1952 Land Rover Series I 80" Ex-Belgian Police Force

Highlights

• One of only 373 Belgian Gendarmerie Series One Land Rovers delivered in CKD form in 1952
• Left-hand drive, originally assembled in Antwerp for the Belgian police force
• Original engine, gearbox and chassis
• Restored in 2017/2018 with further mechanical work carried out during current ownership
• Featured on the front cover of Classic Land Rover magazine in March 2025

The Appeal

In 1951, the Belgian authorities struck a deal with Land Rover to replace the country's ageing Willys Jeeps with Series Ones. Dispatched in Completely Knocked Down form and assembled in Antwerp, just 373 of these vehicles were delivered for use by the Belgian Gendarmerie, a national police force whose members also received military training. Painted in the distinctive blue-black of the Gendarmerie and pressed into service for approximately two decades, very few of these rare machines survive today.

This particular left-hand drive example retains its original engine, gearbox and chassis, a remarkable trifecta for a vehicle of this age and provenance. It underwent a thorough restoration in 2017/2018, during which the chassis was stripped to bare metal and refinished; all steering joints were replaced; the brake system was overhauled; the body was stripped to bare metal and recoated in the original blue-black; and the vehicle was fully rewired. Since acquiring the vehicle in 2019, the current owner has had the gearbox refurbished by a Land Rover specialist, and a new dynamo was fitted in 2025.

The vehicle's significance has not gone unnoticed: it was featured on the front cover of the March 2025 issue of Classic Land Rover magazine, accompanied by a detailed article chronicling its history and restoration. This can be viewed in the gallery below. The vendor informs us that it is presented in very good condition throughout, with a smart interior featuring new seats and panels, and an underside that is reported to be in fine fettle.

For enthusiasts of early Land Rovers, the opportunity to acquire a genuine Belgian Gendarmerie Series One, with matching original mechanicals and a well-documented restoration, is too good to miss.

History and Paperwork

• Dispatched as a Completely Knocked Down kit by Land Rover to Belgium in 1952 and assembled in Antwerp
• One of 373 Series I Land Rovers delivered for use by the Belgian Gendarmerie
• Served in police use for approximately 20 years before eventually being brought back to England
• Left-hand drive
• Acquired by the current owner in June 2019
• Stored in a dry barn during current ownership
• Featured on the front cover of the March 2025 edition of Classic Land Rover magazine, with a detailed article describing the restoration work
• Exempt from road tax and MOT

The Condition

• The vendor describes the overall condition as very good following the 2017/2018 restoration
• A few minor blemishes in the paintwork
• The vendor reports the underside is in very good order, with chassis and bulkhead reported to be in superb order
• Chassis stripped to bare metal and refinished during the 2017/2018 restoration
• The canvas tilt presents very well
• No modifications or extras
• Speedometer has stopped working during current ownership; cause unknown
• One trafficator works intermittently
• The vendor describes the interior as in very good condition, with new seats and panels

The Mechanics

• 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine
• Four-speed manual gearbox
• Selectable low-range and four-wheel drive
• Original engine, gearbox and chassis retained, confirmed by a heritage certificate
• The vendor reports the engine starts and runs well
• New dynamo fitted in 2025
• Gearbox refurbished by a Land Rover specialist during current ownership
• All steering joints replaced, brake system overhauled and full rewire carried out during the 2017/2018 restoration
• See restoration details in the photo gallery for further information on the work carried out

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