Originally Posted by
JDNSW
Not just a story - this bit of my statement is quite well documented. The Rangerover, I think, actually was in production first, but the 101 was designed at the same time, so the box needed to meet both requirements - and the 101 was the one that dictated the strength. It also dictated the unique power takeoff provision, giving an output shaft with the same speed as the prop shafts, for the powered trailer in both high and low range. And used, of course, in the Perentie 6x6.
To complete the story the Series gearbox was introduced in 1932, when Rover moved up market, selling to middle class buyers, in a strategy very reminiscent of the Discovery story, after failing to compete with Morris and Austin in the mass market. It had synchromesh added to the top two gears in the late 1930s, I think, earlier relying on freewheel for easy gear changing, and full synchromesh with the Series 3 (actually some very late S2a).
John