Thread: 88 SWB Station Wagons

Land Rover Station Wagon Down On The Denver Street


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Originally Posted by digger

Land Rover Station Wagon Down On The Denver Street


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Very nice but not a Series 1 .

TimJ.

Originally Posted by Timj

Very nice but not a Series 1 .

TimJ.

Im aware, sorry, but thought it may be of interest anyway...I stumbled across it looking for something else.

Originally Posted by garrycol

Well unless someone can come up with some others I am sticking with my claim.

They are probably in very short supply. Bear in mind that during the period Series 1 station wagons were built, Landrovers were assembled in Australia. I think I am correct in saying that no station wagons were assembled here. A trickle of 107 wagons were imported, but the cost of an imported 88 station wagon compared to a locally assembled 88 fitted with deluxe trim and rear seats would have ensured a very small demand for the wagon.

I suspect that the very few 88 wagons that have ever existed in Australia were private imports, mostly coming with immigrants. And it is likely that not many of these are still in existence, although there are probably a few sheds still occupied by grandpa's old car!

John

Hi John - some swb station wagons were made here - mine was assembled by the Pressed Metal Company. As there is no differentiation in chassis numbers between normal swbs and wagons I suspect that the specialist kits were brought in separately to the CKD cars and then added when ordered.

Garry

Originally Posted by garrycol

Hi John - some swb station wagons were made here - mine was assembled by the Pressed Metal Company. As there is no differentiation in chassis numbers between normal swbs and wagons I suspect that the specialist kits were brought in separately to the CKD cars and then added when ordered.

Garry

So it seems I was wrong in guessing none were assembled here. Which leaves the possibility of rather more existing. But remember that in the 1950s, four wheel drives were almost invariably working vehicles - unlike estate owners in the UK, most wealthy (and you had to be to pay the extra for a wagon) estate owners either never visited their estates, or if they were ones who did (and remember this period includes the wool boom) would disdain luxury - they might buy a new Landrover every year, but probably got a soft top. I suspect the few sold were company vehicles to allow senior management and other VIPs to visit worksites in (relative) comfort. I would not be surprised if most sold went to the SMHEA.

In the 1950s the market for recreational four wheel drives was non-existent.

John

According to Diana (Lots a Landies) mine was sold to the owners of the major retail store, Anthony Hordens in Sydney. Not clear on whether it was used in the store or by the family on a property.

Given the layout of the vehicle it would have been use more as a family/business vehicle rather than a farm hack - much like a RR today compared with a defender cab chassis.

Garry

Originally Posted by garrycol

According to Diana (Lots a Landies) mine was sold to the owners of the major retail store, Anthony Hordens in Sydney. Not clear on whether it was used in the store or by the family on a property.

Given the layout of the vehicle it would have been use more as a family/business vehicle rather than a farm hack - much like a RR today compared with a defender cab chassis.

Garry

Not exactly - most RR today are used as suburban hacks, but I take your point - what the RR was intended for! But very few people in the 1950s had such a use for a car, although there would have been a few. Most property owners rich enough to afford one would have bought something that was more suited to long distance travel, usually at high speed. With the currency situation limiting choice, the most common would probably have been big Humbers, although there were a significant number of Rolls Royce (I can remember reading in the fifties of the grazier who praised the glass divider in his Rolls Royce - it stopped the dogs licking his face when he was driving). The king cab five seat Armstrong Siddley was a quite common compromise. All of these were more suitable for lang distances than the Series 1.

Mind you, in 1963 I drove non-stop from the other side of Longreach to Sydney in my Series 1 88 hardtop!

John

John