Santana History, 72 SIII...IIA?

[mmurphy4868]

Hello,

Another Santana question....... I have searched everywhere and cant seem to figure out the real history of my 72 Santana. Everything i read tells me that Santana didn't start making a SIII until 74, yet mine is a 72 and has all the makings of a SIII. Anyone know the history or any way to determine the real background via vin#?

[bzirkfl]

I have a 1985 sIII and it is significantly different than your pictures. Yours looks like an sII(A?). My dash is almost padded feeling not plain metal. The front seat is a 60/40 not the 40/20/40 yours has. Also the front end is significantly different. I have the black plastic grill with Santana under the Land Rover moniker. Yours is the metal from the older series vehicles. I have had no luck finding info on Santana vehicles since they merged/sold/reorganized and then went bankrupt. They are 90+% Rover parts, just some slightly different things, and bits and pieces from different years.

[mmurphy4868]

Hmmmm.... The dash is the part that made me think SIII.... its plastic and the cluster is not in the center like on a SIIA.

[cedryck]

the wood strips on the sides of doors, and tub is interesting,,

[mmurphy4868]

They were there when i bought it, might not stay very long depending on what underneath looks like.

[bzirkfl]

My dash looks like this one: http://vpstestbringatrailercom.c.pre...ior_resize.jpg