Thread: Bundalenes '51 Restoration

I wonder if the leading edge has been cut or merely folded up?

You can bet it is so they can fold the screen down for shooting or bull snaring.

There seems to be a lot of interest in this little hardtop. I am not convinced the roof isn't from an 86 or 88 inch. Here are some close ups of the poorly fitting hardtop. I have had 2 people plead with me not to wreck out this car. I am just borrowing the hubs / axles and brake parts for a while




The front has been cut and a wad of foam inserted





Pic from inside





There is a strip of wood in the gap between the drivers door and the hardtop, and a piece of weathered rubber on the passengers side











I have not taken notice of the upper tailgate support mechanism, but this one works a treat









The mounting fixtures look as though they could be correct










If original, and I doubt that, just maybe this will be a future project


I can take more pics if requested

Erich

It is definitely a genuine Landrover hardtop, and if it shows no signs of shortening, it is clearly for an 80". Quite uncommon, but not necessarily original. The rear door mechanism is the same as I had on my Series 1 and Series 2.

John

Well, this may be a rare find after all. Just reading James Taylors book and he says the 80 inch hard top wasn't introduced until Feb 1950. The build date for this vehicle must be before July 1950, so this would have to be one of the earlier hard tops around.



Erich

Originally Posted by Bundalene

Well, this may be a rare find after all. Just reading James Taylors book and he says the 80 inch hard top wasn't introduced until Feb 1950. The build date for this vehicle must be before July 1950, so this would have to be one of the earlier hard tops around.



Erich

It may be, but it was made nearly sixty-five years ago, and could have had the hardtop put on at any stage in its history, although it is pretty certain the hardtop was made in the fifties - perhaps a bargain deal on some surplus 80" hardtops after the 86 appeared?

John

Hi Erich

The hard tops for the 80" and later Series 1 all overhung the front of the windscreen top rail and yes they had a strip of foam on top of the rail to seal against wind penetration. I always think they look odd because the top is wider than the lower body and you get a visual perspective of the top being like an upside down triangle. (Note that the S2 onwards the top tapers in)

Looking at your top is is definately an 80" type, but cut to allow the screen to fold down. The fact that it has a hole in the roof makes me think it was a shooting buggy where they would shoot out the front through the opening created by the folded down screen.

The profile of the leading edge was the same as the remnants you can see at the corner in your image below



You could always recover the leading edge from a later Series 1 truck cab and insert it into your rather rare 80 metal top.

Diana

What surprises me is the large gaps at the back of the doors, that's what made me think it wasn't off an 80 inch.

Yes you are right about the shooting buggy - large hole in the roof, hole for the spotlight and half a dozen live shot gun cartridges in the rear compartment ...................







Erich

The hole in the roof top is where someone can stand in the back with a light or firearm.
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