1949 Land Rover Series I 4x4 Station Wagon

• The first left-hand drive Series I station wagon produced
• One of only some 20 survivors
• Supplied new to Poland
• Restored by a marque specialist during the 2000s
• Offered from a private collection of Series I Land Rovers

"A Tickford was built for the landed gentry, for hunting and shooting and fishing, to be driven along a few dirty tracks and then brought home to be cleaned by the chauffeur. It's a coachbuilt upmarket, off-road limo for the post-war big spender." – Classic LRO magazine.

Introduced in 1948 on the 80" chassis, the very first Land Rover Station Wagon was built by Newport Pagnell-based coachbuilders Tickford Ltd; it featured an aluminium-panelled, timber-framed body, and was intended to extend the Landie's appeal beyond the agricultural sector. The result was this relatively luxurious, timber-framed vehicle with features such as wind-up windows, a heater, one-piece windscreen, self-cancelling indicators, and a split tailgate similar to that used on the first Range Rover some 20 years later.

However, they were not a commercial success, as the Station Wagon was treated as a car by the taxation authorities, adding a hefty chunk of Purchase Tax to its already considerable cost. Including PT, the Station Wagon cost £961 (you could have bought three terraced houses for the same money) against a regular (tax-free) Land Rover at £550. Only 651 vehicles were made, the vast majority going for export, many of which were used in overseas aid projects. It is estimated that only around 20 survive, including one at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu and one at the Heritage Motor Museum at Gaydon, and today this early 'luxury' Land Rover is one of the most sought-after variants.

This vehicle was the first of a batch supplied to UNICEF in Poland and was the first left-hand drive example produced. Discovered in Poland during the late 1990s, it was brought back to the UK and painstakingly restored by John Taylor, one of the leading authorities on early Land Rovers, retaining the original 1,600cc engine and running gear. The current owner has enjoyed this vehicle for a number of years and has taken it on several trips around the UK and Europe. The vendor has taken the vehicle to several Land Rover shows and it has won multiple awards including at the Land Rover Series One Club National Rally.

Tickford Station Wagons always attract a lot of interest from Land Rover enthusiasts, and the vendor was once followed by a car for several miles until he reached his destination in East Sussex. The car driver was so intrigued by the vehicle he went completely off his route to find out what it was and speak to the driver!

Finished in two-tone green with matching interior, this ultra-rare Series I Land Rover variant is described by our vendor as in generally excellent condition and offered with a UK V5C Registration Certificate.