Classic Military Vehicle will this summer join sister publication Classic Land Rover in hosting an old-style gathering for owners of military and classic Land Rovers. Craig Allen takes a closer look at ex-military Land Rovers and what makes a good choice for the enthusiast
As an entry vehicle for military buffs, an ex-army Land Rover makes a lot of sense. Practical, affordable and with unrivalled spares back-up, they are easy to restore and maintain. They also make excellent tow vehicles if you need to trailer another classic to an event.
So, given all this what should you be looking for in today's market and which models make the best buys? Read on...
Series One and II
The British military has used the Land Rover from the very earliest days with the Series One, originally intended merely to supplement the purpose-built Austin Gypsy. It soon took over as the light vehicle of choice, cheaper and simpler to maintain while equally robust and capable off-road.
So began a partnership that has endured to this day with soldiers and Land Rovers naturally going together.
Early 80in Series Ones, of course, have now become highly collectable with eyewatering price tags to match.
The later 86in and 88in models, however, are still relatively affordable and were widely used by the armed forces.
The development of these larger capacity models was driven by the requirements of the military as the 80in was simply too small for a practical troop carrier.
For this reason, the later LWB 109
became the popular choice for general service use. Available as a soft or hardback, they were used by all three services for decades so there are lots still out there.
Series vehicles offer a back-to-basics driving experience with earlier versions lacking synchromesh on first and second gears. This is part of the charm for many, although with early two-cylinder engines you are going nowhere fast. The later 2,495cc petrol is livelier and will keep up with traffic around town, if not on the open road.
Verdict: The simplicity of the early Series models is part of the attraction and they are perhaps the easiest to restore or maintain for the home mechanic.
Series III
The Series III GS was produced in large numbers and makes for a good choice especially when married to its matching Sankey trailer. Many will have led a hard life, but if you can find a good one, they can make for an easy project.
These were the standard army workhorse for decades and the sound of a 109’s transmission under load is forever seared into my memory. The interiors are basic with squab seats, sliding windows and no soundproofing. This combined with the lack of power from the 2,286cc petrol engine and the wandering steering can make long journeys a wearing experience. Despite this, I once drove one of these wagons from Yorkshire to the Czech Republic for an exercise, so they will do the miles, just do not expect comfort.
Verdict: Once available for a few hundred pounds, prices have inevitably risen as with all Series Land Rovers, but you can still find worthwhile projects that will not break the bank.
FC101
The Forward Control was extensively employed by the military and four preproduction vehicles were famously used for the 1975 Joint Services Trans-Sahara Expedition. I remember using these oneton Land Rovers back in the 1980s and often lived out of the back of them on exercise.
They rarely got stuck and with their powerful V8 engines we were always first home at the end of the exercise. By the late 1980s however, they were becoming tired and were eventually replaced by the Pinzgauer.
Most service vehicles were GS wagons with canvas backs but there were also command, ambulance and workshop versions fitted with box bodies. In recent years, the FC101 has become a familiar sight on the show circuit often looking far more pristine than I ever remember them in use.
Verdict: They are also increasingly popular as 4x4 campers with the box body making the easiest option for conversion.
Lightweight
The Lightweight Land Rover was specifically designed to be easily airlifted by contemporary helicopters. In practice, they were mostly used for general duties with many being configured as fitted for radio (FFR).
They were also popular with the RAF which often used them as airfield tenders. Produced in both Series IIA and III versions they enjoyed a long career with the military and were sold to other NATO armies including the Netherlands.
In my regiment, stripped-down versions or 'buggies' were used as recce vehicles and many standard models remained in use into the early 1990s.
Typically fitted with canvasbacks and 2,286cc petrol engines they use mostly standard Land Rover components so there is no problem with spares. One caveat is the two-piece bulkhead and some of the military fittings, which are getting harder to find.
Verdict: AA Lightweight makes a good practical choice either to show or to use more regularly.
Pre-Defender 90s & 110s
These coil-sprung Land Rovers seemed quite modern when they first arrived in the 1980s, although the spartan interiors and many of the fittings were carried over from the older models.
With the military moving to diesel for its green fleet they all came fitted with the pedestrian 2.5 N/A 9J engine. This proved mostly adequate but carried on the long tradition of Land Rovers being underpowered for the job.
Fortunately, there were a few V8s mainly issued to specialist units where extra power was needed such as the Rapier vehicles.
I was issued with a 110 V8 back in the 90s and it was a flying machine, though thankfully I was not paying for the fuel.
Verdict: If you can find one of these in good condition, they make a good all-rounder while fitting a TDI improves the driving experience.
Tithonus Land Rovers
The Tithonus saga has been well documented and although refurbishing the best of the pre-Defender fleet only to dispose of them shortly after made little financial sense, it was a boon to collectors.
The makeover included repairing bulkheads and chassis which were additionally wax-injected and undersealed. Wheel bearings, brakes and suspension components were refreshed, and the engines overhauled with new parts fitted as required.
