Originally developed for military use — more specifically to meet the British military’s Westland Essex helicopter’s 2,500-pound cargo weight limit —the Land Rover Lightweight 88 was an incredibly rugged and utilitarian vehicle that was engineered to handle a variety of terrains and conditions. As a result, the Lightweight makes an exceptional platform for custom off-road builds — as evidenced by this 1972 Land Rover Lightweight 88 ‘Adventure” project that’s currently being auctioned off.
Sporting a lightly-weathered silver exterior, this “Half-Ton” example rides on a set of black-finished steel wheels shod in vintage Dunlop SP Qualifier tires. Benefitting from a recent — and thoroughly extensive — restoration, this Land Rover project is powered by a 2.25-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a reconditioned transmission. Trimmed in black leather, the interior of the car also features a diamond-plated boot and a rear area with a pair of black leather bench seats.
The build has also been bestowed with a plethora of off-road upgrades. Capped off with a hood-mounted full-sized spare, the front end of the truck now sports a wire radiator grille and headlight guards, along with a custom steel bumper with an integrated winch, skidplate, and a pair of auxiliary lights. The sides of the Lightweight 88 have also been treated to diamond plate side covers and a set of rock sliders. On top of the vehicle is a full-length roof rack that now accommodates a pair of aluminum cargo boxes, an off-road jack, and four additional spotlights set just above the windshield.
Currently located in Uden in the Netherlands, this 1972 Land Rover Lightweight 88 ‘Adventure’ build is currently sitting on the online auction block of The Market by Bonhams where it’s expected to fetch between €25,000 (~ $25,800) and €35,000 (~ $36,150). As of the time of writing, bidding has reached €8,000 (~ $8,260) with almost three days remaining on the sale.
