1974 Land Rover Lightweight
Serial number 95401260A
French vintage vehicle registration document
- Rare military Land Rover Lightweight
Extensive file of invoices Well known to all, the original Land Rover, which became the Defender over time, also had a military life. Although the Series I and Series II were designed for the British Army, they were also intended for mass production, which did not quite meet the expectations of the military, who wanted a lightweight vehicle that could be transported by plane or helicopter.
That is why Rover engineers set about creating the ‘Rover ½ tonne 4x4 Utility Truck’ in the mid-1960s. This was to become the Lightweight. The first prototype was built in 1966 but did not go into production until 1968. Based on the Land Rover Series II, it had to be much lighter, particularly in terms of the body panels. Although it could be transported by the Armstrong-Withworth Argosy, the British Army's cargo aircraft at the time, the Land Rover was still too heavy for Wessex helicopters.
The bonnet, roof, spare wheel and doors were therefore easily removable and transportable separately, to be reassembled by the military after parachuting.
In 1972, the Lightweight was based on the Series III and was ordered by the armies of Belgium, Guyana, Brunei, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Jamaica, Saudi Arabia and Sudan. Designed for the most arid countries, the Lightweight was exceptionally reliable, featuring an additional oil cooler.
This 1974 model is in a condition that is entirely in keeping with the spirit of the Lightweight, which is reflected in its successful road test. The brakes, a leak and a spot of perforating corrosion will need to be checked to ensure that it passes an MOT test.