| |
|
|
| |
| |
|
公司收藏品 |
Historic Classic Car Collected by Us |
|
|
|
| |
| |
Historic Vehicles story By Victor Ma T-L 20/5/2010
1953 Land Rover Series I MK II
Model: 80 inch short wheel base
Body Style: Open body SWB like willys Jeep
Construction: ladder chassis with alloy/steel body
Engine: Water cooled inline 4 cylinder 2.0 L
Transmission: 4 speed with hi low part time 4wd transtercase & front ,rear PTO for winch or belt drive system.
Suspension: Leaf spring all around
Brake: 4 wheel drum |
|
After World War second,British Army got thousands old MB/GPW Jeep on their hand,The best condition Jeep were repainted and renew by the War Office,the parts take off from some bad condition Jeep,At same time all Bad condition Jeep were offered for sale to the governments friendly nations, than they were sold all jeep to the public.
Maurice Wilks with his brother Spencer ran the Rover Company, He also got a old jeep, this jeep used as a light utility vehicle,The Jeep is very useful when he drive the 4 seat jeep at his farm in Anglesey. The only problem he got was no spare parts for his jeep, unless he buy one more
Army jeep surplus.If not, the jeep will stop running.The spare parts problem also happen at other old jeep owner,as you know when the jeep sold to their hand was already worst condition.Than most jeep use at farm as a tractor, they will tow a trailer when working. Maurice
Wilks such vehicle got a big market in Europe,he resoved the Rover Company need build a utility vehicle.At the same time people are poor, the small car no market.
To be honest after World War I British not the automoblie market leather any more, This is why
in WWII British need drive a US Jeep, because they even don't have a small 4x4.a lot of 4x2 Austin 8 hp,10hp,Morris 10hp,Standard 10hp,12hp,Hillman 10 hp,Vauxhall 14hp,Wolseley 18/85hp,Humber Pullman,Snipe and Ford WOA2A put a lift kit and put a off road wheel to use at Army.On the other hand German got a lot of "morden" IFS,IRS 4x4, some even got Full time 4x4 system, self locking differential and 4 wheel steering system, also some small 4x4 amphibious such as 1936 Ie.gl.Einh.Pkw Kfz 2,1937 m.gl.Einheits-Pkw Horch 901 Kfz 15,1937 Horch 108,1937 Ie.gI.Pkw Mercedes-Benz G5,1937 Trippel SG 6,1942 VW166,1942 VW87.
1947 series I prototype base on Willys MB 80 inch chassis,willys Axle, willys wheel,willys suspension with a small 1.4 Rover 10 motor F-head gas motor and gear box,but no record show where the two speed transfer come from.The prototype got a permanentlyengagad four wheel drive system,2 piece MB/GPW 16 inch combat type wheel .Middle steering been fitted and later front capstan winch and rear PTO fitted for farm machine. This first series I prototype use a lot of MB/GPW Jeep
parts with Rover small car parts and a new aluminum body,The Rover engine is too small to push the " British Jeep",Because the US MB/GPW Jeep got a 60hp 2.2L F head motor.
The first production Land Rover was a 1948 "80 inch" series 1 model, chassis R860001, made at the Rover factory, Solihull, Birmingham, UK. In 1948, these original vehicles were very basic. The expected factory output was 30 units a week
series one MK 1 first production type had a lot modification, with an all new strong box girder chassis front leaf spring shackle put at rear,this made the new off road vehicle more easy to control at high speed,but I don't know why rover use a light duty semi floating rear axle,the central driving position had proved to be the worst for both UK and British colony ,they make a new RHD steering box for the new model,a adjusted 50hp1.6L torqu 80 lds/ft F head Rover P3 car ,a 12 volt starting and lighting system fitted.
