This 86”-wheelbase Series 1 Land Rover is one of only 47 built as a fire tender for the Ministry of Supply; this was prior to the outsourcing of such conversions, and ‘OYV 268’ is one of the last built in-house at the Solihull factory.

The vehicle is fitted with the 2.0-litre petrol engine, PTO overdrive gearbox and standard road transmission.

It is believed to have been at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston from 1954 to around 1970, taking part in regular practice convoys and acting as site fire tender.

The vehicle was sold into private ownership in 1971 and used as a gate guardian for White Horse Motors, then purchased by magazine correspondent David Bowyer, founder of the Series 1 Club and a leading light of the UK ‘off road’ movement.

‘OYV 268’ was in dire need of restoration when purchased in 1989 by the current owner, who is the founder of the Series 2 Club and a regular columnist for Land Rover World, Land Rover Owner and now Land Rover Monthly.

Accordin...