Series IIA - Bega barn find - 'Southern Cross'

[DWCamo]

A mate stumbled across this beautiful machine in the Bega back-country a few weeks ago. I've always wanted a Series IIA so I bought it from him. The 'Southern Cross' sticker on the bull bar leads me to believe it may have been used as a company vehicle in the SE forest timber industry at some stage (Southern Cross Engineering supplied to the industry). It's a full resto job but is complete, pretty rust free and came with a spare gearbox/tranfer. Its donk is a 2.25L petrol and it was apparently running till parked 2 years ago - battery/alternator problem stopped it starting, so I think it may be an easy fix, fingers crossed. It is a cute little truck and I think I'm head over heals in love with it. I would be grateful for any info on year of manufacture. Cheers, DW.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/03/123.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/03/124.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/03/125.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/03/126.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/03/127.jpg

[mick88]

Good find!
Looks like it will keep you off the streets for a while. ;)
What year is it? The grille looks like a reasonably late 2A.
Is that a suffix "D" on the end of the chassis number?
Enjoy your rebuild and don't forget to post pics along the way.

Cheers, Mick.

[JDNSW]

Suffix 'D' will be around 1968.

If it is only two years since it was running it is likely it will only need a battery, check oil and water and fresh fuel. Probably a good idea to drain anything in the tank and start afresh!

[DWCamo]

Thanks fellas. Yes looks like a suffix D. I was hoping the MY was 1968. Same as my better half's MY. I'd better give them both some TLC. Cheers, DW.

[ezyrama]

Hope this helps

CalVIN, the Land Rover VIN CALculator

25328158D

253 Model: Land Rover, Series IIA
Body type: Basic
Wheel base: 109in
Engine: petrol
Model years: 1962-1971
Destination: Completely knocked down (CKD), right-hand drive (RHD)
28158 Serial number
D Design: Three significant design modifications
Suffix used from April 1967 till March 1968

[Garry Treen]

I think I may have just found a similar one with the back chopped off.

Do you have an update on the status of your Land Rover?

My chassis no is 25323636D

Was told this one was parked up 5 yrs ago but have my doubts as I think it may be longer than that.

cheers
Garry

[ezyrama]

I think I may have just found a similar one with the back chopped off.

Do you have an update on the status of your Land Rover?

My chassis no is 25323636D

Was told this one was parked up 5 yrs ago but have my doubts as I think it may be longer than that.

cheers
Garry




25323636D
253 Model: Land Rover, Series IIA
Body type: Basic
Wheel base: 109in
Engine: petrol
Model years: 1962-1971
Destination: Completely knocked down (CKD), right-hand drive (RHD)
23636 Serial number
D Design: Three significant design modifications
Suffix used from April 1967 till March 1968

[JDNSW]

"Back chopped off" may well be factory. I owned a 1961 model similar to that in the mid sixties that was definitely factory.

By the late sixties most four wheel drives being sold in Australia were probably traybacks, and Rover Australia (and its successors) had started even building standard trays.

[Garry Treen]

25323636D
253 Model: Land Rover, Series IIA
Body type: Basic
Wheel base: 109in
Engine: petrol
Model years: 1962-1971
Destination: Completely knocked down (CKD), right-hand drive (RHD)
23636 Serial number
D Design: Three significant design modifications
Suffix used from April 1967 till March 1968

Thanks for that information ezyrama. We have been googling like crazy things trying to identify our model and learn what we can about Series 2As and you have confirmed for us that we are on the right track.

cheers
Garry & Veronica[smilebigeye]

[Garry Treen]

"Back chopped off" may well be factory. I owned a 1961 model similar to that in the mid sixties that was definitely factory.

By the late sixties most four wheel drives being sold in Australia were probably traybacks, and Rover Australia (and its successors) had started even building standard trays.

Thanks JDNSW. Can you tell me anything more about tray backs and how they were factory done? I had assumed at some stage tray backs may have become a standard option for the Australian market. Our looks like it has be made up of wooden planks and our tray is welded to the chassis. Where the tray has been chopped off and the trim attached is very "agricultural looking".

I've decided to start blogging about our experience with the Land Rover and have started a blog on blogspsot for anyone interested in having a look.

I assume this will be ok to post a link to on the Series forum??[smilebigeye]

[JDNSW]

Landrovers were available from the start of S2 production, if not earlier, as cab/chassis. These were originally intended for the installation of special bodies such as cranes, cherrypickers etc rather than flat trays, but trays became more popular than ute bodies in Australia from the early sixties, possibly as rural suppliers started to use forklifts.

Until the late sixties, the trays were invariably made locally or at least at the state distribution centre. For example the one I owned had a rather heavy steel tray made in Adelaide, although the vehicle was sold new in Alice Springs.

Somewhere either in late S2a, or early S3, Rover Australia started to fit their own trays at the factory in Sydney. These, or at least the one I have, were rather lightly built steel trays. These never completely replaced locally built ones - the 1981 S3 I disassembled here had an owner-built steel tray.

The trays usually mounted on the same attachment points as the standard tub, with some way of transferring load in a more distributed fashion, although this varied - my 1961 2a had the straight bearers of the tray resting on lengths of wood, flat on top, but shaped to follow the chassis profile on the bottom, and held on by four large U-bolts.

Typical trays on 109s were about six inches (15cm) wider than the Landrover body, and overhung the rear crossmember by about a foot (30cm), but some were wider and longer. Trays were occasiionally fitted to 88s, but these were always quite rare - 88s were mostly soft tops where cost was a major concern, or for government departments etc hardtops. Primary producers normally bought either soft top 88s or trayback 109s by the sixties. Industrial users such as exploration or mining companies etc usually bought trayback 109s by the sixties. (Very few Series 2a Landrovers were bought new by private owners - most of these, like myself, bought second hand! Private owners buying new 4x4s did not really start until the late sixties to early seventies. And even then, they tended to buy Rangerovers.)

Hope this helps

[Gordie]

I doff my hat to thee JDNSW. You never cease to amaze me with your Land Rover knowledge of which you readily impart...it's tremendous. Thank you.

[JDNSW]

Helps to have been driving and/or owning Landrovers for nearly sixty years - and collecting books!

[Garry Treen]

Helps to have been driving and/or owning Landrovers for nearly sixty years - and collecting books!

Thanks very much for such a detailed write up JDNSW. I've just ordered a couple of books online, am awaiting their arrival and looking forward to reading them.

Land Rover Series I II IIA Gold Portfolio 19481971 by R. M. Clarke and a Maintenance and Upgrade Manual for Series II, IIA and III by Richard Hall.

126842 Here is a pic of the way our cab has been finished off at the body. Looks like the trim you usually see on the back end.

cheers
Veronica