Hi from England

[Fire1]

Hi everyone.

My name is Richard and I’m a retired fire officer in London England.

I’ve just been lucky enough to buy an ex Australian Army 59 88 that was imported to the UK in 2016.

It’s in really good condition although it’s cosmetically challenged. I’ve been told that after it’s army life it went to work with the bush fire brigade in NSW.

Chassis number is 143900327





http://a65.tinypic.com/2zs4mts.jpg

[Mick_Marsh]

Well done on your purchase.

They're coming out of the woodwork now.

[Fire1]

Thanks.

Quick question. What colour seats were fitted as standard?

Cheers

Rich

[mike_k]

Hi Rich,

Well done on your purchase.

It would be interesting to know the story of it’s trip back to the UK!

The original Army Registration number of your vehicle is 111-773.

If it still has the original engine, that should be 151908874.

It was sold at auction in South Australia on 07/08/1967.

Have a look in the ARN lists for this info.

As far as I know, the seats would have been a very dark bronze green colour, front and rear.

Does it still have the nomenclature placard on the passenger side of the bulkhead?

Cheers,

Mike.

[DennisM]

Yes, that is nice, and to survive that long over there with what they use on roads during the winter, cheers and welcome to the site, Dennis

[fc101]

and to survive that long over there with what they use on roads during the winter,

Its only been there 2 years (2016) - but even to survive is Aust for that long is a bit of miracle these days.

Great to see it in the hands of someone who cares 

Garry

[FFRMAN]

here's mine looking more original, for some inspiration!

[AGAS 5]

111-773 is 3rd from the top.

Cheers.

[Matt Reeves]

Hello and welcome from another UK resident Australian military Land Rover owner (or at least I will be in a couple of weeks when it arrives!).

Matt (North Wales).

[Fire1]

Thanks guys. Yes it’s still got its original engine with 77000 miles on the clock and it’s nomenclature plate on the passenger side bulkhead.

This is the info the importer got from the bloke over in Aus when he bought it.

You won't find a car like this anywhere else. This Land Rover Rover Ute has the original litre engine. 77k miles on the clock. For the spec guys : 1959 S2 88"
vehicle number 327 model with Australian Delivery to the Army ( Yes it is a Genuine Landrover delivered brand new to the Australian Army. ) This vehicle still has the maintenance plate fitted to the radiator support panel. The rest of the army mods are also a pretty good giveaway for it's origin. After an honourable discharge, this vehicle joined the NSW Bushfire Brigade for a few years, gaining the standard Bush specification modifications, including the genuine Landrover heavy duty suspension package. It is presumed the "hardlid" canopy was fitted by the actual brigade it was assigned to, however this model is intended to be a soft top. After a relatively easy life in the Blue Mountains, this vehicle rested on a Southern Highlands property enjoying the slow-paced scenery for many years, travelling just enough km's per year to justify the rego......and then it got less and less use, until it was just no longer viable to maintain the rego costs for NSW...... Bright Idea , move to Victoria for the cheaper rego --- Not so bright, as the current owner just completely ran out of time to provide the love and attention needed to bring back to the state this vehicle deserves. SO - this is a very genuine vehicle, which with some love and time will be a fantastic LandyPaintwork is typical of any 1959 model with many various shades and multiple layers, however the underlying straight  body and chassis is quite sound still having the original paint Mechanically, everything should be okay, however I would expect some dried out seals etc due to the longer period of time sitting. It's last trip was from Dandenong to Hallam back in 2011 and it drove quite happily. I'll be flushing the old fuel out, throwing another set of leads and points in, and with a battery it'll start. I am quite happy to go through the known historyof the vehicle with any new owner, as this vehicle does hold sentimental value, due to being an heirloom as such and hopefully your own family will be able to add to its story. Update : flushed all the old fuel out , checked the coolant and oil, primed it up and it started first shot! Yes- it now drives and stops! Hosed some of the spiders and dust away and took a few pics Wife says it must go !

I picked it up and drove it about 40 miles home without any problem.

I’ve picked up an original Roo Bar and some original rear bumperettes as well as the original registration plates for 112-088. Don’t know how they got to the UK though!

Plan is to return it back to standard if possible. Does anyone over there do the correct hoods?

Comments welcome guys

Thanks again

Rich