1965 Land Series IIA 88"

The Overview THE DEFINITIVE LAND ROVER Of all the iterations of the original Land Rover, none settled the formula quite like the Series IIA. Introduced in 1961 and built for a decade, it carried the barrel-sided body drawn for the Series II by Rover stylist David Bache. Its 2.25-liter petrol four would remain the marque’s standard engine for two further generations of trucks. The IIA’s tenure spanned a landmark, with the 500,000th Land Rover built during its run, and the grille-mounted headlamps it wore until the very end of the 1960s remain the face the world still pictures. Six decades later, the standing of these trucks is such that Land Rover Classic chose a 1965 Series IIA, company co-founder Spencer Wilks’ own, as the inspiration for its first heritage special edition. “It’s a great little motor, so I’ve kept it,” Paul McCartney told Octane in 2020 of the Series IIA he bought in 1970 and owns to this day. “It’s on the drive now.” Series IIA # 24419491B According to its British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate, 24419491B was built on 17 December 1964 and dispatched on 1 January 1965 to The Rover Company of North America in Boston: an 88-inch Basic, left-hand drive to North American Export specification, finished in Marine Blue. The factory recorded neither engine nor body number, as the certificate states plainly, so what the paperwork establishes is a truck built new for the American market, and finished in a factory color it still wears. The truck’s early decades are undocumented; its known history begins in Maine with venerable Series restorer Mike Capozza, who completed this 88’s ground-up restoration in 2016. Capozza built the truck for his own daughter, who thereafter used it as her daily driver, and it stands today on the replacement galvanised chassis fitted during that work, the frame stamped with the original chassis number in correct Series practice. Since 2024, two more of the country’s most respected Series workshops have added their hands to Capozza’s. Six invoices on file, four from the legendary Lanny Clark of Vermont and the most recent from Ike Goss’ Pangolin 4×4 in Oregon, the shop behind the rescue of Steve McQueen’s Series II, document 201.5 hours and more than $51,000 of work refreshing the 88. Fresh Marine Blue paint by Classic Paint of New York and a complete rewire with new harnesses were followed by a Series III dual-circuit power-brake conversion, a Roamerdrive overdrive, five Michelin XZL tires on powder-coated steel wheels, and a new canvas top in sand. The 2.25-liter four has been improved with a 2.5-liter camshaft, a 0.030-inch overbore, and hardened valve seats, with a Weber carburettor, hidden Pertronix ignition, and a Delco alternator conversion. The truck presents accordingly: the paintwork sits well over panels that still show their factory spot welds, and the five Limestone-colored wheels are unmarked. Beneath, the bright galvanised chassis is fresh and carries passivated fasteners. Inside, the three-across black vinyl seating is fitted with retractable three-point belts, rare equipment on a Series truck, as is the period Kodiak Mark IV fresh-air heater with its Hupp Corporation maker’s plate. A side-opening tailgate with a folding step, Warn locking hubs, and parabolic springs complete a specification chosen for use. Documented with its Heritage Trust certificate, a clean Montana title, and the invoice file, this lovely 88 stands sorted by the three best-known names in the American Series world, and equipped to be driven for decades to come. Technical Specifications 2.25-Liter Petrol Inline-Four with 2.5-Liter Camshaft and 0.030-Inch Overbore Hardened Valve Seats for Unleaded Fuel Weber Carburettor with Hidden Pertronix Electronic Ignition GM Delco Alternator, Negative-Earth Conversion, and Series III Starter Spin-On Oil Filter Conversion and Oil-Cooler Sump Plate Mechanical and Electric Fuel Pumps Inline Four-Speed Manual Gearbox, Non-Synchromesh First and Second Dual-Range Transfer Case with Roamerdrive Overdrive Series III Dual-Circuit Power-Assisted Brakes Rovers North Parabolic Springs and Pro Comp Gas Shock Absorbers Warn Manually Locking Front Hubs Michelin 4X4 O/R XZL 7.50 R 16 C Tires on Powder-Coated 16-Inch Steel Wheels Replacement Galvanised Chassis, Stamped with the Original Chassis Number Exmoor Trim Sand Canvas Soft-Top with Side-Opening Tailgate and Folding Rear Step Provenance Built 17 December 1964; dispatched 1 January 1965 to The Rover Company of North America, Boston Ground-up restoration completed 2016 by Mike Capozza, Maine British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate 2024/2437, issued 18 June 2024 Acquired by the current owner in Maine, June 2024 East Coast Rover Co., Rockland, Maine — August 2024 Lanny Clark Rovers, Colchester, Vermont — four invoices, October 2024 to July 2025 Pangolin 4×4, Springfield, Oregon — November 2025 Montana certificate of title, no brand recorded