A farmer’s ancient Land Rover that spent 30 years gathering dust at the back of a barn was auctioned as the star of the show at a Suffolk auction house.

The 1952 Series 1 vehicle went under the hammer at Clarke and Simpson’s Domestic and Rural Bygones and Collectors’ Vehicles auction on Saturday 12 September at Campsea Ashe, near Wickham Market, reports the East Anglian Daily Times.

Auctioneer James Durrant said the ‘rather unusual lot’ was a wonderful opportunity for a vehicle restorer.

“What makes it very special is that it is very original and one owner from new – farmers within four miles of our auction centre,” he said.

“It requires total restoration but the provenance is fantastic. The family even have some photos from when it was new. It was parked at the back of a barn untouched for many years and still has a thick layer of ‘authentic’ dust on it.”

The vehicle was described as a very rare opportunity to acquire an original Series 1, with only one previous owner from new, and was offered for sale with a selection of historic tax discs, and just under 71,000 miles on the clock.

The Land Rover was originally purchased by Horace and Gordon Holland of Grove Farm, Pettistree, Suffolk in 1952.

The auctioneers believe that there was little doubt that the vehicle would have frequented the auction house from which it was being sold, back when it was a livestock market.

Mr Durrant explained that the vehicle had been dry stored, and unlikely to have been out of the barn within the last 30 years, and presents a fantastic opportunity for a restoration project with excellent provenance.

If you’re looking for Land Rover V8 engines for sale, get in touch today.