What have I got?

There is a bit of a summary here

Land Rover Series III Stage-1

You'll note that there is no mention of the Isuzu engine in that link - as it was only installed in some of the Oz assembled vehicles.

It is technically a Series 3, the explanation of the Stage 1 term is in the attached link. It is an interesting forerunner of the coil sprung 110 and subsequent Defender series of vehicles

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Thanks 87County,
I also just read another page confirming the isuzu was only offered as a stage 1 engine option in australia. And, that only 10% of the AU stage 1's were fitted with isuzu diesels.
That prompted me to wonder how many stage 1's were sold here.
Seems it's a possibly rare hybrid..
cheers,
Rob.

Its not a hybrid it was a standard model in the late 70s early 80s. Like the later diesel Countys, Australia is the only country that got the Isuzu diesel in the Series 3 Stage 1 and the County. As you have indicated more V8s were sold compared to the diesel so they are relatively rare.

Do you still have the station wagon body? While a tray back might be desirable in some circumstances a wagon is arguably more valuable and given its rarity, originality in collectable vehicles is always preferred.

By all means let your kid drive it bit dont give it to him until he is older and understands older landies - the last thing you want is it hot rodded.

Garry

From what I understand, they were fitted as part of Leyland's testing program (or possibly as a sales pitch) for the Perentie project. Leyland Australia knew the 110 was coming, and had determined that the available Rover engines would not meet the army's requirements. Having found the 4BD1 was available, fitting it to the stage 1 was an obvious way of testing its suitability, and actually producing and selling them would be a good way of not only finding possible issues with the design, but also to hone their relations with Isuzu.

I don't know how many were made, but in recent years, I think I have seen more Isuzu powered Stage 1s than I have V8s - not that either are at all common. And a lot of V8s have been repowered with isuzu engines. I would rate them as relatively rare rather than rare, and not really a hybrid, any more than were the Isuzu powered Perenties or 110s, or, for that matter, the more recent Ford powered Defenders! After all they were sold as a normal everyday work vehicle through the normal dealer network.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by garrycol

Its not a hybrid it was a standard model in the late 70s early 80s. Like the later diesel Countys, Australia is the only country that got the Isuzu diesel in the Series 3 Stage 1 and the County. As you have indicated more V8s were sold compared to the diesel so they are relatively rare.

Do you still have the station wagon body? While a tray back might be desirable in some circumstances a wagon is arguably more valuable and given its rarity, originality in collectable vehicles is always preferred.

By all means let your kid drive it bit dont give it to him until he is older and understands older landies - the last thing you want is it hot rodded.

Garry

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Thanks Garry.
The guy who sold it still has the safari roofed lid in the yard but the body seems long gone.
My boy can already manage the '78 SIII so that one shouldn't be an issue.
I'd look at it more as a loan.... but I expect he'll want something more 'comfortable' anyway.
Rob.

From the launch of the Isuzu Stage One in 1981 I think.

Attachment 129160

Thanks Mate,
I expect mine once looked like the wagon on the left. (going by the roof that's left)
But it's soon going to look like yours.
Interestingly....did you notice the wheels on the trayback, and the wagon just past the ragtop?
Rob.

Yes those wheels look very chunky.

Reading your thread you said you had County seats for yours.

You may find that they are the standard seats. Mine has County seats in it too.

From Classic Land Rover magazine.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/180.jpg