Land Rover 110 With Cummins Power Up for Grabs
Most people opt for an LS swap, so the owner of this beautiful Land Rover 110 decided to go a different direction.
Up until recently, it seemed like if you wanted a classic car to go for big money, bone stock was the way to go. But the restomod craze has meant lots of thoroughly worked-over machines, like this Mustang-powered second-gen Bronco, fetching incredible figures at auction. So I’m beyond curious as to what this fantastic looking 1988 Land Rover 110 listed on Bring a Trailer goes for when the hammer drops. As I write this, the bidding is already up to $70,000 — and there’s still five days left.
According to the description, this gorgeous Landy lived in its home country until 2017, when the previous owner imported it to California. Now initially, the port of entry struck me as a little odd. Because while the 25-year import rule means anything older than that can be brought to our shores without having to meet emissions or safety regulations, the Golden State sets its own standards, and still requires SMOG testing for cars as old as 44 years. So I was curious as to exactly how it got certified to wear those cool black vanity plates.
Like it has been so many times before, however, my question was answered by the fountain of knowledge which is the BaT comments section, where it was revealed that its diesel powerplant made it exempt from SMOG rules. Right now, you can bet legislators in Sacramento are pushing slam the door on that loophole, but I digress.
In the case of this sexy beast, the stock mill has been swapped for a legendarily stout Cummins 2.8-liter turbodiesel inline-four. With just 161 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, a fire-breathing LS this engine is not, but the oil burner should provide more than adequate motivation for the big rig. Especially if the new owner is more interested in overlanding and fire roads than laying down fat black tire marks on the pavement. Honestly, are any regular readers surprised I’m writing about a lump?
Of course, as eagle-eyed folks might recognize, the engine transplant is just one of many changes that’s been made to this 110 since it left the factory. Along with a new coat of Nardo Grey paint, a contrasting glossy black roof, and some trick new 16-inch wheels, the interior has been given a complete overhaul. Now there’s carbon fiber trim, a “modern” Kenwood head unit, heated front seats, and other creature comforts, like a few USB charging ports to keep any occupant’s phones juiced up.
Personally, I happen to like the fact that power windows weren’t added during the rehabilitation process. Like the righthand-drive layout, I think it adds a little character to the rig, and when it comes to reliability, you can’t beat something as simple as a hand crank. I’ll be keeping an eye on this 110 to see just how high the price climbs, and dream about trying to navigate the drive-through window at Taco Bell from behind the wheel.
Of course, if you happen to stumble upon a cool, or just plain weird, old Jaguar or Land Rover for sale, hit me up! I’d love to cover it for the blog!
Photos: Bring a Trailer