Preserving & Protecting a 1960 Land Rover Series 2 from Rust & Corrosion

Jun 3, 2025

Welcome to a new episode of Driveway Icons, our series that celebrates iconic vehicles, the passionate people who care for them, and how Lanoguard helps preserve their legacy with simple, effective rust protection.

In this episode, we head into rugged territory with a true British off-road legend—the 1960s Series 2 Land Rover. We meet Chris Field, an enthusiast who’s owned this vehicle for over 20 years. Chris is all about authenticity; he’s proud of the Land Rover’s patina, its dings and wear, and is passionate about keeping it as original as possible while still using it as it was meant to be—for adventures with the family.

Together with Lanoguard’s founder, Chris takes us on a walk-around of the Landy, sharing stories of its past, diving into the charm of its engineering, and discussing what makes this vehicle such an enduring icon of utility and simplicity.

A True British Workhorse: The Series 2 Land Rover

Introduced in 1958, the Series 2 Land Rover became a symbol of ruggedness and versatility. Whether crossing fields, farms, or faraway continents, it was built to handle just about anything. Its bare-bones design, leaf-spring suspension, and instantly recognisable shape made it beloved the world over—and Chris’s Landy has truly earned its stripes.

Chris’s approach is refreshingly unpretentious. It’s not about perfection—it’s about preservation with purpose.

Rust Protection That Respects the Vehicle's Character

Keeping the vehicle original doesn’t mean letting rust win. That’s why we recommend that Chris uses Lanoguard Underbody Protection to shield the chassis, underbody, and key exposed areas, all while maintaining the Land Rover’s aged look.

Lanoguard’s brilliant for this sort of vehicle, it protects what needs protecting, but lets the old Landy look like itself—just without the rot.

Read Video Transcript

[Intro – 0:00]
Hi, and welcome to Driveway Icons!
This time, I’m with a classic: a 1960 Land Rover Series 2 — not a 2A — owned by Chris.

[Interview Begins – 0:10]
Host: Thanks for bringing it in, Chris.
Chris: Hello!
Host: We’re going to take a look around it, get inside, and hear the story behind why Chris owns — and loves — this Land Rover.

[Inside the Land Rover – 0:26]
Host: So, Chris, why a 1960s Series 2 Land Rover?
Chris: I’ve always loved classic cars. I grew up around MGs, Rileys, and Citroëns — but never a Land Rover, even though we always admired them.
About 20 years ago, this one popped up on eBay — I’d been searching for them. I took the train to meet the seller, a policeman, bought it, and drove it home. It promptly broke down over the Dartford Crossing.
Host: Welcome to Land Rover ownership!
Chris: Exactly.
Host: Do you need to be a mechanic to own one?
Chris: Honestly, I’m terrible mechanically. I watched my granddad work on cars, so I’ve picked up a bit — enough to swap parts and diagnose simple issues. But the beauty of a Land Rover is its simplicity.

[Under the Bonnet – 2:40]
Host: What’s under the bonnet?
Chris: It’s a 2.25-litre petrol engine. Probably puts out about 10 horsepower!
Host: Does it make it up hills?
Chris: Eventually, yes! It always gets there — just not quickly.

[Ownership Experience – 3:14]
Chris: I use it with my kids — camping, climbing all over it. I’m not precious about the paintwork, and there’s not much they could do to really damage it.
Host: One thing I noticed — the visibility is incredible.
Chris: Absolutely — 360 views. And everything can be removed. Roof, sides — it’s a bit like a Willys Jeep with spanners.

[Outside Walkaround – 4:35]
Host: Some people might call it a "work in progress," but I think it looks fantastic.
Chris: It makes me smile. It’s rough and ready — and it’s been used and loved. There’s even a cable tie holding the choke cable in place. A field repair I’ve not gotten around to fixing yet.

[Details and Stories – 5:25]
Host: I see the radiator’s a bit corroded?
Chris: Yeah, but it still works. These things are resilient. And a lot of it is original — I try to keep as much as I can.
Host: That oil cap looks like it came off a jerry can?
Chris: It is a jerry can! I had the original umbrella-style cap, but someone pinched it at a car show.

[Bonnet and Naming – 9:10]
Chris: When I broke down that first time, it was under a billboard for Lionel Richie’s Greatest Hits — so I named it Lionel.
Later, my youngest son asked the name and then scratched it into the front with a screwdriver. I’ll never paint over it.

[Rear Features – 10:27]
Host: The split tailgate is iconic.
Chris: Yes, I use it for camping — great for shelter, making tea, or cooking breakfast.
Host: It’s amazing how the practicality has carried through even to modern Land Rovers.

[Underneath the Vehicle – 12:22]
Host: Underneath, it looks like there’s an older protective coating. Some of it’s flaking off — is that a challenge?
Chris: It was coated about 15–20 years ago, with a top-up 10 years ago. I’d love to see what you can do with it now.

Host: We’ll need to prep it properly before applying Lanoguard. Some of the coating is solid, some’s loose — but once we clean it up, we can do a two-stage treatment:

Apply the first coat to push off oxidised rust.
Reassess in a few months and apply a second coat for long-term protection.

[Wrap-Up – 15:55]
Host: It’s great to see how well this 65-year-old icon has held up. With a bit of prep and a fresh Lanoguard treatment, we’ll help keep Lionel on the road.
Thanks so much, Chris!
Chris: Thank you — really appreciate it.
Host: If you’ve enjoyed this episode, check out our other Driveway Icons videos. And if you’ve got a vehicle you think deserves a spot on the driveway, get in touch. See you next time!

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