Thread: Landrover Styling - over fifty years

Originally Posted by dm_td5

Still, one of the best people memories of our round Australia trip last year was the number of times we were approached and they'd say "gee that's in good nick for an old Land Rover". The look on their face when you tell them it's only 12 months old is priceless

The other day was sitting in my 1982 Series 3, and a couple of young guys asked me how I liked my discovery.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I was referring to styling - and I never suggested that there was any common styling between 1948 and 1973. I agree though about parts - although there are a few other bits that remained the same (or at least interchangeable) from 1948 to the end of Series production, for example the steering relay.

John

1938 VW beetle


2003 VW beetle




The styling looks pretty damn similar to me. In fact closer than:
1948

1959

2010


I think the 2003 VW looks much closer to the 1938 VW than the landy models look to each other. The beetle retained the same wheels and hubcaps, the same (general) window, door and panel shapes - i.e. didn't change from square to rounded corners on all windows, etc, etc..., no change in headlight position for the VW...

The beetle also retained the same basic engine type/configuration.

If you consider 1958 the starting point for the current basic styling, then the defender needs to keep its current shape 2024 to beat the VW...

Originally Posted by isuzurover

I think the 2003 VW looks much closer to the 1938 VW than the landy models look to each other. The beetle retained the same wheels and hubcaps, the same (general) window, door and panel shapes - i.e. didn't change from square to rounded corners on all windows, etc, etc..., no change in headlight position for the VW...

The beetle also retained the same basic engine type/configuration.

I won't argue with you - - I'll point out that I mentioned the VW in my first post. I agree, VW did in fact retain the same styling - I had forgotten that the original beetle was revived after it was replaced by the super bug. I'm not too sure that it was in continuous production however, not that that is really significant.

I'll also point out that I never suggested that there was any styling similarity between 1948 and 1959 Landrovers. You are the one who brought in this straw man. My point was that the current Defender uses styling (and dimensions, at least for the lwb) that was introduced in 1958, and this is sufficiently similar that, for example, doors and some other panels are interchangeable. Retaining body styling for fifty years is unusual in the motor industry, although this thread has turned up several other examples in addition to the VW one I mentioned at the start. Although the Defender is perhaps the only one currently in production except for the Ambassador - unless you include the Morgan family, although their styling has varied perhaps a little more.

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I won't argue with you - - I'll point out that I mentioned the VW in my first post. I agree, VW did in fact retain the same styling - I had forgotten that the original beetle was revived after it was replaced by the super bug. I'm not too sure that it was in continuous production however, not that that is really significant.

I'll also point out that I never suggested that there was any styling similarity between 1948 and 1959 Landrovers. You are the one who brought in this straw man. My point was that the current Defender uses styling (and dimensions, at least for the lwb) that was introduced in 1958, and this is sufficiently similar that, for example, doors and some other panels are interchangeable. Retaining body styling for fifty years is unusual in the motor industry, although this thread has turned up several other examples in addition to the VW one I mentioned at the start. Although the Defender is perhaps the only one currently in production except for the Ambassador - unless you include the Morgan family, although their styling has varied perhaps a little more.

John

I was simply proving that this point:

Originally Posted by JDNSW

The obvious one is the VW beetle (1938 - 2003, but in fact they made major changes to it, even introducing a curved windscreen (1973), which changed the whole shape of the body.

Was somewhat subjective and a minor change compared to the changes that LR made between 1959 and 2010.

Btw - here is a 1975 superbug - looks the same to me stylistically - apart from the indicators, which LR changed and moved as well.


I realised you were talking 1958-2010.

I agree that it is unusual, and LR is probably second only to VW.

However there are low volume cars which may need to be included (depending on the definition of "production"). E.g. the Lotus/Caterham 7 - built from 1957-present. The car changed hands in 1967/68, but Landrover went through a few changes of ownership as well

Originally Posted by JDNSW

All Series 2/2a/3 had under seat tanks with side fillers, except for under seat fillers on some military vehicles, including the gun buggy and the Airportable, and all 109 wagons plus Stage 1 109s, which had rear tanks with side fillers, similar to the Defender.


John

The old mans IIa 88" has twin tanks with Main tank filling on the side and the Aux under the Passengers seat. With a Brass tap above the hand brake to change tanks.

Originally Posted by Benny_IIA

The old mans IIa 88" has twin tanks with Main tank filling on the side and the Aux under the Passengers seat. With a Brass tap above the hand brake to change tanks.

Correct for the factory auxiliary tank, although it is entirely possible it is a Series 1 tank fitted after market. However, most Australian Series 2a Landrovers with two tanks have the extra tank filled from a side filler the same as the RH tank as fitted to army 2as.

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Correct for the factory auxiliary tank, although it is entirely possible it is a Series 1 tank fitted after market. However, most Australian Series 2a Landrovers with two tanks have the extra tank filled from a side filler the same as the RH tank as fitted to army 2as.

John

Do you know if the dimensions of a S2 and S1 aux tanks are different? I would like to know if it is a factory fitted tank.

Originally Posted by Vixen

Before 2007 Gandalf, Numpty's 2006 defender has plastic front wheel arches

As did my '84 County. See Landrover Styling - over fifty years