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Home > My Defender > Pete's Fleet (and a bit of Land Rover history!)

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PCA42 Member Since: 15 Jun 2014 Location: Church Stretton Posts: 468

Pete's Fleet (and a bit of Land Rover history!) I thought it was about time I took some pictures of all my Land Rovers together whilst I still have them all... Bit of an evolution of the Land Rover going on here, just need a Series 1 to complete things! Click image to enlarge L to R: 1972 Series III 88" Regular in Limestone, affectionately known as 'Rocky', 2008 D110 DCPU Base in Tonga Green, 1966 Series IIA 88" Regular in Marine Blue. Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Here is a quick history lesson for the uninitiated! The original 'Land Rover' was launched in 1948. This was only available as an 80", and was fitted with a 1.6l IOE petrol engine. The early ones had their headlights behind the grill. In later years, it was realised there was a demand for greater load capacity, and a diesel engine option. The 86" and 107" consequently followed, and the 2.0 petrol and diesels were launched. As a rough guide, they can be identified by having the headlights 'through' the full grill. These were then replaced by the 88" and 109" models, which had the separate grill, with lights either side of it. There are various small detail changes through the years, but these are harder to spot to an untrained eye. In 1958, the Series II was launched. This was quite distinctively different from the original 'Land Rover', which now became known as the Series 1, but carried it's 88" and 109" wheelbases. It was designed to a be more user friendly, and had the 'barrel' shaped lines designed by David Bache, which were carried through right up to the latest of Defenders. The early SIIs carried through the old 2.0l engine, but was soon replaced by the legendary 2.25 petrol engine. The 2.25 diesel was not available until 1961 when the Series IIA was released. The IIA had various other small revisions, and was produced right up until 1971. In 1967, the 2.6 6cyl petrol was introduced as an option for 109" models and as standard for the rare '1 ton'. In between were the IIA and IIB Forward Controls for heavier load carrying, and the 'Lightweight' designed for the military to be airportable. The majority of Land Rovers were for the export market, and various new legislation in these markets meant revisions had to be made. The main one was the headlights having to be moved outboard onto the wings, which was done on the late Series IIA models. However, as the revisions added up, Land Rover decided there were enough to introduce the Series III in 1971. This was essentially an upgraded Series IIA, with outboard lights, plastic radiator grille, new door and windscreen hinges, an all new 'safety' dashboard with relocated instruments and built-in heater as standard, and an all sycromesh 4-speed gearbox. Most of the other mechanicals were the same. Throughout the Series III's life, various small details changed such as the locations of rear lights, door mirrors, the introduction of the 'County' station wagon, introduction of the 'High Capacity Pickup' body style, and the slightly upgraded, 5 main bearing 2.25 petrol producing a little more power. There were also SIII 'Lightweights', and the shorter lived 101 Forward Control, only sold to the Military. In the inbetween years, the 'Stage 1 V8' was also offered between 1979 and 1985, which was basically a 109" with the Range Rover 3.5l Rover V8 engine and 4 speed LT95 gearbox. It also had the 'flush' front grill panel, the shape which became familiar with the later 90/110 models. Series III 109" production ended in 1983 with the introduction of the 'all new' One Ten model, and the 88" a year later with the Ninety. History becomes a bit more familiar here since this is a Defender forum, but in brief it was mostly completely new, with coil springs, front disc brakes, larger engines (although the 2.25 was carried over on very early 'coilers') in the form of 2.5l, different interior and dashboard, and the introduction of another wheelbase; the 127 (later known as the 130). Over the years, the engines changed from 2.5l naturally aspirated petrol and diesel to 3.5l V8 petrol and 2.5l turbocharged diesel (the 19J). The Ninety and One Ten (and 130) models then became known as the 'Defender' in 1990, when they Land Rover had introduced the Discovery. They inherited the Discovery's new 200Tdi, and later 300Tdi engines, and stronger R380 gearbox replacing the old LT77. In 1999, the Td5 2.5 turbocharged 5cyl engine was introduced, with the interior/dashboard and other minor areas being lightly upgraded in 2002. 2007 came along, and we got the 2.4 Ford TDCi-engined, 6 speed "Puma"...! The dash boards/interior has certainly come a long way over the years... Click image to enlarge Series II/IIA. The Series 1s have a similar type to this. Down on the left is the optional cab heater, and hand throttle. Click image to enlarge Series III. Later ones have smaller dash top air vents and indents on the dash top on each side. There is also an added central switch console inside the 'parcel shelf' to house things like the hazard light and brake light test switches. This style of dash board was carried right through in one form or another to 2007 when the Puma was introduced... Click image to enlarge The familiar 'Puma' interior, just for comparison. Now we have heating that sort of works! The engines... Click image to enlarge The legendary pushrod 2.25l ("Two and a Quatre") petrol, used right from the Series II in 1958 up to 1983 in the Series III. The diesels shared the same block. This particular unit is an ex-military reserve, 3 main bearing unit, hence the duck egg green paint. You can spot the heater matrix on the right hand side of the bulkhead, which Series II/IIA did not have... they had to make do with an option extra "fug-stirrer" mounted inside the cab. Click image to enlarge Another legend, the 3.5l Rover V8. This is not a standard engine in this Series IIA, it was only offered in the Range Rover, Stage 1 V8, 101 Forward Control, and early 90/110 models. Click image to enlarge The Ford 2.4l TDCi unit, a thoroughly modern direct injection, turbo charged diesel engine. Later TDCi "Puma" models have the slightly smaller 2.2l unit. As you can see, things have changed in many ways over the 'Land Rovers' life span, but in other ways, it has always been the same machine! Hopefully you enjoyed reading/seeing this sort of comparison/history lesson as much as I did putting it together! :D Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  Pete 2010 Discovery 4 GS TDV6 1972 Series III 88" 2.25P

