The most recent episode of “Jay Leno’s Storage” is out and highlights an actual Chilly Battle relic. It’s a 1972 Land Rover Sequence III that was utilized by the British navy.

Present proprietor Alex Grappo, who beforehand introduced his Porsche 959 to the storage, explains that this Land Rover is a real “X-MOD” or “ex-Ministry of Defence” Sequence III much like the kind that operated alongside the Berlin Wall.

Launched in 1971, the Sequence III was the final of the Sequence Land Rover fashions. It changed the Sequence II that dated to 1958, which in flip had changed the unique Land Rover Sequence that launched the model in 1948. After the Sequence III, Land Rover briefly switched to 90 and 110 nomenclature (referencing wheelbase size) for its conventional fashions, earlier than rebranding them because the Defender.

Sequence III fashions have been constructed with 88-inch or 109-inch wheelbases. This is without doubt one of the long-wheelbase fashions, and it’s powered a 2.6-liter inline-6 engine. Land Rover estimated 70 hp and 120 lb-ft of torque, however Grappo considers these figures to be “optimistic.” What little energy there may be is routed to all 4 wheels by way of a 4-speed guide transmission. The Sequence III was the primary Land Rover with synchromesh gears. 

Details about this particular car’s service historical past is scarce, however Grappo says his “greatest guess” based mostly on analysis to date is that it was an FFR mannequin used as a radio truck. He factors out a small field on driver’s aspect entrance fender, which he says was used as a mounting level for communications gear.

A Land Rover of this classic is usually a bit gradual for contemporary visitors, however Grappo has taken the Sequence III to Moab and confirms that it’s the true deal off-road. And it will get loads of consideration irrespective of the place it goes.

This text was initially printed by Motor Authority, an editorial companion of ClassicCars.com