Can you ID this one?

[Wil2k]

Hi all,

I have no knowledge at all about Series vehicles, so I was hoping a few of you who are familiar might help me ID this old girl.

It's my Dad's old beast named "Grover" and as you can see in the pics it needs some major love. I've claimed it and will be bringing it up to QLD (somehow) as a project for the kids and I to get roadworthy (err.. or at least drivable!).

From what I have read / seen I make it to be a Series I. I did post these pics a long time ago but can't find the thread.

35049

35050

35052

35051

The one with the tree... that's why I want to do it up. It'll end up crushed or burnt if I don't. :-/

My Dad had the following to say about it:

A bit broken around the edges, the rear cab is probably unrestorable. Not yet buried in trees. The basic body is very good being aluminium, a couple of easily removable dings. The engine mounts need some redesign as the engine basically 'rests' on the chassis. The clutch mechanism needs a total rebuild between pedal and clutch (hydraulic) its mechanical and crap. The motor is Holden grey motor 147? 1950 's . Replaced rings & bearings probably done less than 1000 km. Fuel pump has always been dodgy.. needs a good bash on the dash occasonally - replace. Seats are unacceptable by current standards, think about that. All surround windows prob need replacement. Don't think about the tyres, battery expendables. Really good free wheeling font hubs.

Am I insane? I really have a soft spot for this old girl. I'll try and find out it's history, but from memory Dad got it from a bloke on a farm in Tas (where it is currently) who was using it in his paddocks to pull a plow or something. I believe it has a PTO in there somewhere also.. is that the big hole at the back?

I'll have to drive it up from Tas on a trailer. So if anyone needs a trailer returned or delivered to QLD, get in touch ;)

Cheers

Wil

PS, who wants to help? lol. :p

[Lotz-A-Landies]

It's an 86" Wheelbase Series 1, which would have a 1954 or 1955 model.

The '54s should have the 2 litre siamese bore engines with the bypass oil fiter while the '55s should have the 2 litre spread bore engines with the full flow oil filter system. None of this is relevant seeing it has a Holden engine.

Diana

[Wil2k]

None of this is relevant seeing it has a Holden engine

Thanks for that. I take it the Holden grey engine was a local aftermarket mod here in Aus. Does the rear canopy look original? Everything else is alloy by the looks, but that thing is rusty as. There a swing down door that goes with it too. Last I saw it had a tree growing up through the window though, so I'm guessing it's rusted away to nothing by now.

Cheers

Wil

[isuzurover]

I don't believe any series landies came from the factory with a steel hardtop. So the rear "canopy" is not original. Looks like it has an entire steel roof? (also not original).

EDIT - on 2nd viewing - the front part of the cab may be original. It probably looked like this when it left the factory:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/04/783.jpg

[JDNSW]

I don't believe any series landies came from the factory with a steel hardtop. .......Strictly accurate, but not accurate from a practical point of view. Many Series 2a/3 delivered in Qld were fitted by the distributor with steel hardtops made by Athol Hedges.

John

[isuzurover]

I don't believe any series landies came from the factory with a steel hardtop. .......Strictly accurate, but not accurate from a practical point of view. Many Series 2a/3 delivered in Qld were fitted by the distributor with steel hardtops made by Athol Hedges.

John

I knew about the athol hedges tops, but didn't think they left the showroom with them??? I thought they appeared to satisfy demand for hardtops for ex army landies???

Either way - the roof in question is not an AH item.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Ben

Re: the Athol Hedges bodies, the story goes that Annand & Thompson, Brisbane, were not happy that local assembly had been removed from them and moved to Sydney under Pressed Metals Corp (a sister organisation to Grenville Motors within LNC Industries) so instead of buying the Land Rover hard tops, they supplied the AH hard tops which were built in Brisbane rather close to A&T's Newstead head office.

Diana

[Wil2k]

- on 2nd viewing - the front part of the cab may be original. It probably looked like this when it left the factory:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/04/783.jpg

I'm fairly sure the front cab section is original. It's been over 10 years since I've actually seen Grover in person tho. It definitely has the long ridges on the roof.

Sounds like I could safely remove that whole back canopy without any series fans hanging me up by my toes. ;-) my guess is it's too far gone to do anything with.

[JDNSW]

I don't believe any series landies came from the factory with a steel hardtop. .......
I knew about the athol hedges tops, but didn't think they left the showroom with them??? I thought they appeared to satisfy demand for hardtops for ex army landies???

Either way - the roof in question is not an AH item.
I clearly remember noting in the mid sixties that new Landrovers were being delivered by A & T with the Athol Hedges hardtops - I remember comparing my 1958 S2 with a friend's new company Landrover in 1965 and deciding that I much preferred the Rover top. At the time I did not realise that they were a "Queensland special" and thought that they were a backward step. This was long before any ex-army ones appeared.

John

[Landy Smurf]

definately have ago rebuilding or restoring it, have alook in the series one section and there is a few restoration jobs happening

[Wil2k]

One thing I forgot to ask...
Can these aged vehicles be registered for normal road use? What's involved? Is it just better to go with limited "club" type

Wil

[Sprint]

they can be registered for normal road use, just need to bring it up to a standard that will pass a roadworthy examination....

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Wil

Absolutely they can be fully road registered.

HOWEVER: Do you want to be driving around in today's traffic without all the modern developments like disk brakes, power steering, air bags etc. Many people fit seatbelts although they are not required in pre-ADR vehicles.

The decision is how often you will drive it and will you get value for money out of full rego and insurance, when historic rego costs less than $100pa but with restrictions in most states.

Diana