Land Rover Classic has finished refurbishing a pre-production copy of the 1948 Land Rover that everyone believed was lost back in the 1960s.
In 2016, the car was accidentally discovered sitting in a backyard in Solihull, England, not far from the factory where it was originally assembled. Land Rover proceeded to take it in for immediate full restoration, and the result is now before you.
The expert team used an X-ray unit to determine which components of the vehicle required replacement or maintenance. It referenced the original design drafts and blueprints as it restored the SUV to its former glory, and even repaired the buttons responsible for switching all-wheel-drive system modes (only earlier concept cars had these buttons). The company had to browse through countless old photographs to determine what the emblems and logos looked like on the original vehicle, and it enlisted the help of forest workers to determine the origin and wood type of the decayed wooden trim.
Restoring the hull alone took an entire year, and of course the engine, brakes, suspension, and steering were overhauled to top condition as well.
After a premiere at the Goodwood Revival, the car will go to the marque’s own museum.