for this "British Jeep" a new 4 speed gear box with transfer case was a permanent four-wheel drive,which was automatically disengaged on the over run.Later model got a new selectable two or four wheel drive,a dog clutch part time 4x4 system.Rear and front power-take off was an option for agricultral or industrial belt work. one piece CJ2A Type 16 inch steel wheel fitted.Spare tire put on the top of engine bonnet. This is good for open the rear door and fit the agricultral farm machine at rear.The weather in UK is not good, a all new high tensile non-corrodible aluminum body been made by Rover Co with a 2 pices door, the upper window can take off at any time, door also easy to take off without any tool. This MK I Land Rover fot 7 seat, front 3 people, rear 4 seat. Some Land Rover series I sent to Korean War for test. At that time MK1 cost GBP450-475.In 1948,Rover introduced a coach built station wagon, spare tire on the top of bonnet got a nice tire cover.614 been made between 48-51, most for export.( 1948 Rolls-Royce produced 54 of B40 2838cc 80hp torque 138 lbs/ft 4 clinnder for military 81 inch wheelbase Series I,34unit been made.)
50-53 all new Series I MK2 push to both Military and Civilian market, 1951 a new 52hp torque 101 lbs/ft 2.0L engine but still with 80 inch wheelbase a lot of small modification on this model. At that time MK2 cost rising to GBP 560. The Rover wants become the British Army's standard quarter-ton 4x4 light vehicle, pushing aside the Austin Champ, Austin Champ
got a very nice performance, with IFS and IRS suspension and a powerful Rolls Royce B40 water proof 24V motor but got 2 problem was over weight and price near double of the series I MK2.
1951 series 1 Headlights poking through the grille introduced.
1952 series one Inverted T shaped grille introduced, external door handles introduced. Nowadays, every Land Rover collector want to have 50-53 80 inch SWB series I MK 2, most are right-hand drive. left-hand drive are more rarer. worth alot of money than right-hand drive model. |
|
|
|
1954 the original 80 inch wheelbase was supplanted by an 86 inch wheelbase chassis, This is Series I MK3 cost rising to GBP550-620. A lot of small modification on this MK III, the door with handel at outside for easy to open and lock the door at outside. Rear space easy for 4 people.
1953 Aug a 107 inch wheelbase 3 seat pick up add at this series.All long wheel base chassis. At the end of 1955, a 5 door 10 seat station wagon body putted on this 107 chassis, also a pick up body and an ambulance body fitted on this 107 inch chassis. This is a Series I MK4 price GBP890.
1956 86inch wheelbase chassis has been increased to 88 inch, This is a Series I MK5 the price increased to GBP600-650.The 88inch SWB chassis use until 1984.
In the same time 107 chassis was replaced by a new 109 chassis this 109 chassis use until 1984.
1957 a 2.0L Diesel motor was an option, but this was not a reliable Rover diesel motor.
In 1957 the Ministry of supply placed 1042 unit of low price 4x2 Land Rover Series I MK5,to replace the WWII 4x2 light Utility tillys.price drop to GBP550 only.A dead tubular beam axle replaced the driven front axle.No more transfer case.
The series I was produced in five wheelbase length, many basic body styles,included the soft top with seats ,cargo vehicle, soft top pick up type,station wagon,military ambulance,3 type engine, 50hp 1595cc,52hp 1997cc and 51hp 2.0L Diesel All of the Serier I vehicles were manufactured at Rover's Lode Lane site in the Solihull.Austin Champ story ended with disposal sales, but Series I small 4x4 off road only the end of the first chapter,Series l got both Royal military, Aden, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Libya, Malaya, Malta, Singapore, Australian, Royal Hong Kong Army /police and civilian market. The total number of series I small 4x4 off roader produced was 217327, 35% was early 80 inchbase.MK1 and MK2,more than 60% were contracted to the Ministry of supply.13715 unit of series I use by army. From 1948 to 1958 the off road term was used for all offroad models built by the Rover Company, the main variants included the 80 inch (80in or just 80), 86, 88, 107 and 109. These numbers are the measurement from the front axle to the rear. This system is still used with todays Defenders such as 110, 130 and 90. 110 = 110 inch wheel base, 130 = 130 inch wheel base. 90 = 93 inch wheel base.
