Thread: help identifying my s2

The interesting part for me is how nice she looks in her condition. Also the exhaust and muffler under the bumper similar to a S3 FFR.

Easo

thanks guys!

Its looking nicer since those pics i've had the chance to pressure wash it all down and its come up white! Its not its original color as best as i can tell it was either green or browny/red as the engine bay has both so he has obviousley changed some panels. The dash has been painted with brushed on what looks like house paint : | It has the original running gear from what i can tell, well def s2 gear anyway. The ignition is the combo light and ignition with no keys, or seatbelts its has the ammeter and seperate wiper motors so without having a chance to go and look at it yet im going with a s2. the only real aftermarket stuff i can see on it is the louver mechanisms are a wind up style not the notched slide, and the mirrors. Theres also a bunch of interior lights fitted. I also got the bits to put the spare on the bonnet, and the lady believes the hoops for the soft top are there somewhere, along with a bunch of spares and what appeares to be a whitworth tool kit Oh and it also has dual tanks with the second filler under the passengers seat (military spec?)

Basically its all going back to as close to factory as i can, the mirrors are going back on the fenders, roofs coming off and the door tops and will be driven on sunny days.

Whats with the front exhaust? That was a military thing wasn't it? Seems odd to have it on the front on a road vehicle - will this sort of thing be compliant these days?

Nice find by the way. Shame you can't keep the original plates with it (unless it is still registered and you can rwc and transfer it).

Originally Posted by that_kid

thanks guys!

Its looking nicer since those pics i've had the chance to pressure wash it all down and its come up white! Its not its original color as best as i can tell it was either green or browny/red as the engine bay has both so he has obviousley changed some panels. The dash has been painted with brushed on what looks like house paint : | It has the original running gear from what i can tell, well def s2 gear anyway. The ignition is the combo light and ignition with no keys, or seatbelts its has the ammeter and seperate wiper motors so without having a chance to go and look at it yet im going with a s2. the only real aftermarket stuff i can see on it is the louver mechanisms are a wind up style not the notched slide, and the mirrors. Theres also a bunch of interior lights fitted. I also got the bits to put the spare on the bonnet, and the lady believes the hoops for the soft top are there somewhere, along with a bunch of spares and what appeares to be a whitworth tool kit Oh and it also has dual tanks with the second filler under the passengers seat (military spec?)

Basically its all going back to as close to factory as i can, the mirrors are going back on the fenders, roofs coming off and the door tops and will be driven on sunny days.

The screw up vent mechanism is not aftermarket - it was fitted to Series 2 and very early Series 2a (but being fully interchangeable with the lever type, there is no guarantee it is original).

The second tank, with filler under the seat was a factory option, and does not indicate it was military - most, if not all, military 2/2a had the LH tank with an external filler the same as the RH one.

The combination ignition switch may have a number (two letters (probably FA) and three numerals), and if so a good locksmith should be able to get keys for you. If it does not, you should be able to remove it and take to a locksmith and get a key made. But it is likely that the lady does have the key somewhere - you are looking for something that looks like a small padlock key, which, if original, the number stamped on it.

As a Series 2 or early 2a it would almost certainly not have been fitted with seat belts unless it was a SMHEA vehicle, although many vehicles were being retrofitted with them by the 1970s.

Just to clarify my earlier post - the electrical changes in 1967 do not mark the change from 2 to 2a in 1961. The only specific changes between the 2 and 2a are the addition of a suffix letter to the chassis number and the change from the 2 litre diesel to the 2.25l diesel. But there were many changes during Series 2 production, and apparently the company decided these were sufficient to change the designation, and, perhaps, to set up a system to identify ranges of chassis numbers where changes took place.

John

Originally Posted by that_kid

Hi all,

So I've been fortunate enough to adopt a 2.25 petrol swb s2 from a widow who claimed she came second to it for the last 40 odd years up until the poor old chap became ill with Alzheimer's and passed away. It sat in her driveway for the last 12 year's where she kept it washed, rolled it band and forth occasionally and even turned it over with the crank handle. It was clear to me that she too loved the car very much and the day I saw it and knocked on her door I could tell it was not an easy decision for her to make.

But she felt the time was right and I was fit to take over custodianship of the little landy.for the next 40 years. And what a find! Not a spec of rust in the chassis or firewall, barrell straight panels and all original down to the crank handle and work light. Some fuel down the carby and a new battery, hit the starter n fired up first go!

All there is to do is overhaul the brakes, do the clutch and drive him. The issue I'm having is identifying it. Where do I find the vin and engine numbers?

Wow!
Interesting vehicle.
I've only just learned that the Army did trial some Series 2 Workshop vehicles. Your vehicle has the Army exhaust set-up for Workshop vehicles.
It'd be an amazing score to land one of those.

Please post up the chassis number so we can got to the bottom of it.

I know the vehicle in these photos has the rear exhaust, but they were initial trial vehicles and changes may have been made after these photos...







Any unusual hole in the tub floor at all?

Thanks John!

The old bloke put the exhaust on there as his wife complained about the heat of the original during summer driving up to fraser island in it. Apparently they had 7 people with the roof rack loaded up and would go to double island and fraser for weeks at a time fishing. What a journey that must have been! I also have said roof rack.

When i say it doesnt have keys, i mean there is no keys there isnt a lock, barrel or otherwise in it. The ignition switch is just a switch. I will put a hidden kill switch in somewhere once i get it rego'd however. I dont think I will fit seatbelts either as apparently i dont have too


So far the only rust i have found is in the drivers side where the door seal sits, and in the bottoms of the door frames, both of which should be simple enough to fix.

I would like to keep the plates, or if not have them re-issued and get PPQ white on black so it looks the same as it once did.

Ill get the chassis number over the weekend as its living at my brothers place. Townhouses aren't ideal for classic restos

I see what you mean about no key - that and the extra gauge above the light switch certainly look military, although it is quite possible that the instrument panel may be off a military one or even just the layout copied. (You will probably need to fit an ignition lock to get it registered, by the way - key locks are readily available)

I see a few non-standard features, for example the gear lever boot and the door pockets. And I would be fascinated to know exactly what the object in front of the LH fuel tank is!

I suggest a good move would be to order the relevant "Rave CD" from the Shop - top bar of the header on this page.

John

looks a lot like what was once a command recon, army dash i'd say

is there 4 small holes behind that blue and white tin in the passenger side tray.. that is where the nomenclature plate would have been screwed to the firewall

horn button on the pressed metal arm..

great pickup!