LandRoving 125

Getting to know the “Old Guys”
By Lizette Beard

I recently bought my husband a 1951 used an 80-inch (2,000 mm)
Series IIA, but had no idea what the wheelbase and a 1.6-litre petrol
difference is between a Series I, II engine with a four-speed gearbox
or III, and then he still talks about from the Rover P3 was used, with
a Forward Control…what’s that? A a new two-speed transfer box. This
gear lever to make it go forward? …. incorporated an unusual four-wheel-
So I thought it would be best if I find drive system, with a freewheel unit
out what the difference is between (as used on several Rover cars of
the different vehicles and know you the time). This disengaged the front
will find this as interesting as I did. axle from the manual transmission
It all started in 1948 with the on the overrun, allowing a form of
production of what was later permanent 4WD. A ring-pull
termed the Series I. This vehicle was mechanism in the driver’s footwell
launched at the Amsterdam Motor allowed the freewheel to be locked
Show. It was originally designed for to provide more traditional 4WD.
farm and light industrial use, with This was a basic vehicle: tops for the
a steel box-section chassis and an doors and a roof (canvas or metal)
aluminum body. were optional extras. In 1950, the
lights moved from a position behind
the grille to protruding through the
grille.

Land Rover Series I In 1952 and 1953, a larger 2.0-litre
Originally, the Land Rover was a petrol engine was fitted. During
single model, which from 1948 until 1950, the unusual semi-permanent
4WD system was replaced with a
more conventional setup, with drive
to the front axle being taken through
a simple dog clutch. The 1954 model
brought major changes. The 80-inch
(2,000 mm) wheelbase model was
replaced by an 86-inch (2,200 mm)
wheelbase model, and a 107-inch
(2,700 mm) “Pick Up” version was
introduced. The extra wheelbase was

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added behind the cab area to
provide additional load space.

1956 saw the introduction of
the first five-door model, on
the 107-inch chassis known as
the “Station Wagon” with
seating for up to ten people.
The 86-inch model was a three-
door, seven-seater. The Station
Wagons saw the first expansion
SomfwtvtaassSbie(baynrhh5aennceettfaeo“aaatco1eechasgdtShisnfttoorehdoiiiriiiamo.cttnmn1snoomoeenfttTl0caenndletwemoLosemwhhi,r9d.fnrervWWiatwia)TeoiaisoorwenRsoncatheilodaadscdotlotrbiociiogghfthhe.asslhaeoh8RoowdxtIsaentkefecn8knnatnrohaes”rweenits,ivgdioeamnpnnhd(wneweenws2otdeceiaacrfished,hpwxihdtedeth-8ntsrhihcirtmd-td0careeacifeeeeee1eohossl0nehwbpder9dfindre.g(mmiyntmc5wuwtn2oVeidotvtt6o2ca,.gbnoeehmaie2nenedeidreturnien0nstdshnid)erloito0otew,fedesc,sicotpflr,atlhmotiowafelntnaotciloethdnhtonaemodhisfteodlvwdeooeltt)need1ehlfihrnnl0eatei--Lgon7andekwowvtRc(fSRRa1IdathnonnRta0nnioooaimyeceorvn9gdoovvvsslaiceri-iidvwaieeeemunt‘smmirlLenrrrlhonitnrear’tWsetewepatucrDhr,obnSe2hlrsnisfeilB‘aneenotgi.nybri2ry(avrcvtv’tietsa2)5i8nrlnaierecLueit.rde,-8monehdd8esrTnfval-sdiegieBi0InehietrvtdclruIbn0irhoaddleireltseeescccuiehemsi(t’tccisRhhdpdwiOhnphnelagewmeeoeeade(gamcnts’t2vropetstitmra)wttdooe,aeodroht2mtawrbnoeatifhlmu0essedreriddehtee.0ossnr-tchntuaontTeeh1ofturl1mertriceighia9eftrd.ro9enleihtces8bmvsCnn5‘dretpkLSte0eauS8eihW)Lotaodstslwae.,colhienpaafnrkweT2sueseBnnudifd2ihlehcsd’ddll8siea-aees6drbnI.cIc)
would eventually be the last Series I The SII and the SIIA are very
in production. These dimensions difficult to distinguish. There were
were to be used on all Land Rovers some minor cosmetic changes, but
for the next 25 years. the most significant change was
under the bonnet in the guise of the
The successor to the successful new 2.25-litre diesel engine. Body
Series I was the Series II, which saw configurations available from the
a production run from 1958 to 1961. factory ranged from short-wheelbase