The original Land Rover is the 80 inch, based on the Jeep concept, but improved in every way, this model was produced from 1948-53, and can be identified by its small instrument panel with several small gauges.
The later type are known as the 86/88/107/109 inch models, produced from 1954-58. These Land Rovers have three large dials, one is the speedometer, the another is the combined instruments and front 2 door outer with handel.
If you got a series I you can measure the wheel base than check the Vin # /Chassis No. Below is some information about series one.
80 INCH MODELS (1948-53)
1948 Chassis - R860***, R861***, R862***.R863*** (Note: the "R" prefix is an "L" on left hand drive models)
1949 Chassis - R866**** R867**** R868****
1950 Chassis - R0******, 0****** (Note: 1950-55, the first digit is the year)
1951 Chassis - 16******
1952 Chassis - 26******
1953 Chassis - 3*******
86/107 MODELS (1954-55)
1954 Chassis - 4*******
1955 Chassis - 5*******
88/107/109 MODELS (1956-58)
1956 Chassis - 1**6*****, 27*6*****, 87*6***** (Note: 1956-58, the 4th digit of the VIN is the year)
1957 Chassis - 1**7*****
1958 Chassis - 1**8*****
In 1958, all new series II replaced series I a lot of small modification with a 2.25 L inline 4 cylinder 3 bearing gas or diesel motor.( this diesel also not reliable at winter time.) In the same year, A heavy duty rear full
floating rear axle fitted.1961 series IIA replaced series II, minor modifications, at market all new Nissan Patrol 4.0L 6 cylinder and Toyota Land cruiser 4.0L 6 cylinder are very strong, this is why at 1967 they got an option 2.6L 6 cylinder engine on 109 model.
1966 Rover Develops all new air-portable military vehicle in consort with the British Military Vehicle Experimental Establishment.
In 1968 Rover moved the 2 head lamp to the front wings. Looking back the Land Rover got many many different body, such as soft to 3 door,hard top 3 door,5 door soft top, 5 door hard top wagon,
3 door SWB Van,3 door LWB Van,ambulance,SAS SWB patrol vehicle,SAS LWB patrol vehicle, light recovery vehicle, railway patrol, radio car, armoured vehicle, experimental signal-laying vehicle, fire service vehicle etc.
In Oct 1971 a new Series III replaced Series IIA. All new synchromesh 4 speed gear box and many detailed improved,2 more crankshaft bearing add to the 2.25 gas motor, and a new dash board. at that time more than 100 coumtry use Land Rover as a army standard small off road vehicle.
1980 a 3.5V8 gas motor stage one with a full time 4x4 transfer case from Range Rover was offered on Series III.
March 1983 a new 110 replaced Series 109, lot of 70 Range Rover chassis parts use at this 110. such as front and rear coil spring suspension, front disc brake live beam axle,3.54:1 gear set, permanent 4x4 transfer case fitted, one piece windscreen, wheel arch and a new 2.5L diesel motor or a early 2.25 Gas motor or a range rover twin carburettor 3.5V8 gas motor fitted.1984 a new SWB 90 with 93 inch wheelbase replaced 88 inch wheelbase series III.
The one we got is a very nice 1953 LHD 80 inch SWB MK II soft top model Vin # 36636455 with front capstan winch ,Register at west Germany in 1956. LHD model are more rare, This vehicle import from German at May of 2010 . The owner is a amphibious vehicle collector, Victor's friend Mr Alfred's wife in Germany, she owner this car since end of 70s and they rebuild this off road vehicle at early 80s.Today we believe this is the only one series I in Hong Kong. At mid of 50 the Royal HK Army and police got a lot of new Series I MK III 86 inch SWB to replace the War time MB/GPW Jeep in HK, Today we can see some series I MK III 86 inch wheel base and 107 inch wheel base picture at Hong Kong history book. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