8th May 2016 10:41pm

7heaven Member Since: 03 Feb 2016 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 122	Lovely collection and write up  2020 110 D200 Base - Pangea with satin paint protection 2015 90 XS Station Wagon (sold) 2010 110 XS Station Wagon (stolen)
9th May 2016 6:26am

jimbob7 Member Since: 06 Jul 2013 Location: uk Posts: 2055	Pov.spec,ftw. 2006, 110,TD5.
9th May 2016 10:06am

stanley Member Since: 18 Sep 2009 Location: Dorset /hampshire Posts: 1032	Great write up ,but.... Which is your favourite ?
9th May 2016 11:31am

PCA42 Member Since: 15 Jun 2014 Location: Church Stretton Posts: 468	That's a difficult one!! I think if I really had to choose, it would be 'Rocky' the SIII... had that the longest and has the most sentimental attachment... it's the only one that's named! Pete 2010 Discovery 4 GS TDV6 1972 Series III 88" 2.25P
9th May 2016 11:36am

jk84 Member Since: 17 Feb 2015 Location: Wherever my Defender takes me... Posts: 720	Great write up Pete, thoroughly enjoyed it! And very informative for someone like myself, relatively new to LR. And what a beautiful collection - very very envious. They all look much loved and well looked after  MY15 Aintree 110 SW - for sale - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic82781.html MY16 Santorini 90 HT - sold
9th May 2016 11:59am

nidge n Member Since: 04 Feb 2012 Location: Cheshire Posts: 719	My love for Landy's summarised in one set of photographs. They are a fantastic collection. Thanks for posting
9th May 2016 12:15pm

Pickles Member Since: 26 May 2013 Location: Melbourne Posts: 3783	Very nice collection. I like the way that the additional guages & switches have been fitted to the dash of the 11A,..very neat. Pickles.
9th May 2016 10:19pm

London 52 Member Since: 21 Oct 2014 Location: Lincoln Posts: 312	Brilliant Pete, many thanks for a really informative write up and photos.
9th May 2016 11:09pm

Venomator Member Since: 25 Aug 2014 Location: Peterborough Posts: 2087	Gorgeous Collection... I am Green with envy Pete, they make a beautiful trio indeed... Of particular interest is the Green ragtop on Rocky, lovely job...  Rog... The GREEN One... MY2016 Urban Truck Build Thread - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic40548....al[/color]
10th May 2016 8:11am

albertdefender Member Since: 19 Feb 2014 Location: girona Posts: 749	Whooaaaa really enjoyed that pictures ,, amazing cars congratulations
10th May 2016 2:44pm

PCA42 Member Since: 15 Jun 2014 Location: Church Stretton Posts: 468

Thanks chaps Pickles wrote: Very nice collection. I like the way that the additional guages & switches have been fitted to the dash of the 11A,..very neat. Pickles. Haha unfortunately the gauges and 2 of the switches aren't even connected to anything! Only the 12v socket, washer jets and heater fan knob do anything! But it's all there if other gauges were wanted, I'd have been tempted to fit a vacuum gauge and a clock or something since oil press, volts, temp and fuel are already on the middle panel. Pete 2010 Discovery 4 GS TDV6 1972 Series III 88" 2.25P

10th May 2016 4:24pm

jrule Member Since: 10 Aug 2015 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 302	Very nice I particularly like the IIA. Have you had them all for a long time?
10th May 2016 5:51pm

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