Celebrity ownership may add an unexpected chapter to almost any classic, but this 1959 Land Rover 109 Series II already had plenty of character before Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz entered the story. The long-wheelbase pickup combines the simple, functional design of an early Land Rover with a handful of sympathetic upgrades intended to make it easier to live with.
Finished in Bronze Green, the 109-inch-wheelbase body retains the upright proportions and exposed hardware that defined the Series II models. A bonnet-mounted spare tyre, wing-mounted mirrors and a rope winch add to its period appearance, while an Exmoor Trim canvas cover stretches over the rear bed. Body-coloured 16-inch steel wheels wear chunky Cooper Discoverer STT tyres, and the leaf springs have recently been rebuilt.
Things remain suitably straightforward inside. Three individual front seats have been retrimmed in tan vinyl and fitted with three-point seatbelts, while sliding windows, simple Jaeger instruments and a banjo-style steering wheel maintain the utilitarian atmosphere.
The 2.25-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, originally rated at 77 hp, is mated to a four-speed manual gearbox and dual-range transfer case. A floor-mounted RoverDrive overdrive system has also been fitted, while recent work included the installation of a Carter carburettor, electronic ignition, a replacement generator and new engine seals.
The Land Rover comes with a handwritten note from Craig and Weisz confirming their ownership, together with a portrait signed by Craig. With its appealing specification and unusual provenance, the 1959 Land Rover sold through Bring a Trailer for US$56,000.
