Thread: Need help identifying a Series 3

Excellent! And I've had confirmation that the "straight" intermediate exhaust (part 501221) continued in to the military SIII 109 in it's twin fuel tank form.

I've also now traced and spoken to the dealer that purchased some of these vehicles after the Olympics and he's confirmed the Nike/Olympic/UN story (and the associated trailers). I've also got the registration history that shows the first rego (business use) in July 2000, 2 months before the Olympics, and sale to a dealer a few months after the Olympics ended.

But wait, there's more! I've now found and retrieved the "Nike" custom fibreglass roof, internal roll cage/seat belt mount and barn style rear door that were fitted at first Australian registration. And identified three layers of paint prior to the Nike Silver. First is a typical LR gloss green, then a lighter matt khaki green, then white (UN) and finally Nike silver.

So it would seem the history is as originally suggested. British army spec LR, UN use in Africa, imported and customised by Nike for the Olympics, then subsequent civilian owners.

Now I just need to decide what to do with it! Personally I don't like the silver colour........

P2.jpg

Sounds like you have really done well with research, I suggest that the matte khaki paint probably means that it went into the British Army before UN service - if bought straight into UN service I would think the white UN paint would have gone straight on the green.

Whereabouts are you? I wouldn't mind seeing it some time.

John

We're in the Mudgee/Gulgong area. PM me if you're passing through - I have it in my head you're near Dubbo somewhere? Or maybe you just mentioned Dubbo in a post at some point?

Yes, about 60k out of Dubbo. I don't often get to your area, and when I do it is usually trying to get to Sydney or Newcastle in a day, so in a bit of a rush, but I do get that way occasionally.

John

That vehicle sounds like a British MOD Series 3 LWB,as I have a 1980 ex MOD lightweight (S3 88" Airportable) which is ex-Brunei, yours would have the heavy rimmed headlights without the normal S3 civilian headlight surround plates,the tail lights are probably the mushroom screw type as are mine,this sounds like an ex MOD LWB vehicle that was a private import at about the time of the Olympics,my vehicle was originally bought by the previous owner from a person in Sydney by the name of Brown,it appears he deals in ex-military vehicles from wherever, that is the only information I have.

Originally Posted by UncleHo

.....,this sounds like an ex MOD LWB vehicle that was a private import at about the time of the Olympics........

I've made a number of enquiries, and I'm now fairly certain that this is indeed an ex MOD vehicle.

I haven't, as yet, written to Nike to see if they have any record of their bit of the story, but I have spoken to a dealer who claims to have full knowledge of the "Nike Olympic Land Rovers" and he has stated categorically that the story is true; Nike did import a bunch of ex-UN Land Rovers from Africa and equip them with custom roofs and trailers, and apparently he has had subsequent involvement with them. He even mentioned the name of someone who he knew still had one of the trailers, but the name meant nothing to me!

The details are as you describe, mushroom lights, no headlight surrounds etc. The removal of some paint has also revealed a green/black camo paint scheme, and during disassembly a 1993 L1 A2 5.56x45mm blank cartridge emerged. The UN apparently never carry blanks, so it looks like this vehicle was still in the hands of the British army in the mid 90's.

I would be interested to know if yours has a civilian style Land Rover ID plate (the black Solihull chassis number plate, assuming it is also pre "standardised VIN") in addition to any military nomenclature plates, and if so what axle weights are specified. There seems to be some deviation from the accepted norms, and even from the specs as stated in the Army documentation. It had me worried at first, but I've since found other examples that share the same data!