Series 2 Anyone feeling like a historian?

Evening chaps,

So my series 2a was in the service of the MOD from 1968-1973. It’s right hand drive, petrol and has the headlamps in the wings.

I understand that the headlamps moved to the wings for export models in 1968 and domestic models in 1969, so I assumed it was an export to the MOD abroad, possibly Germany or Cyprus. Though the fact it’s right hand drive made me think otherwise, would we send a right hand drive vehicle abroad?

I’ve been told that the wings are a military model with the holes in the wings for rubber door buffers.

Basically, I’d like to get it back to how it looked in military service in 1968. So if it should have the earlier headlamps on the rad panel I’d swap that. If not (which I doubt due to the somewhat unique wings) then I’d stay as it was. I would even like to paint it in the camo it should be in.

If anyone’s knowledgable on this please let me know.


Cheers all,

looks correct except for grille which should be the maltese cross grille. expect to pay about 150 pounds for one of these.

They drive on the left in Cyprus so RHD is correct.
Yes bump stops in the wing.
Wings are probably correct but would not have had the mesh grills, checker plate, or the silver headlamp surrounds. Headlamps were mostly just left naked on military ones
Mirrors would mostly be the small round types on the wing or on the door but you may like to stay with the larger ones in todays traffic.
Wheels are not correct type or colour. FWH's are likely a later addition.
Nice truck by the way.

Thanks. I was aware of the grille being wrong. I’ve spent the last two years trying to get a cheap enough one off eBay. Might just bite the bullet.

I repainted the headlamp surrounds a few months back, they’re in line with the body now. Thinking of taking off the chequered plate but that might be a tough job

I’m considering removing the FWH. They’re an annoyance tbh. What would be the correct wheel type and colour?

Thank you

Trench Rat said:

Thanks. I was aware of the grille being wrong. I’ve spent the last two years trying to get a cheap enough one off eBay. Might just bite the bullet.

I repainted the headlamp surrounds a few months back, they’re in line with the body now. Thinking of taking off the chequered plate but that might be a tough job

I’m considering removing the FWH. They’re an annoyance tbh. What would be the correct wheel type and colour?

Thank you

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The wheels you currently have look to be the deep dish wider 6.5" rim fitted to 1ton versions. They should be the narrower standard type if you want it to look exactly as it did from the factory.

P.s. If you are looking to change the wheels to the original type and they are the deep dish version I may be interested in the ones you have fitted currently price dependent.

Wheels on military were usually the same colour as the body. Plenty of pic's of series 2a military landy's on line.

Smart motor that is

Originally all army Land Rovers were supplied in Bronze Green as yours is, it was only later in service that they were painted (usually by a squaddie with a 4" brush) IIR Matt Green. As said above the wheels should be Bronze Green too. Nice looking Land Rover, try and get it as original as possible.

Thanks all!

I am assuming canvas roof too.

Trench Rat said:

Thanks all!

I am assuming canvas roof too.

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I would have thought so, you can just see the holes for the dragons tooth rail to be pop riveted along the top of your windscreen frame.

Looking again someone fitted door mirrors to the door top, why when the door hinges have the mirror arm holes, who knows ?

tottot said:

Looking again someone fitted door mirrors to the door top, why when the door hinges have the mirror arm holes, who knows ?

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The previous owner glued the roof on.

There’s so many questions to be asked.

Glued the roof on ! nut's

tottot said:

Glued the roof on ! nut's

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Who knows. He glued the vents shut, the roof on, some dodgy sealing on the doors. You name it. It’s weird.

It sounds like he was trying (and likely failing) to keep water out.

Webley1991 said:

It sounds like he was trying (and likely failing) to keep water out.

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Definitely. However the water never came in through the vents after I replaced the seal and did a little fibre glassing. It also never came in through the back after I took care of the window seals. The bits he glued had no impact on water ingress.

Just made life harder for me.

tottot said:

Looking again someone fitted door mirrors to the door top, why when the door hinges have the mirror arm holes, who knows ?

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Those hinges are very rare, go for a fortune on fleabay.

wireman said:

Those hinges are very rare, go for a fortune on fleabay.

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Is there a specific name for them?

I think they were originally designed for the old Forward Control IIa and IIb models as they didn't have a wing to put the mirror on.

I’ve had this thing for two years and had no idea.