New seats and soundproof mats were provided to improve crew comfort and a full set of modular wheels fitted. One of the most distinctive enhancements was the fitting of full-length roll-over protection systems and the vehicles come fitted with either a composite hardback or synthetic tilt. Although they never saw much service
use, they do make a good choice for the enthusiast, considering all the improvements. The one downside is the sluggish N/A diesel engine fitted, but this could be replaced by the user to complete the job started by the REME mechanics. The irony is that with a Tdi powerplant these wagons could still be doing useful service to this day.
Verdict: Considering the extensive refurbishment, these make a great choice if you can find one.
The Wolf
The Wolf or Defender XD Land Rovers arrived in the late 1990s. Over-engineered from the outset for military use, they were a revelation. Powered by the ubiquitous 300Tdi, they were the first general service Land Rovers apart from the V8s that didn't feel chronically underpowered. That they would actually ‘go a bit’ was a problem initially with young soldiers rolling 90s after cornering too hard. Despite this, they were a welcome improvement on the earlier models and continue to soldier on to this day. Somewhat short-sightedly, however, the military did not ask Land Rover to retain the jigs and tools so no more were built once the contracts had been fulfilled.
The drawdown of our field army has meanwhile led to significant numbers being released through specialists such as Withams. The majority of these have been 90s which have insufficient space for the latest Bowman radio fit.
I drove a Wolf 90 in Iraq and it was a great little truck that never let me down,running happily on the universal JP8 fuel, something that cannot be said for the DAFs.
Verdict: A Wolf makes a great choice for the enthusiast although not a cheap purchase and perhaps a little too much for the supermarket run.
WMIK Light Patrol Vehicle
The Weapons Mount Installation Kit (WMIK) Land Rover was developed from the Ranger Special Operations Vehicle (RSOV) built for the US Army and is based on the Wolf 110 chassis and running gear.
Fitted with an integral rollover protection system with integrated weapons mount they were designed from the start as a patrol vehicle. Armed, stripped-down Land Rovers had been in use for decades, of course, but most were put together by local REME workshops. Even the SAS Pinkies were essentially just modified 110 V8 highcapacity pick-ups (HCPU) while the WMIK was purpose-built for the job with assistance from Ricardo engineering.
Having used old 109s with a generalpurpose machine gun (GPMG) pedestal mount welded to the back, the WMIK made a great impression when it arrived. Providing highly mobile firepower to our light forces, it was widely used from Sierra Leone to Iraq.
Eventually replaced by the Jackal, they are still employed by the Parachute Regiment which appreciates their greater air-portability in the rapid reaction role.
The WMIK went through various marks with increasing levels of protection and more powerful engines.
With many now available to buy, they make a good alternative to an SAS Pinky. If you can manage to find one of the allweather covers all the better. Driving a stripped-down Land Rover might look cool, but it quickly loses its charm when the weather turns. I speak from hard experience having often made the journey from Otterburn to Aldershot swathed in Gortex, helmet and goggles.
Verdict: Restored and fully kitted out WMIKs look fantastic but are not the most practical vehicles to live with.
SAS Land Rovers
The Special Forces were early users of the Land Rover which replaced their wartime Jeeps and were similarly configured, stripped-down with machine gun mounts and extra stowage.
Early Series types are now few and far between with only a small number of genuine Series IIA Pink Panthers in the hands of collectors. As a result, they are not cheap and you can expect to pay premium prices for one if it ever comes on the market.
Of course, there are plenty of copies out there and the later 110 Pinky, in particular, has become a popular choice for enthusiasts. There are now far more of these on the show circuit than the SAS could ever have used, but they do make for an interesting project.
Sadly, the Special Forces now appears to have finally abandoned the Land Rover but there is still more than seven decades of history to draw upon. Given the amount of literature out there it is not that difficult to modify a standard Land Rover to represent one of these specialist vehicles, which is why there are so many out there.
Verdict: One for real enthusiasts with deep pockets
Land Rover Ambulances
The RAF converted several early 107 Station Wagons for use as ambulances but far more numerous are the Series IIA and III versions. These were built by Marshall’s of Cambridge which was also responsible for the later Pulse Battlefield Ambulance.
A common fixture in my career providing drop zone safety, these ambulance bodies make for ready-made campers.
Part of the attraction is that they can be kept in military trim and still double up for the odd camping trip.
Crews often slept in their vehicles when in service and they offer lots of space in the rear. In recent years, a significant number of 130 Pulse Ambulance have been released due to the drawdown of our armed forces.
Fitted with 300 Tdis and based on the heavy-duty Wolf chassis they make the best practical choice as many are still in good condition with low mileage. I have seen a number of these re-purposed as coffee and fast-food wagons and the large box body opens a host of possibilities.
Verdict: Makes an ideal camper if you are planning on travel or spending weekends camping at military shows.
The Snatch Land Rover
The Snatch or CAV100 was developed for use in Northern Ireland where it was used to patrol lower-threat areas as an alternative to heavily armoured vehicles. I used them in the 1990s and they were a great improvement over the earlier Makrolon protected Series types. Of course, they later became infamous in Iraq but were never intended to offer protection from powerful IEDs and roadside bombs.
