Thread: Australias Oldest Land Rover

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Hi Colin

If that is the vehicle there are a lot of aspects that date it later than 1948. The deep bronze green colour is no earlier than 1949, the curved hood bows and removable tow plate would make it 1950.

Sorry if this info isn't what you wanted to hear.

Diana

Doesn't bother me Diana.

FIL claims its a '48. Lots of bits were added from other vehicles over the years he owned it.
I saw somewhere that someone had a list of all the Australian '48 Land Rovers including the Rego details, just can't remember where I saw it. Rego is clear in one of the pictures.


Colin

Mike, 260AC has compiled a list of all Aussie 1948s with the Rego numbers for the Vic vehicles. A number of us have various other lists including one which was found in a workshop manual previously owned by a Victorian workshop. It included details of Vic vehicles and included one from Nareen Malcolm Frazer's property.

I'll see if I can track it down (that network drive is offline today), it may have your father in-laws details if he was the original owner.

Originally Posted by gromit

Doesn't bother me Diana.

FIL claims its a '48. Lots of bits were added from other vehicles over the years he owned it.
I saw somewhere that someone had a list of all the Australian '48 Land Rovers including the Rego details, just can't remember where I saw it. Rego is clear in one of the pictures.


Colin

Hi Colin,

I can refer to the paper copies - it's never offline
What was the rego no? We might be lucky.

Bob

Originally Posted by bobslandies

Hi Colin,

I can refer to the paper copies - it's never offline
What was the rego no? We might be lucky.

Bob

Bob,
Rego documents stated '48.
Rego was NV 305 (as far as I can see in the photo) but the FIL wasn't the first owner. I'll phone him and confirm the rego.

There is every possibility he made the hood bows & tow hitch if they are incorrect.


Colin

Originally Posted by bobslandies

Great photo Colin.

It would be nice to see more vehicles at Shows with the equipment they were fitted with rather than being totally reconditioned to factory specs and finish (or better)

I'm with you on this one, and that's not limited to Land Rovers I'd also like to see more 'sympathetically restored' vehicles too, instead of taking them back to showroom condition - although I do understand why folks do it As far as I'm concerned, especially with a vehicle like a Land Rover, once you start bashing out it's dents and creases, you are bashing away it's history, and any stories it may have to tell

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Hi Colin

If that is the vehicle there are a lot of aspects that date it later than 1948. The deep bronze green colour is no earlier than 1949, the curved hood bows and removable tow plate would make it 1950.

Sorry if this info isn't what you wanted to hear.

Diana

Does not look like a removable tow plate / draw bar - the webs slightly inboard of the towplate ends that go up inside the chassis rails are visible.

The removable draw bar was introduced at vehicle 06103841 (3841st 1950 model vehicle) and the curved hood bows were introduced at vehicle 06105463. If you have a good photo of the rear you may see the vertical webs clearer and the welded-on draw bar has ten holes, the later removable one has eight holes.

Bob

Originally Posted by gromit

Bob,
Rego documents stated '48.
Rego was NV 305 (as far as I can see in the photo) but the FIL wasn't the first owner. I'll phone him and confirm the rego.

There is every possibility he made the hood bows & tow hitch if they are incorrect.


Colin

The NV prefix could easily make it a 1948 as that sequence was in use early/mid 1949; certainly included NF, NS in 1949; O- P- R- S- in 1950.

Where's an expert on Vic Registrations, other than Wikipedia:
Vehicle registration plates of Australia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"In 1939 Victoria switched to a 2-letter, 3-number scheme (AA-000 to ZZ-999)"


Bob

Originally Posted by bobslandies

Does not look like a removable tow plate / draw bar - the webs slightly inboard of the towplate ends that go up inside the chassis rails are visible.

The removable draw bar was introduced at vehicle 06103841 (3841st 1950 model vehicle) and the curved hood bows were introduced at vehicle 06105463. If you have a good photo of the rear you may see the vertical webs clearer and the welded-on draw bar has ten holes, the later removable one has eight holes.

Bob

And the DBG colour?