Disclosure: Overland Expo co-owner Jonathan Hanson and friends are selling this vehicle, which will be at Overland Expo 2015 EAST.
In 2007 and 2008, the British Ministry of Defense (MoD) initiated a program called Tithonus to extend the service life of its fleet of Land Rover One Tens. It chose those already in the best of condition and pulled them aside to be extensively refurbished. These vehicles were all equipped with the reliable, naturally aspirated 2.5-litre diesel engine and five-speed LT77 transmission, a heavy-duty chassis, plus the normal One Ten equipment: all-coil suspension, full-time four-wheel-drive with locking center diff, hi/low transfer box, and front disc brakes.
Under the Tithonus program they also received upgraded (and very comfortable) bucket seats from Exmoor upholstered in Outlast fabric, heavy rubber soundproofing matting front and rear, aluminum chequer plating on the sills and bonnet, and—last but not least—a superb, fully integrated Wolf roll cage that incorporates an external front cage and a cross-braced internal cage behind the driver. Intriguingly, the vehicles also retain their “convoy lights”: small, chassis-mounted directional lamps that shine on the white-painted rear differential, for safe headlights-out convoying through hostile terrain (Toyota Land Cruiser jamborees, etc.)
Given the age of these vehicles (just over the legal 25-year importation limit) and their generally excellent condition, the Tithonus One Tens represent a fine opportunity for those of us in the U.S. to own an affordable world-class expedition vehicle that can be left as is or modified to suit one’s own needs.
Last year several of us on the Overland Expo staff worked with the respected MoD dealer Witham’s in the UK to import four Tithonus One Tens. Three of them we are keeping for our personal use, and installing some carefully considered accessories to make them even more capable.
The fourth vehicle is for sale. It is a 1986 RHD model equipped with a fiberglass hardtop (which can be removed or replaced with a canvas top if desired) and all the Tithonus modifications.
It is in superb cosmetic condition, and starts, runs, and drives excellently with only 72,000 miles on the odometer.
Its Michelin XZL tires are in very good condition.
It will be at the Overland Expo EAST in Asheville, October 2 through 3, for viewing and driving (or driving home).
If you are interested in owning a legendary four-wheel-drive vehicle, please contact Jonathan or Graham ([email protected], [email protected]). Price: $18,500.
