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Bert@E



Member Since: 08 Jan 2016
Location: amsterdam
Posts: 63

Netherlands 
hard top light weight => series?
hello,

I'm looking for a hard top for my series 3, there is one for sale that was mounted on a lightweight.
are they the same? they look similar.

thanks! Very Happy
Post #683402 1st Feb 2018 1:16pm
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camelman



Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3373

United Kingdom 
yep, all the same Smile 
Post #683407 1st Feb 2018 1:27pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17451

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
There was never a lightweight hardtop as such, but a standard 88" hardtop could be fitted. Unless it has been modified in some way it should be perfect.
Post #683410 1st Feb 2018 1:38pm
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Bert@E



Member Since: 08 Jan 2016
Location: amsterdam
Posts: 63

Netherlands 
thanks!! Thumbs Up Thumbs Up
Post #683411 1st Feb 2018 1:49pm
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Ramsay



Member Since: 30 Sep 2015
Location: Moffat, Dumfries & Galloway
Posts: 627

Scotland 1995 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Auto Keswick Green
It might have been bent in a bit to match the Lightweights narrower rear body but it will be a standard Series hard top so will fit any 88" Series II, IIA or III. 1995 Defender 110 CSW
1971 SIIA Lightweight
Post #683465 1st Feb 2018 5:36pm
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gcc130



Member Since: 05 Jun 2015
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 747

I’m pretty sure there was a narrower hardtop unique to lightweights with its own NATO number, but after a time they reverted to using standard civilian hardtops, meaning the originals are quite rare.
Post #683496 1st Feb 2018 8:02pm
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Bert@E



Member Since: 08 Jan 2016
Location: amsterdam
Posts: 63

Netherlands 
any way how to recognize this? or where can i find the code?
Post #683576 2nd Feb 2018 7:50am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17451

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
The lightweight's rear body at capping level is the same width as any post-series 1 body, it just lacks the barrelled panel shape below the capping. I think that possibly the capping is marginally (perhaps 1/4" thinner) but a standard hardtop fits. I am pretty sure that there was never a bespoke lightweight hardtop - it wouldn't have been cost-effective.

Back in the '70s and '80s everyone was fitting standard hardtops to demobbed lightweights.
Post #683583 2nd Feb 2018 8:55am
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Lotus_esprit_s1



Member Since: 01 Oct 2014
Location: Uk
Posts: 201

Quote:
The lightweight's rear body at capping level is the same width as any post-series 1 body, it just lacks the barrelled panel shape below the capping. I think that possibly the capping is marginally (perhaps 1/4" thinner) but a standard hardtop fits.


No it isn’t, the body is approx 1.5” narrower at capping level than a standard series body.
Post #683657 2nd Feb 2018 4:49pm
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camelman



Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3373

United Kingdom 
Interestingly, the lightweight 'bible' ('The Half Ton Military Landrover' by Mark Cook states that a production design for a modified hard top came out in 1969 with special closing panels to suit the narrower body. Don't quite know what that means? It also states that the standard hard top didn't sit flush with the narrower body..

Saying that I fitted 3 or 4 hardtops in days gone by and never noticed it.... 
Post #683661 2nd Feb 2018 5:11pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17451

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
I stand corrected in that case! Shocked

They always seemed to fit alright back in the day.

I suggest that the OP buys the hardtop straight away because either it's a standard non-lightweight one and will fit the S3, or it is an extremely rare lightweight top and probably worth lots to the military collector!
Post #683686 2nd Feb 2018 7:07pm
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gcc130



Member Since: 05 Jun 2015
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 747

In British Military Landrovers, James Taylor states no series 3 Half Tons were delivered as hard tops and the back body of the Half Ton was narrower than that of a standard 88" so when civilian hard tops are were fitted they displayed a slight overhang of the upper panels on each side.
From that I guess the unique lightweight hard tops must have only been fitted to 11a lightweights from new.
Post #683695 2nd Feb 2018 7:34pm
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