Thread: What is actual wheelbase of 110"?

Originally Posted by jerryd

So can a Defender be re-bodied as a Series III and have all the mod cons but retain the Series III look ???

As others have noted, there are several problems with this, legal, and the position of the radiator panel (although this is the same as on the S3 Stage 1). Not mentioned is that panel work would be needed to change the wheel arch position because both axles are further back, although this would be disguised by the fitting of the wheel arch extensions. Which in turn raises the point that the track is wider on the Defender compared to the S3, so it is impossible to retain the S3 appearance and the wider track. And it is not clear how you could easily reduce the track on a Defender, and this would certainly be illegal anyway.

Despite this, there are many body bits that are either interchangeable (sometimes with minor mods or as assemblies) or the same between Series 2/2a/3 and 90/110/Defender. These include things like all doors, hinges, etc.

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Not mentioned is that panel work would be needed to change the wheel arch position because both axles are further back,


Which in turn raises the point that the track is wider on the Defender compared to the S3, so it is impossible to retain the S3 appearance and the wider track. And it is not clear how you could easily reduce the track on a Defender, and this would certainly be illegal anyway.

On that note, some of the US rover restorers have built SIIs/IIAs/IIIs on defender chassis with series rims and no wheel arch flares. The wheels fit fine within the guards.