The Land Rover Series was a British off-road vehicle produced from 1948-1985. It was available in 4 submodels, the Series I, Series II, Series IIA, and Series III. Manufactured in Solihull, England and with design inspiration from the Jeep Willys used during World War II, the Land Rover Series was intended to be a utility and agricultural vehicle for field use and “tractor-like usage” such as plowing, etc. Several prototypes were developed, including one with a steering column in the middle. Built from parts and paint from military surplus, the first known builds were all various shades of green. It was a very basic vehicle, though well suited for its intended use, however, it went through various changes before heading into production. The center steering columns of the prototypes were impractical and subsequently were moved to the right side of the vehicle. In 1948, the very first Series vehicle went into production with a launch in Amsterdam.

The first Land Rover Series lacked basic interior options that many buyers were looking for so changes would need to be made. Land Rover would go on to launch the Series “Station Wagon,” which featured a leather interior, a heater, windscreen, and other interior features.

Shortly after the launch of the Series, the British Army began to immediately use them. At the time, the Series was not best suited for field and off-road use, so specially-made Series vehicles were built for use in the British Army. The Army would continue using Series trucks through the Korean War and well into the 1970s after accumulating approximately 9,000 trucks. Armed forces around the world eventually began using the Series including forces from New Zealand, Belgium, Spain, and Australia.

The Land Rover Series IIA was known to be the most stout of the models and also the most popular. The Series IIA was available as a 2-door, 2-door pickup, and a 4-door with several drivetrain options available to choose from, a 4-cylinder gasoline engine, a 4-cylinder diesel engine, and a 6-cylinder gasoline engine. The biggest change from its predecessor was the headlights moving from the wings.

Manufactured from 1961-1971, the North American market (including Canada) only saw 811 of these vehicles. Though it seems like a small number, it wasn’t uncommon for Land Rover to manufacture a significantly lower amount of models for the North American market in comparison to the European market. Around the world, the Series IIA was extremely popular in Australia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Throughout recent years, the Land Rover Series IIA has remained popular amongst collectors and enthusiasts, with companies such as ECD Automotive Design seeing a spike in requests for Series IIA restorations. Those that crave the nostalgia of a true British classic find the Series 2A to be a perfect choice. Fit for the Queen and also fit for Ace Ventura, a custom Land Rover Series 2A stands for everything British. It’s a classic beauty that Heritage enthusiasts and collectors alike absolutely enjoy

“ECD chose to include the Series IIA restoration in its line-up because it gave them a chance to restore a true classic vehicle that, even with features chosen by the client, still keeps the character and charm of the 1960’s original,” says Elliot Humble, co-found of ECD Automotive Design.

The first Series IIA restoration from ECD began with Project Harmony. It’s a simple setup, charmingly nostalgic and entirely stunning. It’s the first-ever Series IIA with an LS3 engine. The original Series was built to handle 70-horsepower. The introduction of a 430-horsepower Series IIA with an LS3 is groundbreaking, as it requires heavy modification. From the outside, it’s a classic British vintage that makes a statement as a true off-road icon.