1971 Land Rover Series IIA

Location: Culver City, California

Why It's Curated: This 1971 Land Rover Series IIA is for sale in Culver City, Ca. What makes this particular Series IIA worth attention isn't just its age -- it's its origin. Costa Rican Land Rovers were assembled in-country from complete knock-down kits shipped directly from Solihull, England, qualifying for significant local tax incentives without sacrificing factory authenticity. These are not Santanas or licensed derivatives; they are genuine Solihull vehicles distinguished primarily by their tropical-specification safari roof -- fitted with ventilation and insulation for warm-climate use -- and a handful of regional color options unavailable elsewhere. This example wears the correct Costa Rican red and off-white two-tone, with a black and red vinyl interior. Critically, the galvanized sections remain unpainted and the rivets are uncovered, preserving the structural honesty that restorers often destroy. The 2.25L four-cylinder and four-speed manual drivetrain are unmodified, riding on stock drum brakes and 16" steel wheels shod with Dunlop Grandtrek MT2 tires. At 78,172 actual miles, recent maintenance includes fresh brake bleeder screws, battery, oil, and full joint greasing. No rust is reported. This is the right vehicle for a collector who values documented provenance and factory-correct originality over modification -- particularly one drawn to the lesser-known chapters of Land Rover's global history.

Check out the pictures in the gallery & use the contact form to get in touch with us and the seller to ask questions and/or make an offer for this vehicle.

Vehicle Details:
Year: 1971
Make: Land Rover
Model: Series IIA
Drive: 4X4
Miles: 78,172
Mileage Verification: Actual Miles
Fuel Type: Gasoline
Transmission: Manual (3 Pedals)
Number of Forward Gears: 4
Engine: 2.25L 4 Cylinder
Exterior Color: Red and off-white
Interior Color: Black and red
State of Registration: Oregon
Vehicle Location: Culver City
VIN: Available Upon Request
Title: Clean

Details:

Engine & Transmission:
Engine Modifications: No
Transmission Modifications: No

Drivetrain, Suspension, Tires & Brakes:
Drivetrain Modifications: No
Suspension Modifications: No
Wheel Size and Offset: 16"
Wheel Brand and Model: Steel
Tire Brand, Model, and Size: Dunlop Grandtrek MT2 - LT225/75R16
Type of Brakes: Stock drum

Exterior & Interior:
Has safari roof with vents underneath for air flow and insulation. Some patina and small paint chips, but overall looks great. Galvanized sections not painted over. Rivets not covered over. Costa Rican standard red and off-white color option.
Interior Material: Vinyl
Interior Modifications: No
Working Heat: No
Working Air Conditioning: No

Other Notable Features or Functions:
Costa Rican Land Rovers were built in Sulihull, England, shipped to Costa Rica as CKD's (complete knock-down kits) and assembled in a factory there to make use of huge tax discounts by the local government. They were not Santanas, they were direct from Sulihull. The only change was different paint color options and the added safari roof for warmer climates. You can read the story here: https://silodrome.com/ensambladora-automotriz-land-rover/ I purchased this one while living in Costa Rica and shipped it up in a container when I moved to Oregon. It's now located with me in Culver City, CA and has been my daily-driver for a while. Get's more looks than a Ferrari and starts a lot of conversations. I'll miss it, but need to reduce the collection due to parking spot restraints at our new house. Let me know if you have any questions.

Recent Maintenance:
New brake bleeder screws, battery, oil and grease for all joints.

Mechanical, Rust, Cosmetic Known Flaws:
Minor paint chips and patina, but no rust. No known mechanical issues, works great as my daily-driver.

Model History: Introduced in 1961 as a refinement of the Series II, the Series IIA represented Land Rover's transitional design between its pioneering predecessor and the modern Series III era. While maintaining the iconic external lines established by the Series II—including the distinctive curved body sides and aluminum panels over a box-section ladder frame—the Series IIA introduced crucial mechanical updates that solidified its reputation as the marque's finest iteration. The standard 2.25-liter four-cylinder petrol engine produced 77 horsepower and powered the ubiquitous 88-inch and 109-inch wheelbase variants, with a new 2.286-liter diesel option available from 1961 and a 2.625-liter inline-six introduced for longer-wheelbase models in 1967. A landmark 1969 refresh relocated the headlights outward to comply with emerging international regulations, marking the final substantial change before the Series III's arrival. The Series IIA dominated global markets throughout its decade-long production run, particularly overseas where Japanese and American competitors had yet to establish meaningful presence.