Thread: The restoration of Wombat

Originally Posted by crackers

.....We do know it's currently got a 2 1/4 petrol motor which wasn't introduced for nearly another decade.

Ahhh, the fun of the chase.

Sorry, the 2.25 petrol engine was introduced with the Series 2 in 1958 - hardly "nearly another decade".

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Sorry, the 2.25 petrol engine was introduced with the Series 2 in 1958 - hardly "nearly another decade".

John

I thought it was the 2l with the first Series 2 and the 2.25 didn't come later. Ah well, I've learned not to trust my reading of things and there are so many versions of Land Rover 'history' I'm not surprised I'm getting things wrong.

There was only a few hundred series 2 with 2l motor.

Fair enough. With Wombat having the internal tank filler (ie, under the seat) rather than in the side of the body, it has to be a Series 1 doesn't it?

Originally Posted by crackers

That second number on the sales docket would be what? The engine number? If so, it appears to be 170600556. Does anyone know how to interpret this?

Originally Posted by crackers

Actually, I'll amend that. I've just run CalVIN again and it's telling me that it's

Model: Land Rover, Series IIA
Body type: Basic
Wheel base: 109in
Engine: diesel
Model years: 1962-1971
Destination: Export, right-hand drive (RHD)

Nope, I was wrong. That second number, when fed into CalVIN gives the following:
1 Type: Land Rover
7 Model: Land Rover Series I
0 Destination: Right-hand drive (RHD), home market
6 Service period: Late 1955 for service
00556 Serial number

noteThis VIN is also applicable to a 1956 Series II 109 Station Wagon

Which would appear to be a lot closer to the real answer. I'm still not sure what's going on but am I right is guessing that the second number is the one stamped on the chassis (which I haven't seen yet, I'm taking it off the sales record) and the one on the plate is something different again?

Originally Posted by Landy Smurf

There was only a few hundred series 2 with 2l motor.

And only short wheelbase.

John

Originally Posted by crackers

Fair enough. With Wombat having the internal tank filler (ie, under the seat) rather than in the side of the body, it has to be a Series 1 doesn't it?

This is not an absolute criterion, as Series 2a "Airportable" military Landrovers (not used in AMF and hence very rare here) also did. However, it is one way of identifying Series One. Others include brake and clutch pedals through the floor, flat sides with no narrowing above the waist, semifloating as opposed to full floating rear axle, door tops bigger than door bottoms, doors lift off, front mudguards lower, tailgate locks with wedges on chains, tub separate from cab on lwb. There is no doubt from the pictures that it is a Series 1.

Published ranges of chassis numbers, including CalVIN are not always accurate. The extract from the Grenville Motors book plus the painted name has clearly identified the vehicle and confirms that the stamped number on the plate is the correct chassis number and should match the one on the chassis. (Since these plates are only screwed on, there is always the possibility that this has been moved between vehicles.)

John

Panic not Crackers.. You 100% have a Series 1. One piece rear axle shafts, flat sides, pedals thru floor, separate rear tub, pins on chains for latching the rear tailgate etc. I will scratch around and locate an engine number this avo, whilst sitting it on inflated rubber! I've dug out a few spare diffs as well.