1960 - 1979 Cold War Years (Page One of Two)
In 1959 the Series 2 Land Rover was introduced, but first appeared in most Working troops units or divisions in numbers in 1960 (which is why you will find them here) Ten years later the Series 3 Land Rover was introduced. It was essentially the same vehicle with wire mesh or plastic grill and side vent, except the headlights were moved onto the outer wings, also it was offered with better engine choices and some improvements to ride and load.
1960s also saw some attempts to modernise already existing 1949 designed vehicles like the Austin K9 Walk through (see the 1946 to 1959 page) and the Commer. Giving the Commer a new cab but keeping the very long wheelbase made some extra room for Genny’s and other kit, so saving the need for a trailer with the largest REME workshops or Signals Office Box Bodies. It was also one of the first vehicles to have a full width windshield that unlike other earlier windows on army lorries could not be opened. Called the Multifuel, it could run on many different fuels from Petrol or Diesel, to heating oil and even aircraft Kerosene.
A GS version of this vehicle on a short chassis (and therefore set higher) can be seen here http://www.flickr.com/photos/fryske/2790658680/
Land Rover Series II and Series IIA (1958 - 1971) 88"/109"
A Short Wheel Base FFR (above) and in comparison the Long wheel Base version (below)
Here the S2A Liney’s wagon is shown with just one ladder and two crook poles, and so in the back on the upper frame the shape of a padded square life-belt can be seen. Into this the Linesman stood and with a pole in the rowlock was able to guide the cable along the side of the road or over bushes, etc.
Same Vehicle but with Gloss Green paint scheme as used in the UK
This reworked copy of the Handbook Illustration may allow a better understanding.
Later the Series 3 (Made between 1971 - 1985) replaced the Series 2
Land Rover Series III (1971 - 1985) 88"/109"
More emergency vehicles can be found on the BLUE LIGHTS (Click here) page
Air Portable (Land Rover Lightweight 1950-1983) The Series 2 Air portable was introduced in 1969 and a Series 3 version in 1972, the last were made in 1983. Many believe the Air Portable was a 1970s vehicle, and at the earliest seen in 1966 when it underwent trials with the then Army mainstay Helicopter Wessex.
Who said all Army vehicles are green? I seem to remember most times they were white, like in this drawing below...
Austin Mini Moke Army Name “Mite” is another Air Portable that is often forgotten and even believed by many to be a civilian vehicle made to just look “army-like”, including myself, until I remembered seeing one in use by the army during a display in the early 1960s. It was in fact made for the Army and then after Austin failed to keep yet another contract (like the Champ, the K9 and the Gipsy) was offered to the civilian market. The Austin Mini Moke based on the front wheel drive civilian Austin Mini. Despite an attempted increased ground clearance over the normal Mini, and some experiments with four wheel drive, even one model with two engines (front and back) and another with four wheel steering, it never hit it off with the Ministry of Supply or the War Department. Many were transferred to the RAF to be used as aircrew vehicles for RAF airfields due to the low overall height to be able to drive under wings or even aircraft. A sad end for a vehicle designed to go in the aircraft.
Of the limited number used in the army, there was a 6 seater GS, or 4 plus Radio FFR long wheel base version as above, as well as a 4 seater short wheel base version as seen below
NOTE: for the 1972 Introduced Land Rover Forward Control (101) Please see the V-1980-1999 pages
