Royal ride going to auction: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 1953 Series I Land Rover
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Royal drive on its way to auction: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 1953 Land Rover – recently restored with help from King Charles – is tipped to sell for £150,000 early next year
- The Land Rover Series I was originally delivered to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral in 1953
- It was purchased from the royal estate by the seller in 1966 and has been in storage for the reigning 56 years
- A full restoration was ordered and reportedly received support from King Charles, then Prince of Wales
- It was used this year during Her Majesty’s Jubilee celebrations in London – it will go under the hammer in February and is expected to sell for £100,000 – £150,000
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A very special Land Rover will go under the hammer in the UK in February, it has been revealed.
The 1953 Series I 4X4 was originally delivered to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral.
It was recently fully restored with some help from King Charles before being used to lead the parade for her jubilee celebrations earlier this year.
It will be sold by Silverstone Auctions at the Race Retro event to be held on February 25 next year. And while the pre-sale estimate predicts a winning bid in the region of £100,000 to £150,000, recent sales of royal-owned cars suggest it could go for much more.
Royal ride on its way to auction: a 1953 Series I Land Rover, first owned by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, will be sold next year. It is expected to go for a winning bid in the region of £100,000 to £150,000, but could be much higher than that amount
The ‘immaculate condition’ vintage Land Rover will be available at Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro sale, which will take place on 25 February 2023
This Royal 4×4 was built in late 1953 and registered in early 1954 on the Royal number series NXN 1 – the 11th example of that year.
It will go to the block in what the auction house calls “flawless condition.”
It is completely authentic and comes with a number of unique features including double rear doors.
Shipped to Stratstone London on 3 July 1953, the newly proclaimed Queen had the Land Rover shipped to her beloved Balmoral Estate.
NXN 1 was used exclusively by Their Majesties Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother with HRH Prince Phillip, The Duke of Edinburgh and The Duke of Rothesay (Prince Charles).
It was sold by the Royal Estate in 1966 to the current seller who then re-registered it as ‘LXC 894D’ in neighboring Ballater.
It was later stored in a family garage for several years and fell into a state of disrepair during this long period of confinement.
A complete rebuild was commissioned by the seller and even received royal support.
The seller bought the Land Rover from the royal estate in 1966. He was later stored in a family garage for several years and fell into a state of disrepair during this long period of confinement.
Only recently was a complete rebuild commissioned by the seller and even received royal support. King Charles III – then the Prince of Wales – is rumored to have recognized the unique Land Rover and partially funded its exacting restoration
The lot even includes photos of His Royal Highness with the Land Rover during the complete renovation (photo)
Rumor has it that King Charles III – then the Prince of Wales – would have recognized the unique Land Rover and as a gift financed and encouraged its exacting restoration.
The lot even includes a photo of His Royal Highness with the Land Rover during the complete renovation.
The Land Rover has now been restored to stunning condition and still has its production chassis number, although this particular example is considered a ‘pre-production build’ made specifically for its Royal keeper.
Commenting on the vehicle’s availability at auction, Silverstone Auctions Sales Director Rob Hubbard commented: ‘It is not often that a vehicle with such impressive royal provenance as this is offered for public sale.
‘Its peculiarities and royal connections make it extremely interesting.
‘This Land Rover would no doubt have been used extensively on the Balmoral estate where we know the Royals loved to picnic.
“It would have been a familiar and beloved part of Her Majesty and Prince Philip’s private lives.”
The Land Rover has now been restored to stunning condition and still has its production chassis number, although this particular example is considered a ‘pre-production build’ made specifically for its Royal keeper
Silverstone Auctions says the restoration was done with care and the vehicle has returned to its original condition
Every square inch of the vehicle was completely refurbished before making some TV appearances earlier this year…
Since its restoration, the Land Rover has been featured on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and was also used to lead the Land Rover parade at the Queen’s Jubilee Pageant earlier this year
Silverstone Auctions believes it is ‘probably one of the most photographed Land Rovers in the world’ with the anniversary celebration watched by a TV audience measured in the billions
This illustrious Land Rover was featured on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and was also used to lead the Land Rover parade at the Queen’s Jubilee Pageant.
Consequently, Silverstone Auctions believes it is ‘probably one of the most photographed Land Rovers in the world’, with the anniversary celebrations watched by a TV audience measured in the billions.
The vehicle’s auction will take place in February at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire.
While it has a target price of £100,000 to £150,000, many would expect it to eclipse this figure, especially given the recent Royal car sales.
The latest Royal motorcycle to be sold by Silverstone was Princess Diana’s black Ford Escort RS Turbo, which set a world record £722,500 in August.