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soft-top to the top-of-the-line five- positioned over the engine to give
door station wagon. In 1967 a more load space. Less than 2,500
2.6-litre inline six-cylinder petrol were made, and most had a utility
engine was introduced for the long- body, but surviving examples often
wheelbase models, which also had have custom bodywork. With an
servo-assisted brakes. From February upgraded powertrain, they can be
1969, the headlamps moved into the used as a small motorhome
wings on all models, and the sill The Series IIB FC produced from
panels were redesigned to be
shallower a few months afterwards.
The Series IIA is considered by

1280px Land Rover Series IIB
Forward Control

Land Rover Series IIA 1966 was similar to the Series IIA
many to be the hardiest Series model Forward Control but added the
constructed. It is quite possibly also 2.25-litre diesel engine as an option.
the type of classic Land Rover that The 2.25-litre engine was the
features strongly in the general standard engine for this model, the
public’s perception of the Land 2.6-litre engine only being available
Rover, from its many appearances for export. Heavy duty wide-track
in popular films and television axles above the axle rather than
documentaries set in Africa through- below it. In the process the wheel-
out the 1960s. base was increased to 110 inches
In 1962 the Series IIA FC (Forward (2,794mm). Production ended in
Control) was launched and was 1974 when Land-Rover rationalized
based on the Series IIA 2.25-litre its vehicle range. Many IIB
petrol engine and 109-inch components were also used on the
(2,769mm) chassis, with the cab “1 Ton” 109-inch vehicle.
The Series III had the same body and
engine options as the preceding
Series IIA, including station wagons

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of more
advanced materials. The
simple metal dashboard
of earlier models was
redesigned to accept a
new moulded plastic
dash. The instrument
cluster, which was
previously centrally
located, was moved to the
driver’s side

and the 1 Ton versions. Little Now back to my
changed cosmetically from the Series husbands “baby”, the 1
IIA to the Series III. The Series III Ton 109-inch was produced from
is the most common Series vehicle, 1968 to 1977,
with 440,000 of the type built from covering late Series IIA and Series III
1971 to 1985. The headlights were models. It was basically a Series IIB
moved to the wings on late Forward Control built with a
production Series IIA models from standard 109-inch body, featuring
1968/9 onward and remained in a 2.6-litre petrol engine and a lower
this position for the Series III. The ratio gearbox. The chassis frame was
traditional metal grille, featured on unique to the model and featured
the Series I, II and IIA, was replaced drop-shackle suspension similar
with a plastic one for the Series III to the military series Land Rovers.
model. During the Series III 900x16 tyres were a standard feature
production run from 1971 until and these machines were commonly
1985, the 1,000,000th Land Rover used by utility companies and
rolled off the production line in 1976. breakdown/recovery firms. Only
The Series III saw many changes in 170 Series IIA and 238 Series IIIs (1
the latter part of its life as Land Rover Ton) were built for the home market.
updated the design to meet increased Export markets had even fewer
competition. This was the first model examples, making this one of the
to feature synchromesh on all four rarest types of Land-Rover ever built.
gears, in keeping with early 1970s But sadly, production of the series
trends in auto-motive interior vehicles was stopped and they were
design, both in safety and in the use succeeded by the Defender Ninety &
One Ten..... Long Live the Series

