1950 Series 1 80” Military Lightweight

[Dave Paul]

Hi Guys,
Does anyone know anything about such a thing ?
Cheers Dave

[JDNSW]

The Lightweight Landrover was introduced during Series 2a production in the late sixties to slim down the 2a 88 to fit the aircraft then in use by the RAF. It was followed by a Series 3 version, but there was never a Series 1 lightweight, and certainly not an 80'.

Worth pointing out as well that Series 1 was never used by the Australian Army except for a few isolated examples. Neither was the Lightweight for that matter.

[Dave Paul]

Thanks JD,
I haven’t been able to find any information apart from Island Rovers who has a Series 1 called “Her Majesty” with Lightweight guards that he has changed .
I just purchased a Series 1 80” that looks very much like a Lightweight.
Trying to work out if it’s a factory prototype or someone who has created a Unicorn.

Regards Dave

[gromit]

Thanks JD,
I haven’t been able to find any information apart from Island Rovers who has a Series 1 called “Her Majesty” with Lightweight guards that he has changed .
I just purchased a Series 1 80” that looks very much like a Lightweight.
Trying to work out if it’s a factory prototype or someone who has created a Unicorn.

Regards Dave

Saw something on Ebay recently that very sounds similar.
Wasn't even convinced it was a Series I at first glance, pictures of the dashboard confirmed it was based on an 80" but with 'lightweight' looking guards.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/l9wAAOSwJFlgB2wQ/s-l1600.jpg

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~5cAAOSwlzJgB2wC/s-l1600.jpg

This one has a 4-cylinder Holden with Auto box.


The Airportable (lightweight) was introduced in the late 60's.

Maybe post some pictures.


Colin

[JDNSW]

I don't know for sure, but I suspect that Series 1 mudguards are more or less interchangeable with Lightweight ones, and these may have been more readily available.

[goingbush]

I don't know for sure, but I suspect that Series 1 mudguards are more or less interchangeable with Lightweight ones, and these may have been more readily available.

No Lightweight guards are not interchangeable with Series 1 , The Firewall / Footwell forms the rear part of the guard on a Lightweight . The fender only had a top & front .


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/04/328.jpg

[1950landy]

Looks like something some one has made up. I know the Navy had some S1's I have records of three they had & as far as I know the only S1's the Army had were owned by British Military. We found a British Military one at the Prices Wreckers Dalby back in 98 , after some investigation worked out it had been stationed at Amberley & they would fly it to SA for the Atomic Bomb Tests .

[101RRS]

Looks like something some one has made up. I know the Navy had some S1's I have records of three they had & as far as I know the only S1's the Army had were owned by British Military. We found a British Military one at the Prices Wreckers Dalby back in 98 , after some investigation worked out it had been stationed at Amberley & they would fly it to SA for the Atomic Bomb Tests .

The Navy used to carry 80s on some ships - there is a video of the old HMAS Tobruk with a 80 being worked on at sea during the Horean war.

The Aust army did have three (I think) series 1s as trials vehicles before they went the Army series 2s. The three trials series 1s (not sure whether 80s, or 86s) each had a different engine, one with a LR engine, one with a Rolls Royce engine (Austin Champ engine???) and I think an early Holden but not sure of this. The RR engine was the pick but was too expensive. These were Aust Army owned vehicles.

I had a ex mil series 1 (88) for a short period but I believe it was a left over vehicle from the Brit Atomic Bomb tests - as I believe many of the vehicles used to support the tests were left here.

In my view the vehicle that was for sale recently is a 80 that has been heavily modified to look something like a later lightweight.

Garry

[JDNSW]

........... one with a Rolls Royce engine (Austin Champ???) .....

Garry

Yes. It has been mentioned here before.

[Dave Paul]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for all the collective input, very informative.
What is the best site to check the serial numbers on the vehicle to search its history.

Cheers Dave

[gromit]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for all the collective input, very informative.
What is the best site to check the serial numbers on the vehicle to search its history.

Cheers Dave

Not sure how much history you can find out.
Calvin might help determine if it was supplied to Australia CKD (Completely Knocked Down) it then depends on which dealer assembled it.
I believe someone has some of the NSW records but in most other States the records are lost or destroyed.

Clifton Scientific Text Services, the Netherlands (https://www.clifton.nl/index.html?calvin.html)

Is it the vehicle in the pictures ??


Colin

[101RRS]

Putting that number (06109342) into Calvin it comes up as

0 = 80"
6 = Model year: 1950
1 = Model: Land Rover, Series I, 80in, petrol
0 = Body type: Basic
Right-hand drive (RHD), home market
9342 = Serial number

So is a UK build standard 80 - so is now heavily modified in body and transmission.

Garry

[1950landy]

The Navy used to carry 80s on some ships - there is a video of the old HMAS Tobruk with a 80 being worked on at sea during the Horean war.

The Aust army did have three (I think) series 1s as trials vehicles before they went the Army series 2s. The three trials series 1s (not sure whether 80s, or 86s) each had a different engine, one with a LR engine, one with a Rolls Royce engine (Austin Champ engine???) and I think an early Holden but not sure of this. The RR engine was the pick but was too expensive. These were Aust Army owned vehicles.

I had a ex mil series 1 (88) for a short period but I believe it was a left over vehicle from the Brit Atomic Bomb tests - as I believe many of the vehicles used to support the tests were left here.

In my view the vehicle that was for sale recently is a 80 that has been heavily modified to look something like a later lightweight.

Garry

The three 80" Navy Land Rovers I have in my records all have a chassis number starting with R0610 , one has a number 1341 before the other two which have numbers following one another & they were all owned by the same guy in NSW.