Many were upgraded for service in Iraq and retrofitted with Tdi engines replacing the original V8s. They often come up in military and Land Rover sales these days, but many have seen hard use and are in poor condition.
Nevertheless, they can be refurbished and make a good entry vehicle for the military enthusiast. They are also good candidates for re-bodying as they are based on the heavy-duty XD chassis and I have seen several such builds.
Verdict: Not easy to live with, but they do represent an affordable entry into the military vehicle hobby.
Armoured Land Rovers
The Snatch leads us onto other armoured Land Rover types that you could consider. The Northern Ireland-era Series vehicles with their Makrolon addon protection kits are an early example.
These kits were applied to both 109s and Lightweights and examples are occasionally seen on the show circuit.
The Shorland Armoured car is another Northern Ireland veteran and then there is the V8-powered armoured patrol vehicle that I remember from patrolling Belfast in the 1990s.
Commercially modified Armoured Defenders also became popular with TV news crews in Bosnia and Iraq and while not strictly military would make for an interesting project.
A rare media Land Rover that was built for Reuters news reporters in 1990 and fitted with a 3.5-litre V8 engine and fivespeed manual gearbox fetched £19,125 including premium at a recent auction.
Verdict: Very rare and unless this is something you are particularly after, there are easier ways into the hobby.
127/130 Land Rovers
Although procured in smaller numbers these long-wheelbase machines have found a niche with specialist users being employed as workshop trucks, Rapier Detachment vehicles and fire tenders.
They also form the basis for the Pulse Battlefield Ambulance. Based on a standard 110 chassis which is modified by slotting in extension sections all these models are actually 127in.
This longer wheelbase lends itself to roles requiring increased payload. Many of those released have been turned into overlanders or modified for use as gun buses so original models are getting harder to find.
Although impressive machines, factor in the size of the vehicle which makes for a ship-like turning circle and expect lower mpg whatever engine is fitted.
Verdict: If you need the extra room and payload they are an ideal choice and make excellent tow vehicles, especially for trailering large or heavy loads.
Military TD5s
It is a well-known fact that the armed forces specified the 300Tdi for the Wolf fleet, distrusting the newer TD5 with its electronic engine management. Despite this, a small fleet of TD5 Land Rovers was procured for the army in the early 2000s with the majority going to the Falklands.
These were standard 110s militarised by Special Vehicles as eight-seat troop carriers. The navy also used small numbers of TD5s with some being passed onto the Royal Marines, again mostly for the Falklands garrison.
Verdict: Most of these Land Rovers have now been released and would make an interesting and practical choice for the enthusiast.
Civilian Spec ‘Military’ Land Rovers
With an ageing Wolf fleet and no replacement in sight, the military has turned to civilian-spec Land Rovers to fulfil general duty roles. A common sight at the many UK and overseas garrisons, these vehicles stand in for a green fleet mostly reserved for exercises and operations. Most of these civilian Defenders are 110 Station Wagon and utility vehicles and include TDIs, TD5s and more modern Puma-engined versions.
While deployed to the Falkland Islands I noticed many such Land Rovers in use around the Mount Pleasant base and my team were issued a TDCI station wagon as a range vehicle. Procured either as a direct purchase or on a long term lease, many of these former MOD Land Rovers have been released to the civilian market.
Verdict: Having benefited from strict military service schedules and maintained regardless of cost, they can make for a sound investment.
Foreign Alternatives
Over the years Land Rovers have often been built overseas either as licensed versions or supplied as complete knocked-down kits. These were often turned to military use, the Belgian Minerva being an early example and made for a cheaper alternative to a Series One.
The Australian Army used Land Rovers for decades and the Isuzu-engined Perentie was produced in both 4x4 and 6x6 form. Spanish Santanas were also to be found in military colours and then there are the licence-built Turkish Otokars.
Verdict: Could make a good project if you are looking for something different, although original parts will be harder to find.
Summary
The military’s love affair with Land Rovers has endured for more than 70 years and significant numbers remain in service to this day. This being the case there are lots out there to choose from and several specialist companies make a good living selling them.
Some will be low-mileage examples that have led easy lives while others will be battered old workhorses having seen more than their fair share of action. The Series III GS wagons for example were retained long after their sell-by-date while other models were released in their prime.
There are numerous reasons for this including budget constraints and a shrinking military, but don’t look for logic as illustrated by the Tithonus affair. Of course, the military’s loss can be the enthusiasts’ gain and it is still possible to pick up a bargain if you choose carefully.
My preference would be for an early GS 90 or perhaps a Lightweight, but each will have their favourites. What you do benefit from is unrivalled spares back up and a plethora of specialist garages to support you.
There is also the enticing prospect of all those Wolf Land Rovers coming onto the market when the military finally finds a replacement, just do not hold your breath.
Further Reading
British Military Land Rovers by James Taylor & Geoff Fletcher;
Combat Land Rovers by Bob Morrison
