1950 Series 1 in NZ

[Alison]

Hi All,
I have just started the long (but hopefully not too long) process of restoring a 1950 Series 1 Land Rover. It has been in the family since 1970 - so lots of good family stories. (Imagine going away with Mum, Dad, 4 kids and 2 Irish Setters!!!)
127318
I have contacted the British Motor Museum, who have confirmed that it was sent to "Granville Motors, Australia". Assume that this is a spelling error and should be Grenville Motors.

I am trying to find out some of its history, as she was not registered in NZ until 1963 - so assume that it has some life in Australia prior. It has been suggested that the reason why she is Blue - was due to "employment" with Australian Armed services? Would love to have a genuine reason to paint her blue rather than green [bigsmile]

Her Chassis number R06109924

Thanks in advance to anyone who maybe able to shed any light for me.

Kind regards
Alison
(Otaki, New Zealand)

[1950landy]

Looks almost as bad as mine when i bought it 30 years ago, took 3 years to restore . I am well on the way through its 2nd repaint & correcting things I didn't correct the 1st time. Almost 1 year since I started the 2nd rebuild.127319
It is up to this stage at the moment , I am trying to sort out the new wiring harness I bought , doesn't quite fit so am having to modify slightly.

Good luck with it , you have come to the rite place for advice.[smilebigeye]

[Gordie]

Hi, great to see Otaki mentioned! Nice landy. Cheers from an ex-kuku-ite.

[series1buff]

That's a neat project !

The Australian army didn't use 80" Land Rovers but I think the navy had a few 80" running around on the decks of the aircraft carriers HMAS Sydney and Melbourne. The NZ army used the 80" Land Rovers for many years but over here the Aust. army held onto their WW2 Jeeps til 1958/9 and the Austin Champs were used too.

Your car might have been a private import ?

[digger]

The army only had a few 80" - I believe as evaluation?

Navy had 50-60. Including a Tickford wagon. REMLR have a register of ARNs

ARN Series 1 List -REMLR (http://www.remlr.com/ARN/ARNseries1.php)

Quick look I didn't see it here, sorry!

Nice car
,

[1950landy]

This looks like the blue the RAAF used. I am not sure if the RAAF had any 80" LR's, I do know we found one in a wreckers in Dalby Qld that had been painted yellow which was an ex Military 80", after some reserch we found it was stationed at Amberley RAAF Base & flowern to SA for the bom tests at Maralinga then flown back to Amberley to be de coninated. This vehicle may have been a British Militery 80" , still had its rear diff center paintes white & all it's light under rear tray to shine forward onto the diff. We used to call it the glow in the dark LR.[biggrin]