The Queen might be more often chauffeured in style in a salubrious Rolls-Royce or Bentley limousine but Britain’s most famous 4x4 has also been a staple when it comes to fulfilling Royal motoring duties.
Now classic car enthusiasts are being given the chance to snap up a very special royal Land Rover when it goes under the auctioneer’s hammer this month.
Historics at Brooklands, the auctioneer of classic cars, has been given approval by the Ministry of Defence, to auction the Land Rover at its sale on November 24.
Commissioned for the Queen and owned by the MoD, the 1978 Land Rover Royal Review State V Series III was modified in 1979 by REME Central Workshops in Donnington, Shropshire.
Adaptations included a traffic light system allowing the Queen to signal the driver to stop, slow or start.
Having covered just 1,892 miles from new, this unique feature, as well as double rear doors and rear retractable step, remain in place and in full working order, setting this Land Rover aside from the other 440,000 Series III models built between 1971 and 1985.
The car is estimated to go for between £15,000 to £18,000.
Historics’ auction director Edward Bridger-Stille said: “We are excited and honoured to be entrusted with the task of finding a new home for such a unique vehicle.
“Despite prolific production of the Series III Land Rover, it’s highly unlikely one like this will ever come to auction again.”
Meanwhile a £700,000 Ferrari Enzo, a rare 1960 Aston Martin DB4 and a Fiat 500 once owned by Prime Minister David Cameron are the stars of the show at a Midland car auction.
The cars will go on sale at The Footman James Classic Motor Show at the NEC on Saturday.
The 2004 Ferrari Enzo and a 1960 Aston Martin DB4 Series II are expected to appeal to enthusiasts with six-figure sums in their pockets but a 1971 Fiat 500 L (pictured), which was once owned by the Prime Minster, could steal the show.
