1957 Land Rover series 1 109 Single Cab

If there is one thing the early Land Rover Series 1 was never accused of, it’s being complicated. Built with the sort of straightforward engineering that assumes the owner might be holding a spanner in one hand and a cup of tea in the other, the Series I established a reputation for durability that borders on stubbornness.

This particular example began life in 1957 and was delivered to Australia as a CKD (Completely Knocked Down) kit for the 1958 model year—the final year of Series I production. It was supplied to Pressed Metals Corporation Limited, Sydney Australia, the company responsible for assembling Land Rovers locally before sending them out to live lives that were, more often than not, far from gentle.

When this Land Rover was eventually rediscovered it was, quite remarkably, still in use, which tells you rather a lot about both the vehicle and the sort of people who tend to own them. A professional restoration was subsequently undertaken by a respected Land Rover specialist in Queensland, with a clear emphasis on preserving originality rather than replacing it.

The original engine remains with the vehicle and was fully rebuilt to its correct 2000cc petrol specification. The gearbox, springs, axles and differential have also been comprehensively rebuilt, ensuring the mechanical components are as robust today as the designers in Solihull intended.

Great care was taken to retain original elements wherever possible. The original windscreen glass, most of the body panels, and the door tops were all preserved and restored rather than replaced. Where new parts were required, they were sourced from the United Kingdom (often from the original manufacturer) maintaining the integrity of the restoration.

Even the small details were treated with the same level of respect, with Whitworth thread nuts and bolts retained throughout, exactly as they would have been when the vehicle was first assembled.

The result is an exceptionally honest, correct and well-restored Series I 109 that manages to retain the character and authenticity that make these early Land Rovers so appealing. It stands today not as a polished museum piece, but as something far more appropriate: a proper Land Rover, ready for the next chapter of its life