12,000
Usable £4000-5000
Project £1000-2000
THIS CAR £9250
Well bought Land Rover 109 Diesel: The verdict
It’s proof that not all Series I Land Rovers cost a fortune these days. We’ve seen prices for the sought-after 80in models shoot up over the past decade, but Brightwells – surely an auctioneer associated with old Landies more than any other – knows this market well. This one was estimated at a much more level-headed price, and there were two others in the same auction, albeit not in this one’s condition. It had been preserved, rather than restored.
It’s still a good time to buy an old Land Rover. While it’s true the Land Rover market has settled, that large and loyal following will always pay more for the more interesting models. Yes, it went a grand above the lower estimate, but this was still a good buy.
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