South African Series 2 variant

[jakeslouw]

For sale for around AU$3000:

LANDROVER - Johannesburg & Gauteng car, van, truck - Gumtree Johannesburg & Gauteng Free Classifieds (http://capetown-westerncape.gumtree.co.za/c-Cars-Vehicles-bakkies-cargo-vans-LANDROVER-W0QQAdIdZ321838792)

Probably a command car or a comms van.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

If you are wondering about the strange windscreen, they actually open out.

[ellard]

Hi there

It amazes me with Landrover, with there adapt & improvisation as it looks like they have used the side windows on the front so it can be layed down.

It would increase the airflow - as we all know the firewalls get very warm.

Thanks for the pictures.

[jakeslouw]

I never used these when I served, but I seem to recall that those front windows could also be swopped for ballistic (bullet-proof) glass panels. A lot more useful than the metal barbaque grid that the Poms fitted in Ireland.

[Sleepy]

I think this is the same type

Land Rover Series 2A Caboose Rebuild (http://www.landyonline.co.za/off_road/series2a_caboose_camper.htm)

A Caboose is the name given in South Africa to a special Land Rover built for the South African Defence Force in the late 1960’s. The vehicle was based on a 2A 109 4 cylinder Land Rover with an extended chassis. The inside height of the vehicle is 1.56 metres. They were used as field offices and were equipped with two tables, four filing cabinets and a set of three drawers. The sides of the vehicles were of aluminium although some were built of steel. The back and front were of steel sheeting. The roof was of glass fibre and was fitted with a gun turret. The inside of the vehicle was clad with masonite sheeting.

[jakeslouw]

IE 8 seems to mangle that link.

[Sleepy]

microsoft :angel:

___www.landyonline.co.za/off_road/series2a_caboose_camper.htm___

[jakeslouw]

Ah yes, Firefox to the rescue!

OK, that article is from the Cottons, the owners of a Landy independent workshop near Johannesburg.

Son Brian now runs the business. Supports my view that this was used as a command and control van. Some had extensive comms / radio kit installed.

Most of these were demobbed by the end of the 80s and surviving examples are VERY rare.

Unfortunately we don't have a very strong military heritage movement among the LR community, so most will have been used as spares.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Jake

I know what you mean about not a strong mil Landy enthusiasts in ZA, I've been trying to find out info on the in-service configuration of my ex-SADF SIIB, even joined a ZA 4X4 forum and found out very little other than they hated driving them and would take out the Chevys instead (hence the low KM on mine) the best I could find out was the P.O's name Gog was likely the shortened version of gogga (apparently a creepy crawly) and had to find out the official SADF colour "Dark Earth" from a U.K. forum. So still have no idea of the external configuration, tactical markings let alone internal fittings or radios etc.

I did notice a SIIa FC on Junk Mail Land rover forward control 4x4 this For Sale Pretoria Quality Classifieds | Junk Mail (http://www.junkmail.co.za/v-pretoria-motor-mail-4x4-vehicles-land-rover-forward-control-4x4-this-QZQYCatQX0570QYRgnQX0002QYAdQXF44473QYEdQX201124) the vehicle is a little different to mine and green so not much use.

[jakeslouw]

Yes well reality in post-Apartheid South Africa means that anything from pre-independence South Africa is now considered ultimately non-PC so everybody runs a mile..... :mad:

GOG rings a bell, I'll see if I can find the PO.

It could have been a shortened version of MAGOG which is African (Zulu, Xhosa) for "old one". Or a shortened version of Gogga as you say or Ietermagog which both mean types of insect in Afrikaans.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Jakeslouw

The PO (previous owner) was an ex-pat South African who emigrated to Australia with the SIIb. Which is how it ended up in a used 4x4 dealer in Melbourne and the hands of "Wagoo" then eventually in Tasmania where I acquired it.

The only in-service info I have on the vehicle is an image of the same variant in the background but the vehicle in silhouette. There appears to be an antenna mast in front of the SIIB, but cant tell if it is attached of not.

Diana