Thread: Just Picked Up a Series II

OK, managed to take a few pics, and hopefully they post up here OK....

Took her out a couple of times today again. Goes well, a bit "whiny" in second gear. Have not "driven" like this for a long time!!

This is an article from the June 2004 edition of "Free Wheeling" magazine - the magazine of the Rover Owners Club:

"The pictured Land Rover is one of four 86" SWB "Landy's" progressively acquired by the RAS of NSW. These were designed to act as 1st response fire vehicles at the Sydney RES site in Moore Park.

You will notice the absence of roof mounted beacons, sirens etc. This was to allow maximum accessibility to various low head room areas in the event a fire.They carried very little in the way of heavy fire hoses etc. just enough for a quick hit. They did however, carry a brass standpipe which was mounted in front of the grille. The showground site was quite well honeycombed with underground 4" and 6" water pipes.

The back section was fitted with a small demountable pump of about 110 gallons per minute and a hose reel carrying 130 feet of black rubber hose. The rear workspace also carried an axe, shovel and 2 McLeod tools. These are combination rake/hoes.

All four vehicles were fitted with 2 way radios tuned to the NSW Fire Brigade frequencies. The reason was that for the most part, they were crewed and operated by NSWFB personnel especially during show times.
All four vehicles were painted cherry red and as far as is known saw well over 20 years service each. Unlike the fire vehicles at Baulkham Hills Bush Fire Service, these retained their genuine Land Rover engines."

I've attached a picture from the magazine - apologies for the scan quality.

The bonnet has the holes where the brass stand pipe was mounted. Not sure about the white stripes though - a later addition?

Great stuff mate . looks in good shape . very good start to a project . Congrats on the buy

G'day MickS

CONGRATULATIONS you lucky family all it needs is a coat of "Cherry Red" and you have one VERY NICE little early series 2 SWB that will really turn heads, and I am thank you for the compliment, am only too happy to assist fellow Land Rover owners


Bung-Tiddley

Uncle Ho

Howdy Mick , Is this the SWB that was for sale in the markets area of the site?

sure is, wannalandy! and this little gem used to live just down the road from me, i enquired about it before i ended buying young desmond (in comparison). As it looked like a little bit of a bomb from the outside, so i left a note on the vehicle asking if he had thought about selling. Turns it it has about 33 000 original miles on it, and it's tight as a drum! at the time, the owner was keen to hold onto it, and was asking too much for it. It really is a wonderful landy, how much more character can you get? apparently there's even a bullt hole in the front guard from a drunk security guard (sydney show ground). great buy! i've always had a thing for that one, and its awesome to see it get a bit more use than it was getting!! onya mick.

john

btw where r u in sydney mick?

Hi there

I love the picture of the very early series II Fire Engines - theres has always been a lot of healthy discussion as to weather Land Rover actually made a series II Fire Engines (including SWB & LW.

I honestly bieleve they did - There is quite a few within Australia and they advertised them in there early sales brochures, but theres is alot of UK so called "experts" still argue black and blue they didnt.

It would be nice if your could bring the little vehcile back to its former glory. I also have a picture of a SI SWB also used as a hose carrier/first response (will post later)

All the best - and a great piece of Australian Land Rover History.









Wayne

Thanks everyone, and it has already turned heads Uncle

Mick, it is the one that was in the markets section and it should keep me busy as a project

John, I'm in the Sutherland Shire.

Wayne, not too sure if I can get it back to its former glory, but I'll do my best.

The thing with it was that it didn't have to be flat bedded - I just jumped in it and drove it home. Always registered and my "research" led me to think that I would be hard pressed to find something similar, or something that didn't need a lot of money spent on mechanicals.

I have contacted the RAS archives section, and hopefully they will be able to come up with articles/pics etc which they can send me.

Here is another pic.....

hey mick
thats a great find/buy, i remember seeing them at the showground years ago when we used to do the odd shift there.Always covered in dust!!

i'll be down at the end of the month, for the games, plus will be picking up the shorty from bathurst. i'll give you a yell when i get down.


john

ps can't ring you the no's are on the other computor , which has a video card prob, waiting to get fixed.