Thread: SWB or LWB series...which is more popular?

When it comes to Series Ones, the shorties are by far more popular due to sheer quantity.

IMO for the other Series, since there are less coil sprung shorties, someone with a Defender is more likely to get a shorty plaything/resto project as it is something different to their modern long Landy.

People who actually use their Series as their tourer/weekend wagon are far more likely to go for the longs though as they are much more practical.

The first Land Rover imports were mainly SWB and these sold in quantity - especially to farmers, Snowy Mountains Authority, government agencies and the Army. Outside the odd enthusiast there was not a huge private following for 4WDs.

By the time the Series 3 models were coming here the SWBs were falling out of favour relative to LWBs, which were also declining under stiff Japanese competition. The Army largely went over to LWBs, and there were not a lot of other people out there lining up for SWBs - so much so that a lot of the older Series LWBs on offer are ex-Army.

So, I guess it is basically a numbers game. Also, a lot of us who started out with SWBs on the farm in the 50s and 60s etc have a bit of a soft spot for them anyway, which makes them a popular restoration target.

Cheers,

I prefer SWB over a LWB. They look cute are a fun truck to drive and we have the more modern truck for touring etc

Mrs hh

Originally Posted by The ho har's

I prefer SWB over a LWB. They look cute are a fun truck to drive and we have the more modern truck for touring etc

Mrs hh

I'll second that

I prefer both.

Short for fun.
Long for work.

The shorties are great for just you and the missus cruising around on a short trip, but the long ones let you pack in all your crap and give a better ride over distance.

All depends on your usage. Hence I have nearly one of everything

But to pick a favourite it probably goes in this order.

86"
107"
88"
109"
130"
110"
100"
90"
80"

Not series I know

CC

Forty years ago the swb was probably more popular than the lwb. Over time, Australians' ideas of offroad travel have expanded to include a vast array of "necessary" equipment, which simply will not fit in a swb. (not just Landrover - when did you last see a new Landcruiser, Pajero or Patrol as short as a FJ40? I think they still exist, but I can't remember when I last saw one!) This has meant that fewer and fewer swbs have been sold, so the newer the vehicle you are looking at the less likely it is to be a swb.

Even for general use, not touring, the swb is less useful - for example you can only carry about half the load of firewood, and they won't even hold fence posts without their sticking out the back.

John

swb are more popular or sort after becasue most modern cars are lwb but a good lwb station wagon is worth abit imho

I own a LWB, but want a SWB.

The LWB is the best for towing. SWB is the best for off road.