1978 Land Rover Series III 109 Santana

Location: Washington, DC

Why It’s Curated: This 1978 Land Rover Series III 109 Santana is for sale near Washington, DC.  This LHD truck was originally purchased by the Swiss military and they did an engine swap to a 3L Mercedes Diesel (OM617). There is a long list of recent maintenance including new: transmission, brakes line, master and booster, derive shafts, alternator and rebuilt diffs and steering box. See details below. This Series III has also benefited from a repaint under prior ownership. Please let us know if you have any questions about this truck.

Vehicle:

• Year: 1978
• Make: Land Rover
• Model: Series III 109 Santana
• Drive: 4×4
• Miles: 291,000 KM
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Transmission: 4-speed Manual w/OD
• Engine: Mercedes-Benz OM617 3L I5 Diesel
• Exterior Color: Green
• Interior Color: Black
• VIN: On Request
• Title: Clean

Details & Upgrades:

This Land Rover was originally purchased new by the Swiss military and converted under their ownership to be powered by a Mercedes-Benz OM617 3.0-liter straight-five diesel engine. Power is sent to the rear or all four wheels through a four-speed manual transmission with overdrive and a dual-range transfer case.

After being imported to the U.S., the truck spent time in South Dakota and Missouri prior to the seller buying it in 2019.

The body was repainted in its current shade of green under prior ownership and features cowl vents and a removable hard top with Alpine windows as well as sliding side windows. Roof is equipped with a heat shield and (4) operable interior vents. Bosch driving lights are mounted in front of the mesh grille. The front bumper incorporates a winch and military-style overriders, and the rear is equipped with steps that provide access to the roof rack.

Modifications include a customized dashboard, relocation of the battery behind the front seats, and storage bins in the rear cabin. Equipment includes a hood-mounted spare wheel, cowl vents, sliding side windows, rubber floor liners, and a roof rack. Black-painted 16" steel wheels are wrapped in 235/85 Trailcutter RTX tires, and a spare is mounted on the hood.

Braking is provided by four-wheel drums. The bucket seats are upholstered in black vinyl with fabric inserts and have aftermarket seat covers in place. The rear cargo area is equipped with (2) 2-seat bench seats with four seatbelts and two built-in storage containers. The three-spoke steering wheel fronts a custom-made aluminum dashboard housing a Mercedes-Benz 115-mph speedometer that incorporates a six-digit mechanical odometer showing approximately 291k miles, approximately 1,200 of which were added during current ownership.

Recent Maintenance:
2020:
Front and rear differentials resealed, including pinion seals and fluid
Steering box rebuilt and the dampener replaced
New:
Front and rear drive shafts
Secondary clutch cylinder
Front and rear brake lines, master cylinder, and brake booster
Front and rear drive shafts
Alternator and battery
Rusted frame rails and the cross member under the front seats were cut out and new metal was welded in

2022:
New Rovers North transmission and clutch installed

Sale includes original/spare parts and the Rover and Mercedes service manuals