Land Rovers are synonymous with the Royal family, who travel to informal events almost exclusively in Range Rovers and about their vast estates with Defenders and Series vehicles. When people comment that my Defender’s steering wheel is on the wrong side of the vehicle, I remind them that the Queen drove her Defender with the steering wheel on the right, in the correct position!
This little Series 1 was just the 11th of the first 15 production vehicles ever made, and it was ordered new on behalf of King George VI. The unique vehicle was built in late 1953 and registered NXN, then it was supplied to Balmoral Castle for the exclusive use of Their Majesties Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother along with HRH Prince Phillip, The Duke of Edinburgh, and The Duke of Rothesay (Prince Charles). In 1966 the vehicle was sold from the royal garage and re-registered LXC 894D before moving to a new home in the Victorian village of Ballater, which sits in the heart of Royal Deeside, Scotland.
The Royals are known to drive vehicles that are meticulously maintained and never modified; as it comes from the factory, it remains. We have no idea how well the vehicle was cared for after leaving Balmoral, but if the images are an accurate indication of its condition, this little piece of Land Rover history has been pampered, loved, and housed in a heated room with clay-tiled floors. The Series 1 features leaf-spring suspension with selectable two or four-wheel drive (4WD). What more do you need?
The Royal Series 1 is available for purchase from Silverstone Auctions and will likely fetch significantly more than the £100,000—£150,000 guide price.
1953 Land Rover Series 1
- Registration Number: LXC 894D
- Chassis Number: 47100011
- Manual transmission with selectable 4WD
- Green body color
- Leaf spring suspension all round
Distinguishing Features
- A dusting of Royal DNA
Our No Compromise Clause: We carefully screen all contributors to ensure they are independent and impartial. We never have and never will accept advertorial, and we do not allow advertising to influence our product or destination reviews.
