Take a look inside the Dalai Lama’s 1966 Land Rover – sold to an anonymous buyer for US$143,000

The 14th Dalai Lama’s former Land Rover fetched US$143,000 at RM Sotheby’s Auburn Fall auction in Indiana.

The car was originally delivered to Nepal in February 1966, and then driven into India by the 14th Dalai Lama’s brother, Tenzin Choegyal. There, it assumed its position as the Dalai Lama’s official car, according to RM Sotheby’s.

The 1966 Land Rover Series IIA 88 was driven mostly by Choegyal to bring his brother around India. However, it was not used as frequently when the Dalai Lama was in exile from Tibet.

Choegyal continued to maintain the vehicle after its 10 years of service before it was eventually donated to the Dalai Lama Foundation in Palo Alto, California, in 2005 to raise funds for Tibetan refugees.

The vehicle was fully restored in 2006 and still maintains many of its original parts, including the seats, tyres, licence plate and interiors, according to the auction house. It was later featured on the cover of the Land Rover Lifestyle Magazine in December 2007 when it was named one of the “six best” Land Rovers in the United States.

The buyer’s identity has not been revealed.

Take a look inside this unique piece of history.

It was donated to the Dalai Lama Foundation in December 2005.

The car cost more than US$49,000 to fully restore in 2006.