Queen Elizabeth's Land Rover with specially designed royal buttons

by · Mail Online

Queen Elizabeth's custom Land Rover, which contains specially designed royal buttons to allow her to communicate with her driver, is set to sell for £80,000.

The late Queen used the green 1978 series III model for public engagements as part of the Royal Review convoy of cars and it contains several bespoke features.

Among unique add-ons is a traffic light system of buttons which enabled the late monarch to alert her driver when she wanted to move on, slow down or stop.

It also has a special plexiglass screen and a handrail so that Her Majesty could stand up while travelling in the rear of the vehicle.

A 1978 Series III Land Rover used by Queen Elizabeth II is expected to fetch £80,000
The driving seat of the open top green vehicle, which was specially fitted with traffic light buttons so that the late Queen could alert her driver when she wanted to stop and move on
The traffic light button system which allowed Elizabeth to tell her chauffeur when to start, slow down or stop
The Queen passed away in September 2022. Pictured: Elizabeth at a visit to RAF Valley in Anglesey in 2011

The Land Rover has number plate 3333 LR and was made with rear doors so the Queen could disembark at the back.

It is also adorned with the royal coat of arms, the Queen's personal standard flag waving at the front, and the letters 'GB' engraved above the number plate at the back.

Elizabeth, who died in September 2022, owned the vintage car until 2012, when it was acquired in an auction by British-German businessman Dean Kronsbein for £28,000, the Sun reported.

But the classic car has been listed for sale again after Mr Kronsbein died in a yacht accident.

The car was owned by the late monarch until 2012, when it was sold to British-German businessman Dean Kronsbein
The bonnet of the vintage car, which formed part of the Royal Review convoy of cars
The rear contains a rail and a glass screen which allowed the monarch to stand while travelling in the classic car

The fully restored 4x4 is being sold by RM Sotheby's in London, along with the rest of Mr Kronsbein's collection of cars, on November 1.

'This is an extremely unique opportunity', the auctioneer said. 

Land Rover has long had a special relationship with the Royal Family, with its cars playing prominent roles at major royal events.

First granted a royal warrant in 1951 by King George VI,  the brand was one of a select few to hold four warrants, including those of Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Queen Mother.

Prince Philip's coffin was carried in a Land Rover TD5 Defender 130 designed by himself at his funeral in 2021.