Series 2 Quick history lesson please?

Trench Rat · Jan 25, 2018

Hi All,

My Series2a is a 1968 ex-military landy. It currently has a series3 plastic grille

since i assume at some point in it's life the original decayed or was swapped out for reasons unknown.

Now lies the question. I know that in 1968 export models had the lights on the wings, a feature that did not arrive at the domestic market until 1969 as far as I know. My landy has it's lamps on the wings yet is registered as manufactured early 1968 and first registered 1975 (due to usage in the MOD).

So what's going on here? Did the military models have the export style builds or has some ****ery ensued and at some point someone moved the lamps to the wings? As far as I can tell it doesn't look like anybody did such a thing, but I am a beginner to Landies and mechanics in general.

Any knowledge would be appreciated. Also if anybody knows anything about getting a maltese cross grille without spending hundreds of pounds on a glorified bbq grille. Originals on ebay seem to hit 250-350 and repros 150. Except for the rockymountain series 3 grille that looks like a maltese cross 2a grille.

Cheers all

Trench Rat · Jan 25, 2018

tottot · Jan 25, 2018

The trouble with old Landrover models is that there can be a mix of parts on models built near a type changeover. I once had an early 2 that had several parts that were series 1 and have seen a late 2a that had a series 3 gearbox in it from new [development vehicle perhaps] If it looks like wings are original then stick with them and put the word out on this forum you are looking for a grill.
The early lights in the wing versions were the Bugeye types with headlamps mounted externaly on the wing [well ugly] I think they mostly went for export to meet new regulations while the inset type was develope.

cornish rattler · Jan 25, 2018

Trench Rat said:
Hi All,

My Series2a is a 1968 ex-military landy. It currently has a series3 plastic grille since i assume at some point in it's life the original decayed or was swapped out for reasons unknown.

Now lies the question. I know that in 1968 export models had the lights on the wings, a feature that did not arrive at the domestic market until 1969 as far as I know. My landy has it's lamps on the wings yet is registered as manufactured early 1968 and first registered 1975 (due to usage in the MOD).

So what's going on here? Did the military models have the export style builds or has some ****ery ensued and at some point someone moved the lamps to the wings? As far as I can tell it doesn't look like anybody did such a thing, but I am a beginner to Landies and mechanics in general.

Any knowledge would be appreciated. Also if anybody knows anything about getting a maltese cross grille without spending hundreds of pounds on a glorified bbq grille. Originals on ebay seem to hit 250-350 and repros 150. Except for the rockymountain series 3 grille that looks like a maltese cross 2a grille.

Cheers all [/QUOTE

That's cheap for a Maltese grill I've seen them go for a grand, a couple of hundred quid is still a lot of money but would rather pay that than a grand

Marmaduke · Jan 25, 2018

@Trench Rat where's your heater and speedo?

Trench Rat · Jan 25, 2018

Marmaduke said:
@Trench Rat where's your heater and speedo?

Console is all central. As in picture attached. The serial on the bulkhead by the gearstick states it's a series 2a. Well it did after i scraped off the dirt.
****
the
bed
Like i would ever pay that haha, i'll just go for the new manufacture rockymountain spare as seen here - http://rockymountainspares.co.uk/product/outback-series-iii-grille/
In emails the wonderful people at rockymountain explained that it will fit a series 2a.

tottot said:
The trouble with old Landrover models is that there can be a mix of parts on models built near a type changeover. I once had an early 2 that had several parts that were series 1 and have seen a late 2a that had a series 3 gearbox in it from new [development vehicle perhaps] If it looks like wings are original then stick with them and put the word out on this forum you are looking for a grill.
The early lights in the wing versions were the Bugeye types with headlamps mounted externaly on the wing [well ugly] I think they mostly went for export to meet new regulations while the inset type was develope.

That's a good possibility. Gearbox is definitely 2a. No synchro on 1/2. Just slightly confused at being a year early for domestic wing lights.

Cheers all

suburban · Jan 25, 2018

Trench Rat said:
Console is all central. As in picture attached. The serial on the bulkhead by the gearstick states it's a series 2a. Well it did after i scraped off the dirt.

****
the
bed
Like i would ever pay that haha, i'll just go for the new manufacture rockymountain spare as seen here - http://rockymountainspares.co.uk/product/outback-series-iii-grille/
In emails the wonderful people at rockymountain explained that it will fit a series 2a.

