Land Rover rose from the ashes of post-World War II Britain. Faced with a bombed-out factory, rationed raw materials, and little demand for its previous luxury offerings, the Rover Company’s chief designer Maurice Wilks suggested manufacturing small utility vehicles inspired by the American Willy’s Jeep.

The first Land Rover models were simply named “Series” each time the platform was updated. The Series I entered production in 1948, making way for the lightly revised Series II in 1958, while the Series III enjoyed a production run from 1971 to 1985.

The 1973 Land Rover Series III presented here preserves the character of original Rovers while benefitting from technological updates seen on later models. The present owner started with a stock Series III and is said to have set off on a three-year comprehensive restoration with the goal of creating a classic Land Rover for the modern day with greatly improved comfort and driving dynamics. The 1973 Series III aluminum body was paired with a new galvanized Marsland Defender 110 chassis by KDL Group in the UK. The new chassis is equipped with an International HS 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine from Motor & Diesel Engineering, with a claimed output superior to that of Land Rover’s 300 Tdi engine. Power is delivered to the wheels via a five-speed manual transmission from Ashcroft Transmission that has been fitted with a Romerdrive overdrive system available on all gears.

Originally a soft-top model, this example has been updated with a removable hard top for all-season use. A new tan canvas convertible soft-top and hoop set accompany the sale for easy conversion to a fair-weather cruiser. Other upgrades include Webasto diesel-fired engine and cabin heaters, a wing-top snorkel air-intake system with front brush bar, and Hella fog lamps. Inside, heated front seats and Exmoor Trim leather upholstery coddle occupants. A black Tuffy steel lockbox center console and discretely installed Kenwood 1000-watt stereo system with subwoofers round out the luxury appointments.

The result of a meticulous three-year restoration, this Land Rover offers modern amenities, increased comfort, and superior performance while maintaining the beloved Series III’s vintage charm.