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DEVELOPMENT AND REFURBISHMENT

By Jacques Beard

Since being a young boy, I have, had been bombed during the war,
with the aid of my father, built up forcing the company to move into
many cars but have always been an a huge “shadow factory” built just
avid Land Rover fan. Eventually the before the war in Solihull near
“Landy bug” bit and I bought my Birmingham, and used to construct
first Landy, a Disco 3 V8. Being a Bristol Hercules aircraft engines. This
Discovery owner is great, but soon factory was by now unused, but
my thoughts shifted to wondering: starting car production there from
“What would it be like to own a very scratch would not be financially
old Landy?” My wife, being the viable. Plans for a small, economical
amazing person she is, decided to car known as the M Type were drawn
spoil me and about a year ago she up, and a few prototypes made, but
bought me a 1970 Series IIA, a total would be too expensive to produce.
rebuild project. This got me thinking
about how and when Land Rover Maurice Wilks, Rover’s chief
started? Thanks to technology designer, came up with a plan to pro-
(thanks Wikipedia) this was easy to duce a light agricultural and
research and I thought that I would utility vehicle, of a similar concept to
share this with you as well as my the Willys Jeep used in the war, but
journey/plan to the restoration of my with an emphasis on agricultural use.
“baby” He used his own experience of using
The Land Rover was conceived by the an army-surplus Jeep on his farm in
Rover Company in 1947 during the Anglesey, North Wales. His design
aftermath of World War II. Before added a power take-off (PTO) feature
the war Rover had produced luxury since there was a gap in the market
cars which were not in demand between jeeps and tractors (which
in the immediate post-war period offered the feature but were less
and raw materials were strictly flexible as transport vehicles). The
rationed to those companies building original Land Rover concept (a cross
construction or industrial equipment between a light truck and a tractor)
or products that could be widely is similar to the Unimog, which was
exported to earn crucial foreign developed in Germany during this
exchange for the country. Also, period.

Rover’s original factory in Coventry The first prototype had a distinctive
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feature — the steering wheel was and still retained the PTO drives.
mounted in the middle of the
vehicle. Hence, it became known as The Land Rover was designed to be
the “centre steer”. It was built on a in production for only two or three
Jeep chassis and used the engine and years to gain some cash flow and
gearbox of a Rover P3 saloon car. The export orders for the Rover Company
bodywork was handmade out of an so it could restart up-market car
aluminium/magnesium alloy called production. Once car production
Birmabright, to save on steel, which restarted, however, it was greatly
was closely rationed. The choice of outsold by the off-road Land Rover,
colour was dictated by military which developed into its own brand
surplus supplies of aircraft cockpit that remains successful today.
paint, so early vehicles only came in Many of the defining and successful
various shades of light green. features of the Land Rover design
were in fact the result of Rover’s drive
Tests showed this prototype vehicle to simplify the tooling required for
to be a capable and versatile machine. the vehicle and to use the minimum
The PTO drives from the front of amount of rationed materials. As well
the engine and from the gearbox to as the aluminium alloy bodywork
the centre and rear of the vehicle (which has been retained through-
allowing it to drive farm machinery, out production despite it now being
exactly as a tractor would. It was also more expensive than a conventional
tested for ploughing and performing steel body due to its ideal properties
other agricultural tasks. However, of light weight and corrosion
as the vehicle was readied for resistance) other examples include
production, this emphasis on tractor- the distinctive flat body panels with
like usage decreased and the centre only simple, constant-radius curves
steering proved impractical in use. (originally used because they could
The steering wheel was mounted off be cut and formed by hand from
to the side as normal, the bodywork aluminium sheets on a basic jig) and
was simplified to reduce both the sturdy box-section ladder chassis,
production time and costs and a which on Series vehicles was made
larger engine was fitted, together up of four strips of steel welded at
with a specially designed transfer each side to form a box, thus cutting
gearbox to replace the Jeep unit. The down on the complex welding
result was a vehicle that didn’t use operations required when making a
a single Jeep component and was more conventional U- or I-section
slightly shorter than its American frame and almost 60 years on, is still
inspiration, but wider, heavier, faster going strong.
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And now the task of refurbishing my How it arrived
Series IIA lies ahead - and my mind
goes into overdrive.! Pre-restoration check
I firstly have to face reality that The aim
restoring a Series Land Rover is not
an economical proposition. Series
Land Rovers tend to gradually
increase their value over time but not
to the extent that you can recover
the costs of restoration. Restorations
are generally taken on for the sole
purpose of achievement and respect
for the brand.
Do I restore this vehicle to full road-
worthy condition, or do I to return it
to its appearance shortly after leaving
the factory? Series Land Rovers were
designed to be easily maintained and
repaired and spares are still available,
either 2nd hand or in aftermarket kit
form. One other advantage I have is
that my father has a full workshop
with a milling machine, lathe and
numerous other pieces of equipment,
so manufacturing of parts, should
this be required, is made easy.
I am looking
forward to this
project and will
give regular
updates in future
magazines.

