Presented for auction by Chris Picconi of Overland by the Sea is a 1987 Land Rover Santana “110” 2500 DL, Land Rover Santana’s version of the Land Rover 110, the predecessor model to the Defender 110. It is finished in Arles Blue with Olympic White accents outside and Tobacco Brown with Blue piping and stitching accents inside.
This clean, solid, rust free “110” only has 137k original kilometers / 85k miles and has been professionally restored, refurbished and reconditioned by Chris and his team of craftsmen.
What is a Land Rover Santana?
Santana Motors, SA was originally founded in 1956 as Metalúrgica de Santa Ana, SA in Spain to manufacture agricultural machinery. In 1961, they entered into a decades long licensing agreement with Land Rover in the United Kingdom to produce Land Rover vehicles. Land Rover would send complete knock-down kits from Solihull, England to Santana's factory in Linares, Spain where they were assembled and sold under the name Land Rover Santana.
Land Rover Santana manufactured many Land Rover models, which were enormously popular among Spanish farmers and exported to South America, North Africa and the Middle East under the authorization of Land Rover.
It has been said that during their decade’s long relationship, Land Rover Santana used its agricultural manufacturing expertise to improve upon Land Rover Solihull’s deficiencies to make Land Rover Santana’s vehicles more durable and reliable to meet the harsh demands of their export markets.
Restoration History, Condition, and Specs.
This “110” began its life in the dry climate of Spain where it reportedly was used on a nut farm by the original owner since new. It was properly imported into the United States in 2021 with its original Spanish annual inspection history documenting the mileage and annual inspections dating back to new. Once in the United States, this highly original “110” was added to the current owner’s collection and underwent a comprehensive interior and exterior restoration, mechanical reconditioning and suspension refurbishment in 2022. For more on the craftsman behind the restoration, read all about Chris in our Interview with the Craftsman series.
The exterior is finished in the iconic Land Rover color, Arles Blue, with Olympic White accents. The aluminum body panels and fiberglass roof were expertly refinished before undergoing a multistage PPG paint process that included two epoxy primer coats, five base coats and four clear coats. New Wolf style steel wheels wrapped in Toyo Open Country All Terrain tires, a galvanized safari roof rack, grill, headlight surrounds and front A-bar bumper were installed. It appears the previous owner painted the clean and rust free frame and underside and replaced the door and hood seals.
The interior is finished in tobacco brown marine leatherette with blue piping and stitching accents, orange seat belts and grey vinyl diamond plate flooring. The interior restoration included professionally reupholstering the seats, upper dash, center console and shift boot. New seatbelts, custom cut vinyl diamond plate flooring, a Mountney Classic riveted wood steering wheel and aluminum shift knobs, door pulls and door cups were installed. Sound and Bluetooth phone are provided by two mounted and synched front and rear wireless Bluetooth JBL Play 4 speakers. The speakers are controlled by your mobile device which is held securely in place with a dashboard mounted RAM mount. The previous owner appears to have replaced the original door cards with newer modern Defender style door cards.
This “110’s” original naturally aspirated Rover diesel 2.5 liter four cylinder engine, five speed manual transmission, dual range transfer case and axles were professionally reconditioned. This included new fluids, filters, belts, wipers, tires, battery, brake components and front axle swivel ball seal rebuild and locking hub repacking. The engine, transmission, transfer case and differentials were treated to synthetic fluids. The radiator and brakes were flushed, received new fluids and bled. New engine oil, diesel fuel and air filters were installed.
In addition, new Toyo Open Country All Terrain tires, including the spare, and an Optima Red Top battery were installed. The rear brake drums, shoes and cylinders were replaced. The front axle swivel ball seals were replaced using a new rebuild kit and the front locking hubs were repacked. It appears the previous owner replaced the glow plugs, glow plug wires, fuel injectors, hoses, front brake pads and horn.
The expert suspension refurbishment included new Old Man Emu gas shocks, U bolts, shackle bushings and bolts, refurbishing the leaf springs and a Hunter Hawkeye alignment. The leaf spring refurbishment provides a minimal lift to level the body.
It drives, shifts, brakes and steers well with only the normal diesel smoke poof from the exhaust at startup. The lights, horn, wipers, glow plugs and emergency brake are functional. The door locks and windows are functional and there are no cracks in any of the glass. The engine and transmission appear to be free of leaks and the transfer case has a minor weep. Due to the recent interior and exterior restoration, cosmetically it is in excellent condition inside and out other than few small color match touched up scratches on the roof from installing the roof rack.
It is titled as a Land Rover 110 on a clean and clear New Jersey title in the current owner’s name.
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