1974 Land Rover Series III 88″ “Soft Top” |

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1974 Land Rover Series III 88″ “Soft Top”

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Mileage~67,500
TransmissionManual
Engine2.25L
LocationHolsworthy

AUCTION CLOSED

1974 Land Rover Series III 88″ “Soft Top”

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Introduction

Jacob Boodrie

Professional Consigner

The ultimate British 4x4 classic — you don’t need to look much further than the time-tested Land Rover Series III.

First introduced in 1971 as a facelifted evolution of the Series II and IIA, the Land Rover Series III brought a host of updates, including a fully synchromesh four-speed gearbox, front-mounted headlights, a stylish plastic grille, and various mechanical improvements over its predecessors. These classic Land Rovers earned a global reputation for their ruggedness and versatility, serving in both emergency services and military roles around the world.

This particular Series III is a former fire-service vehicle, finished in striking fire engine red with a matching Exmoor Trim roll-up soft top. Coming to market after around ~3 years of ownership, it remains a highly practical classic — perfect for farm use or countryside adventures. Now both MOT and road tax exempt, it’s ready for the next chapter with a current MOT valid until 09.03.2026.

This listing was written from information supplied by Jacob after meeting Paul the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

This has been my first classic Land Rover, and it’s been a true pleasure to own over the years.

Paul purchased this Land Rover Series III from auction just over three years ago. Having previously sold his Morris Minor with us, and after relocating to Devon, he felt this Land Rover would be not only a sensible purchase but an enjoyable one too! During his three years of ownership, Paul has refreshed the soft top and attended to minor mechanical issues to ensure the smooth running of this Series III.

Having enjoyed and cherished the vehicle, Paul now feels ready to make a change — and so the Land Rover is being offered for sale with us. He’ll be happy to answer any questions about the car you may have in the comments below.

Paul

Vehicle Owner

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Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Rugged, practical, and instantly recognisable, the Series III offers a perfect mix of utility and vintage charm.

Wheels and Tyres

The 16” wheels, finished in white, provide a great contrast to the bright fire engine red paintwork, and enhance the vehicle’s utilitarian charm. During our visit, the wheels appeared well cared for, with no obvious damage to any of the hubs.

The wheels are fitted with Michelin 4x4 tyres, which also appear to be in good condition. They show a healthy amount of tread remaining, with no obvious cracking or signs of ageing on the sidewalls.

Bodywork

The bodywork of this Series III is in great condition, with panel gaps around the vehicle appearing well aligned. During our visit, we didn’t notice any major dings or dents for a Series 3. There are some minor areas of corrosion under the doors.

We’ve provided more detailed observations in our high-resolution images and videos. Please take the time to review all media for a comprehensive look at the vehicle’s condition.

Paint

Finished in red, the paint shows even coverage and consistent colour across each panel. It appears very well maintained, and Paul reports regular washing and that the vehicle has always been garaged during his ownership. There are some paint imperfections above the lights on the front of the car, and there’s also a small scratch on the rear tailgate and nearside wing.

Once again, we’ve captured high-resolution imagery to help you assess the bodywork’s condition in detail.

Glass and Trim

The glass on this Land Rover Series III presents well and is consistent with the vehicle’s age and mileage. During our visit, we didn't notice any chips, cracks, or discolouration. The window seals also appear in good condition and are consistent with the rest of the car.

The bumpers, door handles, and window surrounds are also in good shape. As shown in the exterior photos, the canvas top remains in excellent condition, with no visible tears or rips.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Inside, the tough yet functional interior is built for adventure — ready for anything the off-road throws at it.

Seats and Carpets

The black vinyl seats have held their shape very well over the years, as you would expect with cherished and careful ownership. We did notice a rip in the passenger seat on the bolster.

A similar story is told with the door cards and black carpets. For a detailed view of the cabin, please take a look at the extensive media.

Dashboard

The dashboard is covered in a black vinyl finish and presents two dials in front of the driver.

The dashboard in this Series III shows no signs of any major damage or scuffs, and with no warning lights displayed. The odometer showed a reading of ~67,536 miles during our visit.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

A leather wrapped Mountney steering wheel is fitted. The trim on the steering wheel is in good condition, with the metal frame showing age. The black gearstick looks good. For a closer look, check out the image gallery to see the detail.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Equipped with a 2.25L petrol engine and four-wheel drive with low range, it’s capable of tackling all terrains.

Engine and Gearbox

The Land Rover Series III is powered by an inline-4 2.25L offering the driver ~70BHP to tap into. On the day of our visit, we started the car from cold, and it performed well on the road, the engine pulled nicely, idled smoothly, and ran without fault.

Paul reports that the car starts from cold with no issues and drives well with its smooth manual gearbox feeding power to all four wheels. Take a look at the mechanical video to see the car starting from cold, driving around, and for a closer look underneath the Series III and the engine bay.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension appears to be in good condition, providing a smooth journey on the sweeping Devonshire roads, and the car received a clean MOT in March 2025.

During our short drive in the car, it felt just as you'd expect for a 4x4 from this era, coming to a stop without a fuss too.

The Drive

The SWB series III is a great versatile classic, offering practical hauling capabilities while being able to travel over any terrain you throw at it.

Paul mentions the truck offers a unique experience, one that'll make you smile wherever you decide to venture.

Electrics and Other

We didn’t test all the electrics during our visit, but Paul reports that, to his knowledge, all of the electrics are functional and operational, aligning with the overall condition of the car.

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History and Paperwork

This car has seen just 5 former keepers, comes to market from ~3 year ownership, is an Ex-Fire Service vehicle and presents very well with a clean MOT from March 2025.

The car is coming out of a ~3 year ownership with Paul. The car has bags of originality and is a rather rare find, as it's an ex-Fire Service spec. Check out the history and paperwork images to see the MOT reports, servicing and parts this Land Rover Series 3 88" Soft Top Roadster has received over its life. The Series 3 comes with a current MOT valid until 09.03.2026.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
10.03.2025	MOT	67,461
30.09.2022	MOT	67,381
13.05.2022	Service	67,298
02.05.2019	MOT	67,229
29.08.2017	MOT	67,214
29.07.2016	MOT	67,041
05.02.2013	MOT	66,832
14.06.2007	MOT	66,726
22.06.2006	MOT	66,714

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Key Details

ModelSeries 3 88" Soft Top
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date06.01.1974
CC2,286
Mileage~67,500
HistoryPresent
ColourRed
Interior ColourBlack
Interior TrimVinyl
Chassis #90108070A
Engine #90152306B
Last Service13.05.2022
MOTYes. Exp - 09.03.2026
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes
Former Keepers5
Tyre TreadGood
Tyre BrandMichelin
Tyre Age2005
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~3 years, 3 months
Key FeatureCondition
Auction ID2852

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Vehicle Location

Holsworthy

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Auction Closed

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This car didn't meet its reserve price and may soon be available as a private sale - please contact us for more information or let us know if you want to be notified when a similar car comes to market.

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Seller : Paul B

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1 Comment

Kulraj Salh

Admin

7 months ago

Auction Update – The seller Paul B has removed the reserve on this auction, so it is now in effect “on sale” with no reserve. It will sell to the highest bid this evening. Good luck if you’re involved in the bidding. Best, Kulraj – Trade Classics

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