Thread: Help: Discovering the history of my 1970 Series 2A Landrover

Originally Posted by kasper_tfg

Hi all


I'm attempting ( key word attempting ) to find the history of my 1970 landrover Series 2a
Previous Rego: XGO558
Chassis Number: 347076676G


What I know so far:
The old girl started life in the UN as evidenced by the UN tag on the key and the white paint paint underneath the green. Additionally I have been told that the UN logo is visible under the paint with an infrared camera, I'm still yet to confirm this


From here it somehow ended up in the hands of Senior Constable Steven Anderson of Bairnsdale Police who painted it green and converted it to a 202 motor.


After this it was sold to Adam Graff in 2012 where it spent the next 8 years as a showpiece for JB Caravans.


In 2020 I purchased the 1970 Landie named Beryl ( Couldn't tell you where the name came from but it wasn't me ) and it sits comfortably in my garage awaiting the day where it can be driven again. During the time I had it I removed the hard top, reworked the electronics as they were absolutely atrocious and replaced the door tops as the originals were missing .


What I can speculate and other random information:
During it's time in the UN it was a radio coms vehicle as it still has part of the radio system in it.


The car has some odd modifications as the middle seat doesn't fit due to the dual fuel tanks valves being in between the seats. There's a "service hatch" in between the seats and there's still part of a rear pto winch attached to the back of the gearbox. The bars running down the side of the car could've been for jerry cans ( SAS Modification? )


The hubs have been swapped for a 5x120 stud pattern and free-wheeling hubs have been installed.


There was a plate for a 88inch series 2a Vehicle No. 24302999a attached to the centre console area that I can't explain where it came from. If it's yours let me know.


The centre console area is much wider then normal and I can't explain why.


I ain't no expert but I believe the Bulkhead is from a series 3 and the clutch master cylinder is also from a series 3. Correct me if I'm wrong please.


Any information or help you can provide is greatly appreciated and hopefully we can track down the history of this amazing piece of machinery.

I'd be surprised if it started in the UN but might have served with them. The parts look some military and some not. Have you searched the REMLR lists?

There were a bunch of late 2a vehicles with the Army. But I cant speak re the brush bar: this looks earlier 2a vs the Series 3 bar but I couldn't say with confidence what the intermediate late 2a sported.

Series 2a bulkhead. Series 2a brake booster.

whitehillbilly

Interesting vehicle but the key fob and white paint don't prove it was a UN vehicle, if you can find markings under the green paint that's different.

It might be a bitsa, the two ID plates suggest a bulkhead replacement. The 88" one would have to be modified for the Holden, the other number relates to a 6-cylinder Land Rover. Is that why the transmission tunnel cover looks odd, also two levers beside the gearstick so does it have an overdrive fitted ?

Brushbar is Australian II/IIa

It would be interesting to see what part of the radio gear is still fitted.

I'm not sure if there is any info on the Interweb covering UN Land Rovers, maybe as suggested check REMLR to see if the chassis number(s) come up as an Australian military IIa.


Colin

I have not seen that modification on the transmission tunnel before. I suspect that the extra lever is for the PTO, or possibly the mechanism for the "yellow knob" has been modified, and it may even have a different transfer case. It certainly seems to have some interesting modifications.

My understanding is that most UN vehicles were/are mostly supplied from either government or military vehicle stocks of contributing member countries, meaning it could have come from anywhere.

Looks like a late IIa to me with a modded firewall and tunnel. I'm guessing the firewall to fit the 6cyl motor, its a II/IIa firewall, not a III. The tunnel looks like was just made to suit as the original wouldn't have fitted with the firewall modifications and it covers the PTO lever in a far more convenient way.

Originally Posted by gromit

Interesting vehicle but the key fob and white paint don't prove it was a UN vehicle, if you can find markings under the green paint that's different.

It might be a bitsa, the two ID plates suggest a bulkhead replacement. The 88" one would have to be modified for the Holden, the other number relates to a 6-cylinder Land Rover. Is that why the transmission tunnel cover looks odd, also two levers beside the gearstick so does it have an overdrive fitted ?

Brushbar is Australian II/IIa

It would be interesting to see what part of the radio gear is still fitted.

I'm not sure if there is any info on the Interweb covering UN Land Rovers, maybe as suggested check REMLR to see if the chassis number(s) come up as an Australian military IIa.


Colin

Hi Colin

In light of the recent replies I'm doubting the stories that the previous owner told as it is not listed on REMLR however he did say that there is a UN logo underneath if you use an IR camera on it but not sure how true this is.

As for the transmission tunnel that sounds like a very solid theory also the extra lever is attached to a rear PTO winch module that has been left on the gearbox.

The remains of the radio system are what can be seen in the cab on the passenger side.

Thanks

Nathon

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I have not seen that modification on the transmission tunnel before. I suspect that the extra lever is for the PTO, or possibly the mechanism for the "yellow knob" has been modified, and it may even have a different transfer case. It certainly seems to have some interesting modifications.

My understanding is that most UN vehicles were/are mostly supplied from either government or military vehicle stocks of contributing member countries, meaning it could have come from anywhere.

Hi Jhon

The extra lever is attached to the remains of a rear PTO winch module left on the gearbox.

Your last point is quite interesting as it is not listed on the REMLR forums but your theory could possibly explain why?

I agree it does have some interesting mods however it would be good to know where they came from

Thanks

Nathon

Nathon,

As mentioned above, the bulkhead is certainly a Series 2a six cylinder one. The question is whether it was originally a six cylinder vehicle. It is possible that this bulkhead was fitted to make fitting the Holden engine easier if it was originally a four. Finding the chassis number stamped on the chassis would confirm this. If it is an Australian one, the chassis number should be on the outside of the rear back spring hanger. If it is from elsewhere, the number could be just about anywhere.

Australian military 2as were mostly, if not all, four cylinder, and all had extended spring hangers that make recognising the chassis easy, although there were probably some civilian ones taken into service. The rear crossmember is a civilian one, but this is quite possibly a replacement, as they are prone to rust.

The brake master cylinder and booster look to be the ones fitted as options to Series 2a and Series 3 prior to the introduction of dual circuit brakes. While rare as factory fitments, they may have been fitted when the Holden engine was installed.

The transfer case PTO was not only used for a rear winch, but in fact this was probably very much a minority use. Other uses included a power takeoff for shaft or belt driven machinery or to run a chassis mounted pump, alternator, or compressor, used for a variety of purposes.