This is a rig we don’t see all that often: a 1976 Land Rover 101 Forward Control. In an era wherein vintage Land Rovers are sought out for everything from beach rigs to overland vehicles, it’s of little surprise that an obscure model like this one is sought out for similar reasons. Located on Hawaii, this 101-series truck has been repainted in “Porsche Lava Orange” paint and is ideally-suited as an island vehicle where low speeds are the norm and the open-air bed will make carrying your friends to the luau a treat. Find this Land Rover listed here on craigslist with an asking price of $40,000.

Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mike F. for the tip. The 101-series trucks occasionally show up on auction sites with an international audience, inevitably with a past that includes military service. As with most ex-military vehicles, if they’ve survived up until this point, it likely means they have low miles and have seen minimal use after its combat duties expired. The 101 trucks were designed to be easily moved via air transport, which is a key reason why the 4-cylinder Perkins diesel is located beneath the cab. The dimensions of the truck in turn were fairly compact, and didn’t take up unnecessary space in the cargo hold.

Still, it was a heavy beast, and the 101s were eventually replaced by the popular Defender and Pinzgauer trucks. Once de-commissioned by the British military, many of these 101s went into private ownership. This explains why so many appear with “overland” conversions that make for a very capable off-road rig that you likely won’t see at your local trailhead. The seller of this Land Rover has made some additional tweaks beyond the paint job, which includes new upholstery, a back-up camera, a custom roll-cage, and aftermarket LED lighting throughout. The Land Rover is also equipped with a front and rear winch.

The 101 left the factory with a naturally-aspirated gasoline V8, but that engine has been dropped in favor of a “Perkins” diesel conversion. This is a popular swap among 101 owners, and I would assume it has the Perkins 4.236 which delivered a paltry 82 horsepower but does offer a fairly robust 294 lb.-ft. of torque. The seller is including some spare parts, like a disc brake conversion kit, so it is worth asking if the truck needs any other finishing touches before you pay to ship it to the mainland – which is likely a requirement for anyone hunting for this rare FC model. Have you ever driven a 101?