What have we here? A mysterious (Stage 1?) Landrover...
- Skye Stage 1
- Posts: 74
- Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2007 2:23 pm
- Location: Isle of Skye
What have we here? A mysterious (Stage 1?) Landrover...
An advert in our local free-ads paper caught my eye:
'Landrover 1979, 109 V8, 3 door, no tax or MOT, galvanised chassis, has gearbox problem, safari roof, very solid, comes with overdrive and winch.'
I thought this mught be a Stage 1, and if so, might yield a stack of useful parts for my own vehicle, or it it really was as solid as suggested in the advert could be put back on the road quite cheaply.
Well, I phoned up; and hung up, mystified: the guy said he had been told it was a Stage 1, but ex-army, converted from 24v to 12v after it had been de-mobbed, and that the galvanised chassis had come from the factory. He explained he wasn't knowledgeable about Landys, and wasn't able to e-mail some pictures. Obviously, it was the following points that puzzled me:
i - an ex-army, 24v Stage 1?
ii - factory galvanised chassis?
Can anyone shed any light on this? I could be wrong, but I didn't think the military ever used Stage 1s, nor did Landrover ever fit galvanised chassis. My best guess is that he has an ex-army series III, that has had a V8 fitted - had it been a later year, I might have thought an early one-ten, but not at 1979.
The best thing to do would be to go and see the vehicle, but he's quite a distance from where I am.
Thoughts, please...?
'Landrover 1979, 109 V8, 3 door, no tax or MOT, galvanised chassis, has gearbox problem, safari roof, very solid, comes with overdrive and winch.'
I thought this mught be a Stage 1, and if so, might yield a stack of useful parts for my own vehicle, or it it really was as solid as suggested in the advert could be put back on the road quite cheaply.
Well, I phoned up; and hung up, mystified: the guy said he had been told it was a Stage 1, but ex-army, converted from 24v to 12v after it had been de-mobbed, and that the galvanised chassis had come from the factory. He explained he wasn't knowledgeable about Landys, and wasn't able to e-mail some pictures. Obviously, it was the following points that puzzled me:
i - an ex-army, 24v Stage 1?
ii - factory galvanised chassis?
Can anyone shed any light on this? I could be wrong, but I didn't think the military ever used Stage 1s, nor did Landrover ever fit galvanised chassis. My best guess is that he has an ex-army series III, that has had a V8 fitted - had it been a later year, I might have thought an early one-ten, but not at 1979.
The best thing to do would be to go and see the vehicle, but he's quite a distance from where I am.
Thoughts, please...?
The Kiwis used the Stage Ones and I am pretty sure that some of them were FFR so would have been 24v. I think that I have read about UK armed forces using the Stage Ones but can't remember where, so I can't be sure, however, rest assured you will get an answer here.
Gary in NZ has an ex Kiwi army 24v Stage One:
http://stage1v8.org.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic ... ight=#2083
I wonder why it has a safari roof on a three door? If it is a Stage One or it has an LT95 gearbox it might be worth it just for the overdrive alone (depending on price of course) - those things are as rare as rocking horse poo!
Good luck on getting answers.
Alan.
Gary in NZ has an ex Kiwi army 24v Stage One:
http://stage1v8.org.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic ... ight=#2083
I wonder why it has a safari roof on a three door? If it is a Stage One or it has an LT95 gearbox it might be worth it just for the overdrive alone (depending on price of course) - those things are as rare as rocking horse poo!
Good luck on getting answers.
Alan.
- Skye Stage 1
- Posts: 74
- Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2007 2:23 pm
- Location: Isle of Skye
In 1979 it is unlikely that it was a Stage 1. They went into production then, but I would doubt the military would be buying them. At least I have never heard of it. It is more likely to be a later conversion of a series III.
Mine is an ex-army FFR and is still 24V. I intend to keep it that way for as long as possible. 24V is very common in army vehicles, mainly due to the strength of spark achieved and the heavy electrical loads they come under with radio gear, etc.
It is less likely that the army put the galvanised chassis in. Their standard production requirement was for it to be painted, in fact you will find very little or no bare metal for security reasons, for example all galvanised parts on mine are painted NZ Army Green. So the chassis is probably also a later addition (perhaps at the same time that the engine work was done).
Gary's originally had a rag top but he put the hard top on. The roof rack is a NZ invention. They are for camo nets but tended to be used for general carrying, making the vehicle very top heavy and causing more than a few to roll over (which mine had done at some point). I have the rag top and roof rack but I have taken them off in favour of a ute cab and, at the moment, 3/4 canvas.
Mine is an ex-army FFR and is still 24V. I intend to keep it that way for as long as possible. 24V is very common in army vehicles, mainly due to the strength of spark achieved and the heavy electrical loads they come under with radio gear, etc.
It is less likely that the army put the galvanised chassis in. Their standard production requirement was for it to be painted, in fact you will find very little or no bare metal for security reasons, for example all galvanised parts on mine are painted NZ Army Green. So the chassis is probably also a later addition (perhaps at the same time that the engine work was done).
Gary's originally had a rag top but he put the hard top on. The roof rack is a NZ invention. They are for camo nets but tended to be used for general carrying, making the vehicle very top heavy and causing more than a few to roll over (which mine had done at some point). I have the rag top and roof rack but I have taken them off in favour of a ute cab and, at the moment, 3/4 canvas.
Alan
1983 ex-army FFR 109 Stage 1
2005 Disco 2 HSE TD5
1983 ex-army FFR 109 Stage 1
2005 Disco 2 HSE TD5
It is fairly common for Stage 1's to have overdrive. It is a third party addition,for exanple the one provided by Fairey.
The purpose is to increase the top gear ratio. This provides a higher top speed with a slower running engine, and that means less fuel being used.
The purpose is to increase the top gear ratio. This provides a higher top speed with a slower running engine, and that means less fuel being used.
Alan
1983 ex-army FFR 109 Stage 1
2005 Disco 2 HSE TD5
1983 ex-army FFR 109 Stage 1
2005 Disco 2 HSE TD5
od
and if anyone has one spare I'd like one...
1970 Spitfire MKIII
1981 Laser 1 88643
1982 Stage 1 v8 SW
1992 Laser 2 9101 "Purple Reign"
2000 Laser Pico 4050
2001 Brompton M3L
2010 VW California GP 140 SE
2010 Brompton M6L
2010 Venture Ranger 16 Canoe
2010 Cube Ltd Pro
1981 Laser 1 88643
1982 Stage 1 v8 SW
1992 Laser 2 9101 "Purple Reign"
2000 Laser Pico 4050
2001 Brompton M3L
2010 VW California GP 140 SE
2010 Brompton M6L
2010 Venture Ranger 16 Canoe
2010 Cube Ltd Pro
- gary_in_nz
- Posts: 138
- Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:57 am
- Location: Gisborne, New Zealand
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