Land-Rover 80" Series-I (1948-1953)

Identification

This should help those in need of information for Land Rover identification, restoration and upkeep of 80" Land Rovers. It also good for those who wish to learn more about the 80" wheel base vehicles.

The 80" Land Rover started life in 1948 as a basic multi-purpose utility. The basic model Land Rover was joined in 1949 by the Land Rover station wagon, or Estate car, mobile welder, Mobile Compressor and Fire Engine models.

The Station Wagons and Mobile Welders had their own separate chassis number sequences. The fire engine and compressor Land Rovers had Basic model chassis numbers. Between 1948 and 1953 a great number of parts changed. Some of the part changes are further explained by clicking on the high-lighted words below. The only 80" Land Rover part changes that the basic model changes do not apply to are the Belgian Minerva Land Rovers. These vehicles were assembled in Belgium, by Minerva with their own body work fitted. The engine, gear-box and axles of these vehicles were standard factory items so the engine, gearbox and axle changes will apply.

1948

Chassis Numbers.

The chassis number of an 80" Land Rover is (should be) exactly the same as the Car number on the vehicle identification plate. If not the the Land Rover in case has probably had some parts swapped around. Below are the listed the chassis number sequences. I visited the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust (BMIHT), archives and went through the despatch books a number of times to make sure that these sequences are correct. The chassis number is usually found on the front left hand side chassis engine mount. On left hand drive vehicles it can be very difficult to read the chassis number as the steering arm from the steering box to the steering relay is in the way. The only time the chassis number could be found somewhere else is in the case of CKD vehicles where the chassis remained unstamped until the Land Rover was assembled. In the case of vehicles assembled by Annund & Thompson, of Queensland, Australia the chassis number was often stamped on the left hand chassis rail just in front of the the engine mount. In another case I came across a vehicle where mistakingly the chassis number had never been stamped. See also Other ID numbers below.

1948 Models (to ~ Feb' '49)

Pre-Production, R or L 01 to 48

Basic model, R or L 860001 to 863000.

The production engine, gearbox, and front and rear axles ran in their own 860001 onwards series. Total 1948 model production, 3048 vehicles.

1949 Models (Feb' '49 - July '49)

Basic model, R or L 8663001 to 8667920

Station Wagon, R or L 8670001 to 8670070

Mobile Welder, R or L 8680001 to 8680010

The engine, gearbox and front and rear axles for these models continued in the 860001 onwards series. Total 1949 model production, 5000 vehicles.

1949

1950 Models (Aug' '49 - July '50)

Basic model, R or L 06100001 to 06115440

Station Wagon, R or L 06200001 to 06200480

Mobile Welder, R or L 06300001 to 06300030

2 litre prototype 07100001 to 07100050

The engine, gearbox and front and rear axles ran in their own 06100001 onwards series. Total 1950 model production, 16000 vehicles

1951 Models (Aug' '49 - )

Basic model

C.K.D stands for Completely Knocked Down which means that the vehicle was despatched out to its destination, unassembled and was assembled by the Local main dealer or importer.

80" Station Wagon

The 80" Land Rover Station wagon was discontinued after 1951.

Mobile Welder

The engine, gearbox and front axle for these models are 16100001 onwards for Right hand drive vehicles and
16130001 onwards for Left hand drive vehicles.
The rear axles are all numbered 16100001 onwards. Total 1951 model production, 17360 vehicles.

1952 models

Basic model

Mobile welder

The engine, gearbox and front axle for these models are
26100001 onwards for Right hand drive vehicles and
26130001 onwards for Left hand drive vehicles.
The rear axles are all numbered 26100001 onwards. Total 1952 model production, 18715 vehicles.

1953 models

Basic model

Mobile Welder

The engine, gearbox and front axle numbers for these models are
36100001 onwards for Right hand drive vehicles and
36130001 onwards for Left hand drive vehicles.
The rear axles are all numbered 36100001 onwards Total 1953 model production, 22272 vehicles. (Includes Minervas)

Total 80" Land Rover production, 82395 vehicles.

Engine Numbers.

Land Rover engine numbers follow along the lines of the chassis number sequence, (listed above) except in the case of 1949 models when the engine gearbox and axles stayed in the previous 1948 sequence. The engine number is found on the left hand side of the engine bay. It is stamped on the flat face just above the exhaust valve rocker cover and beside the exhaust manifold at the front of the engine.

The engine changes and differences occured throughout 80" Land Rover production.

Gearbox Numbers.

Once again Land Rover gearbox numbers follow on the sme lines of the chassis number sequence, (listed above) except in the case of 1949 models when the engine gearbox and axles stayed in the previous 1948 sequence. The gearbox number can be found on the top right side of the gearbox casing, beside where the transfer case bolts on. This top piece is removable and is occasionally lost. Gearbox part changes are quite extensive and include changes in the transfer box including the change from constant four wheel drive to selectable two/four wheel drive.

Axle Numbers.

The Land Rover axle numbers follow the chassis number sequence, (listed above) except in the case of 1949 models when the engine gearbox and axles stayed in the previous 1948 sequence. The axle number is found on the left hand side of the differential casing. It is on the top which can make the rear axle hard to read. It sometimes stamped on the rear side of some late 1953 axle casings to make it more visible. Axle changes include changes to the front swivels.

Other ID Numbers.

There are two other id numbers that are often forgotten. The first one is the chassis build number. This is the mysterious number that appears on 1948 to 1951 models in front of the chassis number. On 1952 and 1953 models it appears on the right hand side chassis engine mount, however it can only be easily veiwed if the battery box is removed. The chassis build number is just a running number of chassis's that were produce in a given production time. We know that the chassis number was only issued to the chassis when the vehicle was being assembled. To keep a running on how many chassis had been made they put in the chassis build number.

Transfer box number. On the first 1948 models a transfer box number was stamped on the rear face of the transfer box. They presumably started at 1. It is not clear how far they went with this number but was only fitted to the first style of transfer box casting which lasted well into December 1948
- Michael Bishop.

Thanks also to A. J. Maeder.