A Vintage Overland Icon: 1971 Land Rover Santana Series IIA

We had a special visitor at the shop recently—Brock (@deepCEDC on Instagram) rolled in behind the wheel of a 1971 Land Rover Santana Series IIA, and let’s just say, it stopped us in our tracks. This thing isn’t just a classic—it’s a piece of soulful, slow-built utility, the kind of rig that tells a story the moment it parks.

Brock and his wife, Sabrina, recently picked it up. Powered by a 2.25L inline-four petrol engine on an 88-inch wheelbase, the Santana still wears mostly aluminum body panels, sports a bonnet-mounted spare, and those flip-up air vents that Series owners love!

Inside, it’s got the kind of vibe we love: well-worn charm with thoughtful upgrades. The seats have been reworked for real comfort, and the steering column’s been hot-swapped to make life on the road a little smoother. It’s not meant for a museum. This one’s built to move—loaded with gear, set up for long-haul trails, and being dialed in for the kind of organized storage that makes overlanding actually enjoyable.

We spent some time walking through it with Brock, figuring out systems that make sense for how they travel. It’s always a joy when we get to do this—help shape a vehicle that works for life on the road.

We’ve got a full video coming soon, but until then—drop us a comment if you’ve got a favorite vintage build or a rig you’re working on. We’d love to hear the story behind it.