1965 Land Rover 88 Series IIA Santana

Description

Built to handle everything from the deserts of Africa to the farmlands of England, the Land Rover Series II was an iconic, rough-and-tumble four-wheeler produced from 1958 through 1971. So iconic, in fact, the design was licensed by local producers around the world to serve specific market needs. Santana Motor S.A. of Spain was one of the largest, building Series Rovers for the Central and South America markets.

This 1965 Land Rover 88 Series IIA was produced under license by Santana, and reportedly spent three decades on a farm in Colombia before being purchased by the seller in 2020. The seller states that the truck was subsequently overhauled by Talleres Spanish in Bogotá before being imported to the United States. This Rover is powered by a gasoline 2.25L inline-four, mated to a four-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. Other equipment includes a single Solex carburetor said to have been overhauled and cream-colored steel wheels wearing off-road tires.

During the refresh in Colombia, aluminum panels and the bulkhead are said to have been replaced and the truck was repainted green accented by a replacement tan canvas soft top. Inside, the three-across front bench seating and rear inward-facing jump seats have been reupholstered in brown leather with embroidered Land Rover detailing.

This 1965 Land Rover Series 88 IIA Santana is now offered with a manual-crank starting handle and a clean South Carolina title in the seller's name.

Highlights

• South American-market Land Rover

• Gasoline 2.25L inline-four paired with a four-speed manual transmission

• Custom leather upholstery

• Finished in green with tan soft top

• Cream-colored 16" steel wheels

Factory Equipment

• Dual-range transfer case

• "Santana" exterior badging

• Four-wheel drum brakes

• Dual fender-mounted rear-view mirrors

• Three-across front bench seating

• Dual inward-facing rear jump seats

• Dual windshield wiper motors

Modifications

• Custom upholstery

• Off-road "Cordillera"-brand tires

• Undercoating

Servicing

According to the seller, the following work has been performed since 2020:

• Replacement of body panels and bulkhead

• Servicing of engine, transmission, transfer case, and carburetor

• Brake service, including replacement wheel cylinders in all four corners, and replacement hydraulic lines

• Battery and one wiper motor replaced

Ownership History

From the seller, "This 1965 Land Rover Santana 88 is a Spanish-built Series IIA that spent its entire working life in the mountains of Colombia. A single owner kept it on his farm for over 30 years before my wife and I purchased it in 2020. From there it went to Talleres Spanish in Bogotá — one of Colombia’s most respected Land Rover restoration specialists — for a complete frame-off restoration. "The chassis was stripped, repaired, treated with corrosion inhibitor, and painted black. The bulkhead was replaced, and all aluminum body panels were replaced and finished in Ivory Green. A new soft top was sourced from England, and the original steel wheels were trued and painted cream, wearing new all-terrain tires. "It still carries its original hand crank starting bar — a period-correct piece most Series trucks lost decades ago."

Known Imperfections

• General exterior cosmetic blemishes consistent with age

• Perforations in the frame

• Water temperature gauge inoperable

• Wear on interior surfaces including upholstery and steering wheel

Included Items

• Canvas soft-top with roll-up window curtains

• Rear cargo mat

• Starter crank handle