Long Live the Landy!

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Ezemvelo - Back to nature (isiZulu)

By Alida Timberlake

Sunday morning after the bus guide as it mentions specific sections
departs, filled with MI students  of the reserve where one is likely
(Maharishi Institute) at the end of to identify specific bird species and
their two week bush experience, we so, as we sat on the edge of the camp
finally experience a sense of site, puzzling over a repetitive call
ezemvelo! Not that there isn’t ample in the distance (which Malcolm had
opportunity to explore nature, but previously been unable to identify on
when it comes to peace and quiet, the Cullinan Golf Course, and had
this is not likely in the camp site area made a note of), Elinor - book at the
which borders on the MI student ready - quickly confirmed Annie’s
quarters and acts as a thoroughfare suggested identification of a Greater
between there and the reception Honeyguide, as correct. 
area where the sparkling pool is very Most of Ezemvelo, a private nature
much in demand in this glorious reserve, consists of rolling grassland
summer weather. 
as well as riverine bush, rocky slopes
The object of this and small areas of acacia woodland.
trip, however, was The open grassland contains good
to increase our habitat for ground dwelling bird
knowledge of birds species.
and Ezemvelo is
as perfect a spot
as any to do this,
according to
Etienne Marais
who regularly
hosts birding trips
to Ezemvelo
and has been
involved in the training of the bird
guides there. Ezemvelo also features
in his and Faansie Peacock’s book,
The Chamberlain Guide to Birding
in Gauteng - a very handy reference

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On Saturday morning we met our popped up beside it, ostensibly from
guide, Celumusa Nsele, who quickly nowhere, and we had an “Aha!”
admitted that he was an intern and moment; identifying the bird on the
not yet very knowledgeable when it termite mount as the female Capped
comes to birds. Wheatear; at the same time solving
However, as we set out, Musa Musa’s mystery by means of our
identified and pointed out various Robert’s Bird app on our cell phones
Cisticolas including the Cloud, where we read that the Capped
Zitting, Lazy and Levailliant’s Wheatear nests down a rodent 
Cisticolas, identifying them by their burrow in open ground and, sure
calls. LBJ’s (Little Brown Jobs) are a enough, as we approached we saw
challenge to most birders, so I was the hole from which the male had
pleased to learn something so quickly recently emerged. Musa was elated!
into the game! Later we helped
him to solve a mystery he’d been
grappling with: He’d been puzzled
by an as yet unidentified bird which
he had observed disappearing into a
hole in the ground on a particular
rocky ridge. As we approached the
area, we stopped to study a bird
perched on a small termite mound,
when suddenly a Capped Wheatear

