In May 2015 I had an email from Chris Wilderspin, Secretary of the Land Rover Series One Club. He wrote:
I had a phone call last week from a chap who lives in Sheepscombe in the Cotswolds. Short story is that he has an 88” that has been lying idle for a number of years, had planned to do it up but realises he will never get round to it. He mentioned that it was ‘ex military’ (sic)and had an SXF registration (lightbulb moment!) so I went round yesterday and took some pictures.
Reg is SXF481, chassis number 111801005. 88” hardtop. It’s been idle for 8 or 9 years, chassis and bulkhead are shot, he reckons engine was running when parked up. Seems most of it is there (even some tools and the tyre pump).
He has some history. After Civil Defence he reckons it was the first National Trust Land Rover and then went to Gloucester County Council. [but see below] He has original buff log book and other documentation. It also has a number stencilled under the bonnet which means nothing to me but will do to you I am sure.
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I like the 'double grille' on the front — most unusual! Almost certainly a 'Reconnaisance' vehicle, with the Export (Windowed) Hard Top' that could be used for Home Office vehicles. I'm afraid the numbers stencilled under the bonnet are a mystery to me. I can't comment on the National Trust ownership, but by a very wierd coincidence as I was compiling this page I had a computer glitch that 'lost' all the SXF files from view. Whilst searching for them I found a picture labelled 'SXF481' in a different directory. I have no idea where I got it from, but it confirms the Gloustershire County Council ownership.
In March 2026, SXF481 appeared in an eBay advert from Gloucester. Offered at £4000, it was advertised “For restoration”
The listing was later withdrawn 'Unsold'. The following pics are from that advert.
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Definitely a challenging 'restoration project', but how nice it would be to see it restored to its Warden Service guise.
Update 27/4/26
Nigel Jackson emailed:
The new home for 481 is a small town called Alsager on the Cheshire and Staffordshire border, very close to J16 of the M6. With regard to the restoration I run a small workshop operating on small modern light goods vehicles so have all of the required facilities and tooling to undertake the work and although I am not yet full proficient with all things Series 1 I have an history of reviving the unloved and forgotten with restorations of various vehicles through the years.
Space will be made this week for 481 to be made ready for its disassembly and I am expecting to start in around 8 weeks as other commitments will keep me busy until then. In the meantime I will be sourcing various obvious parts required to undertake its restoration and will be using the LRSOC Forum for much of the info required.
I hope to have it up and about for around this time next year or if as with previous builds a lot sooner if the obsession takes hold lol!
All power to your elbow, Nigel!
[To add (or alter) information on this page, please contact me on sxf@teeafit.co.uk.]