That's a good possibility. Gearbox is definitely 2a. No synchro on 1/2. Just slightly confused at being a year early for domestic wing lights.

Cheers all

I like your tailored floor matting is that a custom job or are they generally available

Trench Rat · Jan 25, 2018

suburban said:
I like your tailored floor matting is that a custom job or are they generally available

Thanks,

Honestly i don't know, i've only had this landy a few months. They were in there when i got it, along with treadplate style rubber mats in the back. They're all out at the moment whilst I try and stop the leak coming in through the doors. Don't want rubber sitting on water.

I'll take a look around and see if there's anything similar.

Trench Rat · Jan 25, 2018

There’s these:

http://www.paddockspares.com/pm617-autograph-range-rubber-mats-front-pair.html

Paddocks also have a custom moulded mat option but that’s around £350

Rattlegun · Jan 25, 2018

Does the nearside wing have a round hole in it for a heater inlet? If not, they're genuine 2a late wings.

Trench Rat · Jan 25, 2018

Rattlegun said:
Does the nearside wing have a round hole in it for a heater inlet? If not, they're genuine 2a late wings.

One on each side. Does this mean the wings were replaced with series 3 wings?

Rattlegun · Jan 25, 2018

Nope! They're not heater holes, they'd be right at the back and approx 4in in diameter. Those are series 2a wings. They might be side indicator holes for export or military or anything custom.

blue beasty · Jan 25, 2018

Trench Rat said:
One on each side. Does this mean the wings were replaced with series 3 wings?

Never seen heater inlets like that. S3 has a 4" diameter inlet hole further back near the bulkhead on the nearside only with blower mounted behind the wing and matrix on the bulkhead in the engine bay.

blue beasty · Jan 25, 2018

Oooo I like that outback grill

*shuffles off to count pennies*

Trench Rat · Jan 25, 2018

Rattlegun said:
They might be side indicator holes for export or military or anything custom

Well it was an MOD vehicle. I did google series2a and see some images with what looked like indicator lights or reflectors around that area. Pic related.

This is where my confusion comes in. Since it's not an export and is 1968 it's a little bit of a mind**** for me.

blue beasty said:
Oooo I like that outback grill

Yes! Exactly my thoughts, oddly it isn't an S3 grille. I have an original land rover badge too, found it in there when i bought it. I reckon i'll order it next pay day and justify it to myself as "it's pretty".

blue beasty · Jan 25, 2018

Maybe it was built for export and bought by the MOD after a cancelled order or summink or the MOD wanted it export spec with the intention of shipping it?

Have you got the Merlin report for it? That might give some clues.

Pretty isn't an excuse. It's a reason

Trench Rat · Jan 25, 2018

blue beasty said:
Have you got the Merlin report for it? That might give some clues.

No clue, I was given a pile of documents when I bought it. Previous owner was meticulous and kept a record of absolutely everything. I'll take a look through my folders when I finish work. I was guessing something along the lines of the military wanting export spec.

John S · Jan 25, 2018

Those wee holes are for indicaor repeater lights. They're a pain in the arse always blowing bulbs. I'd leave them off. That's a solid nice looking landy. Looks genuine S2a to me. With the lights on the wings the S3 grill looks okay?

Trench Rat · Jan 25, 2018

John S said:
Those wee holes are for indicaor repeater lights. They're a pain in the arse always blowing bulbs. I'd leave them off. That's a solid nice looking landy. Looks genuine S2a to me. With the lights on the wings the S3 grill looks okay?

Sweet thanks. Just need to do some digging about the headlamps being on the wings since it's 1968. There's probably some info somewhere in the log book.

Yeah the series 3 grille looks okay but if i could get a maltese cross, be it original or the rockymountain repro then i'd far prefer that. Don't want plastic

dag019 · Jan 25, 2018

John S said:
Those wee holes are for indicaor repeater lights. They're a pain in the arse always blowing bulbs. I'd leave them off. That's a solid nice looking landy. Looks genuine S2a to me. With the lights on the wings the S3 grill looks okay?

I think it has been made to look like a series 3 so it is a bit more modern. On the 2A's the headlight surrounds would have been body coloured not silver, and when combined with the series 3 grill, makes it, from the front at least, look like a series 3

Series 2 Quick history lesson please?

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Leaks an prone to bits dropping off

Leaks an prone to bits dropping off

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Leaks an prone to bits dropping off

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