LAND ROVER IN THE 1960S

SERIES IIA

The SII and the SIIA are extremely difficult to differentiate. There were some small cosmetic changes. The most considerable change was under the bonnet in the role of the brand-new 2.25-litre diesel engine.

Body configurations available from the factory varied from short-wheelbase soft-top to the state-of-the-art five-door station waggon. In 1967 a 2.6-litre inline 6 cylindrical tube petrol engine was presented. This offered the long-wheelbase versions, which also had servo-assisted brakes.

811 of these were NADA (or North American Dollar Area) vehicles. These were the only long-wheelbase models produced the American and Canadian markets.

From February 1969 the headlamps were moved into the wings on all versions. The sill panels were redesigned to be shallower a few months afterwards.

The Series IIA is considered by numerous the most sturdy Series version built. It is also the type of traditional Land Rover that includes highly in the general public’s understanding of the Land Rover. From its appearance in prominent films and TV docudramas set in Africa throughout the 1960s, such as Born Free.

In February 1968 Land Rover commemorated its the twentieth birthday. This was a few months after its manufacturer had been subsumed, into the Leyland Motor Corporation. This was done under government pressure.

With complete manufacturing was under 600,000, of which more than 70% had actually been exported. It was whilst the Series IIA remained in production that sales of utility Land Rovers reached their peak. This was in 1969 – 70, when sales of over 60,000 Land Rovers a year were tape-recorded.

For contrast, the sales of the Defender in recent years have actually been around the 25,000 level during the 1990s. In addition to record sales, the Land Rover controlled lots of globe markets. In Australia in the 1960s Land Rover held 90% of the 4 × 4 market. This figure was duplicated in many countries in Africa and the Middle East.

SERIES IIA FORWARD CONTROL

The Series IIA FC was introduced in 1962. This was based upon the Series IIA 2.25-litre gas engine and 109 in (2,769 mm) chassis, with the taxicab placed over the engine to offer more load space. Export vehicles were the very first Land-Rovers to obtain the 2.6-litre petrol engine. The majority of examples had an ENV (sturdy) rear axle, a matching front axle came later.

SERIES IIB FORWARD CONTROL

The Series IIB FC created from 1966 resembled the Series IIA Forward Control but included the 2.25-litre diesel motor as an alternative. The 2.25-litre engine was the conventional engine for this model, the 2.6-litre engine being only available for export.