Originally Posted by
Lotz-A-Landies
John
Like lots of these sorts of things no one has all the facts.
It does seem that the Australian Pressed Metal factory only produced vehicles in 2 colours during the series 1's.
Those being bronze green and the grey.
It is interesting to note that Annand and Thompson (A&T) in Brisbane continued to import "export model" vehicles from the UK instead of getting the Sydney based Land Rover production. It is therefore likely that many of the odd colours came in through Annand and Thompson's. A&T's also imported vehicles with colour = "none" recorded in the Solihull's dispatch books. Presumably these vehicles were painted in Brisbane, like my 1951 which was painted in RACQ fleet colours.
From the very outset A&T's were a little unusual as their vehicles had the noticeable Land-Rover name painted on the front RH mudguard and rear tailgate. Queensland not requiring front vehicle number plates during the Series 1.
Even in the series 2, A&T's were unusual as they did not import the vehicles with hard tops. If you wanted a top you got an Athol Hedges Pty Ltd "Brisbane" hardtop. You will remember these tops, they had a flat roof top with a radius curve on all 4 sides. The tailgate top was the same height as the side panels and they had the small side windows at the rear.
Regarding other colours from the UK factory, the RAF had their vehicles supplied in their own RAF Blue and you do see vehicles with colours similar to the "Cockpit green" sage colour of the 1948 production.
What I find fascinating is that many of the Wattyl Paints colorbond colours are quite similar to the early Land Rover colours, particularly the sage.
Diana
