Stage One - The rare beasts!
by Annette Flottwell 
Thanks to all who sent their chassis numbers in the last two months, so here is the beginning of the Stage One V8 register! I was expecting most Stage Ones to be UK based, but you surprised me, sending pictures from Indonesia, Chile or Trinidad. Great! So where do I start?
Sanjay Ramdath from Trinidad & Tobago writes:
I
own a Stage One V8 Short Wheel Base. Rolled off on April 15th 1982.
She's one of 24 produced. 4 were produced before and there was one prototype.
That's 29 known in all. She's a 88, RHD station wagon. VIN: SALL BABH1AA159957
ENGINE: 11G D1930.The chassis number, continues Mr. Ramdath, relates to
a 4 cylinder RHD export model, he is very right. But then these numbers
sometimes do not mean very much.
Here is the full story:
There happen to be more than one Stage One SWB 88 surviving. James Taylor
of LAND ROVER enthusiast magazine thinks there are 2 in the UK. Ihave
seen at least one other in Trinidad & Tobago. Probably more here as
the 24 made in 1982 were all sent to the local Lanr Rover dealer at the
time. I don't know what happened to the 24 produced before or the prototype
built earlier. Mr. Taylor will interview the Engineer from that time later
this month. Maybe we find out more then.
I
bought her last year from Lee Young & Partners last year (2002). They
are a soil testing engineering company. Up until early 2002 the had rigged
up a soil boring drill to her engine and used that to drill for core samples.
I have (with much pain) found the original V8 gasket kid and changed all
the seals, fixed the valves. Changed the colour to orange and black. redone
the upholstery. I also changed the suspension bushings with original ones.
Found a new house light. Replaced the original front seats with Mazda
323 front seats and put the originals (still in quite good condition)
in storage. The chassis is in immaculate condition, no rust visible. The
leaf springs are slightly rusty. After this years inspection I think I
will bathe them in rust proof and oil. All in all she runs like a dream.
Lee Young changed the original carburettor to a Weber type double throat.
I would love to bring her back to original specs if I can find out what
they were (and I have the money). I have always dreamed of owning a Landy.
As a young boy whilst my friends drooled over mazda rx7s and 280zxs I
liked the old rough go any where Land Rovers. So here I am. I now have
fulfilled 2 boyhood dreams, I own a Landy and I'm a Veterinary Surgeon.
The landy works every day. She takes me on house and farm visits. She
is a lively customer on the highway. She revels off road in the mud.
The Country Station Wagon 88! Did they all arrive in Trinidad like that?
What a beauty!
Guptee Bidaisee owns this very original 88" Station Wagon.
Here is the proud owners short descriprion:
This is a SWB Series III Stage 1 V8 County Station Wagon. It was bought
in 1985 here in Trinidad. It also came with air-condition.
The Chassis number is SALLBABH1BA183733 and the Engine Number is 10GO7292.
Look at these stickers:
This is for all who asked me whether the 88 was a joke, a home conversion
or an error.
These aircos were also often sold for late Series Threes.
Oops,
I almost forgot to publish another funny chassis number. My prototype
Sally left the factory on November 18th, 1976. The engine number is LR
4, she was registered as a 6 cylinder and the chassis number is 91451802C,
which makes her a LHD pickup 4 cylinder 109. The R registration number
plate is not original according to James Taylor,but then we hop to find
out more.
I'll leave her as original as she came, with Stromberg carbs, mechanical
distribution and her funny hardtop conversion. There is still a lot to
be done, but I already love the smooth ride and the quite purring engine.
Sally
has been with us for a year now. In the meantime she has taken us to Spain
and back, she dragged a ton of stuff from Belgium to the South West of
France, leveled the petanque (sand field to play boules) in a caravan
park and served faithfully as a base for photographing or picking cherries.
She has been the most reliable Land Rover you could dream of during four
hard months.
The cats love Sally as well, as you can see. About ten different people
took her for a test drive on the quiet Dordogne green lanes, visitors
at the camp site who had never driven a Land Rover before. Strange how
many wanted to buy her, even if she doesn't look very neat and clean.
No I am NOT selling her.
At the Belgium National last year we admires this 6x6 during the trial.
6x6 conversion by Safir Engineering using a double rear output transfer
box, retaining the PTO
15 were built for export in 1986 on a standard 109 V8 base, 2 units
remained in Britain. It has 54.000 Km on the clock now. It was bought
from a building company 5 years ago by its present owner, wear 750/16
boots and also has a lenghtened hardtop available.
Recently, this beautiful vehicle was for sale in LRE. We were drooling.
Who knows more about the fate of A1LRO? I bet she came into good hands
and maybe the lucky new owner will tell me more!
Paul
has indeed found something rare - there are many LHD pickups, civilians
like builders or foresters bought them, but on 24 V???
"I have attached a photograph of another Stage One which I have just
discovered lying around waiting to come home with me!!!
It is a Utility vehicle, with a High Capacity Pick Up (HCPU). It is a
left hand drive model and was not converted but manufactured by Land Rover
as a LHD. They only made three demonstrators for the military as a "fitted
for radio" truck hence 24v electric system, special canvas roof to
accomodate the HCPU bed. One is in the army rubber tyre museum, one is
in Saudi Arabia and the other one is now on MY DRIVE!!!! Looks a bit special
doesn't it! Chassis No:SALLBCAV2AA167135. FIRST REGISTERED 11.05.1983.
To be continued with your help!!
Annette
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