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A variety of game species occur in from the comfort of their camping
the reserve and there are three hiking chairs. The camp site at Ezemvelo is
trails: Ochna trail - 4km, Protea trail shady with ample birdlife to keep one
- 14km and Burkea trail - 23km. On occupied without having to move.
our walk which crossed all of these (Consequently, not much of our
we saw Zebra, Eland, Springbok, anticipated reading was done!) From
Blesbok, Blue and Black wildebeest our chairs on the edge of the camp
site we identified, amongst others,
Pardise Flycatcher, Familiar Chat and
Southern Black Tit, we watched the
antics of a pair of noisy Malachite
Sunbirds and saw a Diederick
Cuckoo female (whose distinct
haunting call was often heard over-
head) feeding her chick, and listened
to the incessant call of the illusive
Red-chested Cuckoo (Piet-my-Vrou)
- a personal favourite. The Brown-
and later, on an afternoon self-drive, hooded Kingfisher paid a visit and
Bruce and Elinor spotted Mountain we were thrilled to see two Blue
Reed Buck. Musa explained that the Cranes fly in to feed in the grassland
puppy-like yelp we kept hearing was adjacent to the camp site. 
not the call of a new bird, but the
warning call of the Black Wildebeest The Land Rovers took a back seat,
to the herd, alerting them to the this weekend, except for a late
approach of potential danger. On afternoon game viewing drive along
the route back to camp we traversed the network of gravel roads. Mind
one of the rocky ridges and saw all you, Chas and Japie did spend time
three of the tree species after which deep in conversation over Defender
the trails are named. The call of issues and Japie’s tool box was
Jackal was a welcome evening sound definitely put to some use… We
followed by various nightjar calls, enjoyed social banter around the fire,
Rufous-naped, Freckled and Fiery- getting to know one another better
necked Nightjar, all of which were and swapping the usual travel
active throughout the night. Sadly, adventures which this time included
there were no owls in evidence. birding stories. The full moon on
Friday night was an added blessing,
It’s a known fact that birders often and for those prepared to wake up
experience some excellent sightings at dawn, its setting early on Saturday
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morning offered further photo [Post Script: Durban-born Musa
opportunities. is completing his internship at
Ezemvelo after 3 years study and
will graduate in December where after
he needs to find a position in order
to continue a career as field guide. I
always find it encouraging to meet a
young person eager to pursue his/her
passion and Musa impressed me with
his enthusiasm for the environment
and a genuine appreciation of the
symbiotic nature of the wild.]

Ant-eating Chat
All in all, it was a very relaxing and
informative weekend. We came away
having learned much from each
other and looking forward to further
birding trips. If any members out
there would be interested in
attending a LROC birding trip with
Etienne Marais in the future, I’ll
happily arrange it and would ask
you to contact me to indicate your
interest. He is very much in demand
and we would need to pay a deposit
to secure his attendance and cover
his fee.
Please email [email protected]

Northern Black Korhaan

63

Putting the stamp on
Land Rovers


By Ansie Blignaut
Just when you thought you had every
potential Land Rover collectable,
you are confronted by someone like
Mike Von Dresselt sending you
information on yet another must-
have.

But this time it is not so easily
obtainable. I am sure most of the
over 50s crowd grew up either
collecting stamps or knowing some-
one who did. But I never came across
stamps with Land Rovers on them.

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I was amazed to realise that Land Few hobbies can provide quite the
Rovers are but one of millions of same history and geography lesson.
obscure topics for the philatelist.

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The images range from superbly
accurate representations of the
vehicles to obscure back-ground
images.
So if you are a hardcore Land Rover
enthusiast who has some time and
money to throw around after the lat-
est engine or transmission rebuild,
postage stamps are just the collectible
to invest in, that is if you can actually
get hold of them!

Given that Land Rovers have been
reported in every country on earth,
not to mention most of the world’s
civil and military services, it is not
surprising that so many postal
services have commemorated them.

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