1959 Land Rover 109 Series II. Photo: Bring a Trailer, via HiConsumption.
Daniel Craig’s old Land Rover has gone to auction
A 1959 Land Rover 109 Series II, previously owned by actors Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz, has gone to auction in the United States. Provenance is supported by a note written and signed by the couple, as well as a portrait autographed by Craig.
The vehicle is not one of those used in the James Bond films, nor has it been presented as film props. The link to the actor is personal ownership, and the documents included in the sale are what separate it from other similar examples.
It is a Series II, not a Defender
The listing describes a long-wheelbase Land Rover Series II pickup, with a 2.77-metre wheelbase. The “109” name comes from the wheelbase originally expressed in inches. The vehicle was built in 1959, at the start of Series II production.
Although the former owners’ note calls it a “Land Rover Defender”, that name did not exist in 1959. The Defender name was introduced only in 1990. The vehicle now offered is one of the model’s direct predecessors, with a separate chassis and the utilitarian body typical of the first Land Rovers.
The body has been resprayed in Bronze Green and retains the pickup configuration. The rear bed is covered with an Exmoor Trim canvas, and the spare wheel is mounted on the bonnet. Equipment also includes side steps, wing-mounted mirrors and a front winch operated with a thick rope.
2.25-litre petrol engine and 77 hp
Under the bonnet is an inline four-cylinder engine of 2.25 litres. The vehicle sheet lists 77 hp and torque of about 168 Nm. The gearbox is a four-speed manual, and the four-wheel-drive system has a low-range transfer case. A RoverDrive overdrive module allows engine speed to be reduced at road speeds.
The vehicle is not completely unmodified. The Solex carburettor has been replaced with a Carter unit, and the ignition has been converted to an electronic system. The generator has been changed, and the leaf springs have been rebuilt. The original carburettor is included in the sale, according to information published with the auction.
These interventions aim to make the vehicle easier to use, but they also matter for its appraisal. On a classic car, a buyer must distinguish original parts, period components and recent modifications, even when they improve starting or reliability.
The displayed mileage is not the true figure
The five-digit odometer shows about 6,100 km, but the seller states that the figure is not correct. The chassis’s total mileage is unknown. The dashboard reading therefore cannot be used as proof that the vehicle has covered few kilometres.
The cabin has three individual seats retrimmed in light brown vinyl. The outer seats have three-point seatbelts, an improvement over the original layout. The dashboard remains simple, with Jaeger instruments, ventilation flaps and sliding windows.
The true condition of the chassis matters more than how the photographs look. On Land Rover Series models, the aluminium-alloy outer panels can look sound even if the steel structure has corrosion. An inspection before purchase should cover the chassis, the bulkhead between engine and cabin, the brakes, the transmission and any leaks.
The signed note confirms the link to Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz
The sale includes a message in which Craig and Weisz confirm that the vehicle belonged to them and ask the future owner to take care of it. Motor1 reproduces the text of the note, but it does not give information about the exact period in which the couple owned the vehicle or about the kilometres covered then.
Such a document can increase collector interest, but it does not by itself set the final value. Continuity of history, authenticity of the signatures, ownership papers, technical condition and the number of bidders all matter. The vehicle has a title issued in the state of Montana and is offered from California.
The auction was still active on 25 August 2026 and was due to close on 27 August. For that reason, intermediate bids do not represent the sale price. The final result can be influenced both by the vehicle’s condition and by the provenance associated with the two actors.
What bringing the vehicle to Romania would involve
For a Romanian buyer, the hammer price would be only the start of the cost. Transport from the United States, insurance, customs formalities, taxes and the registration procedure must be calculated separately. Historic-vehicle status in Romania is granted after an assessment, not automatically just because the vehicle is more than 30 years old.
Technical modifications, American documents and chassis-number conformity should be checked before bidding. Equally important is choosing a workshop that knows Land Rover Series models, because parts and procedures differ from those of a modern Defender.
