Royal ride going to auction: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 1953 Series I Land Rover

A very special Land Rover is set to go under the hammer in the UK in February, it has been revealed.

The 1953 Series I 4X4 was originally delivered to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral.

It was recently fully restored with some help from King Charles before it was used to lead the parade for her Jubilee celebrations earlier this year.

It will be sold by Silverstone Auctions at its Race Retro event next year held on 25 February. And while the pre-sale estimate predicts a winning bid in the region of £100,000 to £150,000, recent sales of royal-owned cars suggest it could go for a lot more.

The ‘immaculate condition’ vintage Land Rover will be available at Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro sale, which will be held on 25 February 2023

This Royal 4×4 was built in late 1953 and registered on the Royal number sequence NXN 1 in early 1954 – the 11th example from that year. 

It will go to the block in what the auction house calls ‘immaculate condition’. 

Totally authentic, it comes with a number of unique features, including twin rear doors. 

Dispatched to Stratstone London on 3rd July 1953, the newly proclaimed Queen had the Land Rover shipped to her beloved Balmoral Estate. 

NXN 1 was exclusively used by Their Majesties Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother with HRH Prince Phillip, The Duke of Edinburgh and The Duke of Rothesay (Prince Charles).

It was sold from the Royal Estate to the current vendor in 1966, who then re-registered it ‘LXC 894D’ in neighbouring Ballater.

It was later stored in a family garage for a number of years and, during this extended period of being locked away, fell into a state of disrepair.

A full rebuild was commissioned by the vendor, and it even received Royal backing. 

The vendor purchased the Land Rover from the Royal Estate in 1966. It was later stored in a family garage for a number of years and, during this extended period of being locked away, fell into a state of disrepair

Only recently, a full rebuild was commissioned by the vendor, and it even received Royal backing. King Charles III – then the Prince of Wales – is rumoured to have recognised the unique Land Rover and part funded its exacting restoration

The sale lot even includes photos of His Royal Highness with the Land Rover on its competed full refurbishment (pictured)

King Charles III – then the Prince of Wales – is rumoured to have recognised the unique Land Rover and as a gift funded and encouraged its exacting restoration. 

The lot even includes a photo of His Royal Highness with the Land Rover on its competed full refurbishment.

Now restored to stunning condition, the Land Rover still features its production chassis number, though this particular example is considered a ‘pre-production build’ that was specially made for its Royal keeper. 

Commenting on the vehicle’s availability at auction, Rob Hubbard, sales director of Silverstone Auctions, commented: ‘It’s not often that a vehicle with such impressive Royal provenance like this is offered publicly for sale. 

‘Its special features and Royal connections make it exceptionally interesting. 

‘This Land Rover would doubtless have been used extensively on the Balmoral estate where we know the Royals loved to picnic. 

‘It would have been a familiar and much-loved part of Her Majesty and Prince Philip’s private lives.’

Now restored to stunning condition, the Land Rover still features its production chassis number, though this particular example is considered a ‘pre-production build’ that was specially made for its Royal keeper

Silverstone Auctions says the restoration was meticulously carried out and sees the vehicle returned to its original best

Every square inch of the vehicle was fully refurbished before it made a number of TV appearances earlier this year…

Since its restoration, the Land Rover has featured on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and was also used to lead the Land Rover parade at the Queen’s Jubilee Pageant earlier this year

Silverstone Auctions believes that it is ‘probably one of the most photographed Land Rovers in the world,’ with the Jubilee celebrations watched by a TV audience measured in billions

This illustrious Land Rover was featured on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and was also used to lead the Land Rover parade at the Queen’s Jubilee Pageant.

Consequently, Silverstone Auctions believes that it is ‘probably one of the most photographed Land Rovers in the world,’ with the Jubilee celebrations watched by a TV audience measured in billions.

The auction of the vehicle will take place at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire in February.

While it has a guide price of £100,000 to £150,000, many will expect it to eclipse this figure, especially given recent Royal car sales.

The latest Royal motor sold by Silverstone was Princess Diana’s black Ford Escort RS Turbo, which made a world record price of £722,500 back in August.