AN EXTREMELY rare 1959 Forest Rover Roadless Land Rover is up for auction in North Yorkshire this weekend.

It will be at Tennants Auctioneers’ Motor Car, Motorcycle and Automobilia Sale in Leyburn on Saturday, with an estimate of £45,000 to £55,000 plus buyer’s premium.

The rugged version of the British classic was developed in response to the Forestry Commission’s need for a vehicle that could tackle the roughest terrain.

In 1958 and 1959 the Forestry Commission produced their own test vehicles based on the Series I and Series II Land Rover, before they approached Roadless Traction Ltd of Hounslow.

Roadless Traction Ltd produced a diesel-engine prototype based on the Series II 109, which was sent to Rover’s testing facility.

The car was not a commercial success, and it is thought that only between nine and twenty were ever built, and the present example is one of only six surviving vehicles known.

Also in the sale are other classics, including a 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2 (estimate: £50,000 to £60,000) and a 1964 Daimler Dart (estimate: £25,000 to £35,000), amongst others.

The Roadless Land Rover will be on public view at Tennants in Leyburn on 12 and 13 May from 10am to 5pm and on the morning of the sale from 8am.