1979 Land Rover Series

This Land Rover 88 Series III is a left-hand-drive pickup originally built by Metalúrgica de Santa Ana S.A. in Spain. It was refurbished in Colombia before being imported to the U.S. and acquired by the seller in 2016. The vehicle features a 1974 88 Series III Santana body refinished in yellow and mounted on a 1979 Land Rover 88 Santana frame. It is powered by a 2.25-liter inline-four engine paired with a four-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. Additional equipment includes a Weber carburetor, 16″ steel wheels, a black bed canopy, Old Man Emu shocks, a receiver hitch, and three black vinyl-trimmed bench seats. Now located in Arizona, this 88 Series III Santana is offered with service manuals, a binder of service records, a tool kit, and a Washington State title listing it as a 1979 model.

The truck’s body was refinished in yellow with a white roof before being fitted to the 1979 frame. Under previous ownership, the sill panels were replaced in 2018, followed by new door seals in 2021. In October 2023, the grille and seals for the left door and cab were replaced, and the front and rear bumpers were refinished with black Line-X material. Other exterior features include fender-mounted mirrors, rear mud flaps, a receiver hitch, and a black bed canopy.

The white 16″ steel wheels are fitted with Avon tires, with a spare stored in the bed inside a storage pouch. The front and rear leaf springs, brake lines, and components were replaced in 2017. In October 2023, Old Man Emu dampers were installed, and the swivel and rear wheel cylinders were replaced.

Inside, the truck has three-across front bench seats upholstered in black vinyl, with matching trim on the floor and lower dashboard. A three-spoke steering wheel frames Veglia Bressel instrumentation, including a 150-km/h speedometer and a Santana-branded combination gauge. The five-digit odometer displays 4,800 kilometers (~3,000 miles), with approximately 1,000 kilometers added under current ownership. The Washington State title carries a brand of “Odometer – Not Actual,” and the total mileage is unknown.

The 2.25-liter inline-four engine received a Weber carburetor in October 2023, at which time the oil filter housing gasket and battery were also replaced. A high-torque starter was added in 2017, and the valve cover gasket was replaced in 2021. Power is delivered to the rear or all four wheels via a four-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case, both of which were resealed in October 2023 along with the front and rear differentials. The clutch cylinder and exhaust system were replaced in 2017, and the fuel tank was replaced in 2020.

The truck is registered under chassis number “E45920702,” which corresponds to a 1979 Land Rover 88 Series III Santana with a gasoline engine.