The Series III ‘Stage 1 V8’ was the unique “step-up car” between the Series, Ninety/One Ten, and later Defender models of Land Rover. Around the late-1970s, competitor marques such as Nissan and Toyota were producing more powerful six-cylinder engines than any motor found in the Series III, while the Ninety/One Ten (later becoming the Defender) range was not yet ready for production. Consequently, Land Rover created the greatest Series III imaginable, pairing the Series body with the 3.5-litre V-8, LT95 gerbox, and permanent four-wheel drive from the Range Rover. The result, known as the ‘Stage 1 V8’, was introduced in 1979 and built in very low numbers, thought to be in the low hundreds.

This example was delivered new to Switzerland in 1979, outfitted as a fire engine for inaccessible mountainous terrain, and first put in service in 1981 for the community of Waldenburg, Germany. Over the years, the fire pump and water tank were removed, and the car was said to have been used only very occasionally. Service records since 2004 show a limited use of only a few thousand kilometres per annum, culminating in the odometer reading of 56,656 kilometres at the time of cataloguing.

The consigning owner acquired the car in 2017 and duly embarked on a complete frame-off “nut-and-bolt” restoration. The car was completely disassembled, with every painted surface media blasted and repainted, while every part was cleaned and evaluated. The engine and mechanical components were reconditioned, all wear and tear items such as rubber parts were replaced, and 90 per cent of the nuts, bolts, and rivets were replaced by new OEM versions. The car was finally reassembled to a “better than new’’ condition in 2020, and has since been lightly used in the south of France.

This rare ‘Stage 1 V8’ presents as a glossy and appealing Series III. The painstaking restoration process is fully photo documented from beginning to end, and the result is breathtaking.