Tim Schofield
Head of UK Business Development, Motoring
LOT 255
1955 Land Rover Series 1 4x4 SAS Prototype Registration no. 43 BR 70 Chassis no. 170601215 Engine no. 57114831
Sold for £71,300 inc. premium
Lot 255
1955 Land Rover Series 1 4x4 SAS Prototype
Goodwood Revival: Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia|9 September 2023, 13:30 BST|Chichester, Goodwood
1955 Land Rover Series 1 4x4 SAS Prototype
Registration no. 43 BR 70
Chassis no. 170601215
Engine no. 57114831
Registration no. 43 BR 70
Chassis no. 170601215
Engine no. 57114831
• Built for use by the British Army's Special Air Service
• One of only two SAS Series I Land Rovers that believe to survive
• Believed used in Oman
• Restored between 2013 and 2015
• Offered from a private collection of Series I Land Rovers
The SAS (Special Air Service) regiment was formed in the North African desert during the Second World War by Captain (later Major) David Stirling, initially as a special operations unit able to go behind enemy lines, carry out their mission, and get out quickly. At first they used parachute drops, and when these proved disastrous, turned to motorised transport of the kind used by their colleagues in the LRDG (Long Range Desert Group). At first these consisted of a variety of trucks, but the SAS soon developed their own bespoke vehicles based on the American Army's Willys Jeep.
After the war the SAS needed to replace the Jeeps and opted for a setup similar to that used on the Jeeps but based on the Land Rover. The vehicle offered here (Army registration '43 BR 70') is one of six prototypes (numbers '170601210'-'170601215') and the only one built on an 86" chassis. The other five were all erected on the 88" chassis. They first saw active service in Oman.
'43 BR 70' is one of only two SAS Series I Land Rovers that survive (the other is an 88" model which is in the famous Dunsfold Land Rover Collection). It is very heavily armed with a .50 calibre machine gun on the rear, two Vickers machine guns on the bulkhead, a Bren gun for the driver, and a bazooka in the rear. The later 88" models had a .30 calibre machine gun on the rear, as the .50 calibre was so powerful that its recoil bent the tailgate!
Little is known of this vehicle's service life (as SAS missions are shrouded in secrecy), but it is believed it saw action in Oman amongst other places. Restored between 2013 and 2015, this SAS Land Rover is described by our vendor as in excellent condition in every respect and offered with UK V5C Registration Certificate. '43 BR 70' is a genuinely unique vehicle - the rarest of the rare! - and is sure to attract favourable attention at any gathering of military vehicle enthusiasts.
• One of only two SAS Series I Land Rovers that believe to survive
• Believed used in Oman
• Restored between 2013 and 2015
• Offered from a private collection of Series I Land Rovers
The SAS (Special Air Service) regiment was formed in the North African desert during the Second World War by Captain (later Major) David Stirling, initially as a special operations unit able to go behind enemy lines, carry out their mission, and get out quickly. At first they used parachute drops, and when these proved disastrous, turned to motorised transport of the kind used by their colleagues in the LRDG (Long Range Desert Group). At first these consisted of a variety of trucks, but the SAS soon developed their own bespoke vehicles based on the American Army's Willys Jeep.
After the war the SAS needed to replace the Jeeps and opted for a setup similar to that used on the Jeeps but based on the Land Rover. The vehicle offered here (Army registration '43 BR 70') is one of six prototypes (numbers '170601210'-'170601215') and the only one built on an 86" chassis. The other five were all erected on the 88" chassis. They first saw active service in Oman.
'43 BR 70' is one of only two SAS Series I Land Rovers that survive (the other is an 88" model which is in the famous Dunsfold Land Rover Collection). It is very heavily armed with a .50 calibre machine gun on the rear, two Vickers machine guns on the bulkhead, a Bren gun for the driver, and a bazooka in the rear. The later 88" models had a .30 calibre machine gun on the rear, as the .50 calibre was so powerful that its recoil bent the tailgate!
Little is known of this vehicle's service life (as SAS missions are shrouded in secrecy), but it is believed it saw action in Oman amongst other places. Restored between 2013 and 2015, this SAS Land Rover is described by our vendor as in excellent condition in every respect and offered with UK V5C Registration Certificate. '43 BR 70' is a genuinely unique vehicle - the rarest of the rare! - and is sure to attract favourable attention at any gathering of military vehicle enthusiasts.
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