Unusual Series IIa grille - anyone recognize?

[Partsman]

I've got some more information for you

Thanks guys, that was just what we were looking for over on RN, the pic is of one of our member's truck, is it possibl it could be a review vehicle that was imported to the States? Or is it more likely to just be a grill someone found and put on the truck? Any way to find out from the chassis number? ???

Tricky - there would have been quite a number of "royal review" vehicles scattered around the empire. There would have been more made than you might think.
I think tracing the chassis numbers would have to be done "the other way round". I don't think there would have been a special series of numbers for royalty.
But given a chassis number, the Gaydon factory records will have recorded where the vehicle went to - someone may know if "a special" dealer was involved - or whether Land Rover sent batches out to a body builder/customiser. The Royal review vehicles had a special rear tub and lots of extra trimmings - the grille and hub caps being just a few. There is a Royal Review vehicle in the Gaydon museum.

Likewise, I bet LR made a large batch of grilles up (as spares if nothing else).
And thinking how many grilles seem to have ended up your side of the ocean, it's possible they were an optional extra on the NADA models ???

:RHD

I have studied these grilles for sometime as we bought a 1961 SW with one on back in 1997. The one in the pics above. It turned out to be a ex factory engineering vehicle, used by cl Jack Pogmore, chief assistant engineer.

It was built as a bronze green station wagon, then painted limestone when it more than likely recieved it's grille. The original on WD was not alloy but a resin. It's also very slightly different in shape to the later big batch of alloys they must have made. The resin version also has a stamped chrome lower mesh, exactly the same pattern as the one on the review vehicle in Gaydon. all the others have a wire mesh section.

I believe mine was part of a early group of factory 2's that were converted for some show/s. these were all done in the early to mid 60's. there are the two below, mine 4289 WD and 4157 AC, all 4 are exactly the same, grille, spare on the bonnet, limestone etc. mine and NX were originally green. AC and NX had prototype engines. Of these 4, 3 survive, WD, NX and AC (now unfortunetly re-registered)





The one in the top picture is going to be part of the Icelandic batch from 67/68.

I have no idea why the Icelandic station wagons in this year were fitted with them?!

[stomper]

I don't have the ability to scan the article, but I will look up the issue date so you can keep your eyes open for it. Land Rover Enthusiast is out of business now, so you won't find anyway to contact them. I collected these for about 4-5 years, and kept the issues that had good articles about series rovers.

[timdbacon]

Thanks Partsman. According to Calvin (thanks!) it was a native LHD made for export. No other information yet. I have emailed Dunsfolds and will be writing to Eric Pagan / Tracability at Land Rover in UK for history if available (is there a quicker way of getting in touch with him?).

Thanks for the great help everyone - will update once I know any more.

[timdbacon]

Just to update Phil at Dunsfolds confirms it is a "Ceremonial" grille.

Thanks all!

[landrovercarawagon]

Hello,

I have been 5 times to iceland for holidays, and overthere you ]see a lot off those special grilles. The middle off the grille is exactly likes a series 3, without the " wings" because of the lamps. The underside is with steel mesh,
I think it is not mentioned for ceremonial Land Rovers as somewhere mentioned ,but has to do with a time period or the want to get there warehouses empty

[landrovercarawagon]

Here some more pics from iceland

[NC_Mule]

Pretty sweet rare grille would be fun to see the path of the truck from the parade to Pa!

[rbbailey]

I don't like it. But I want one!!

[Boston]

Think that's the state review grill

[landrovercarawagon]

The mesh is a little different and the top where is written Land Rover

Is this what you mean the "state review grill"


This being Jubilee year, there's been a host of events nationwide celebrating the Queen's 60th year on the throne with a few car manufacturers joining in as well.

One of the best known suppliers of vehicle to the Royal household is Land Rover which recently wheeled out a few of the cars that aren't in regular use by the Queen or her family.

Among them was this 1958 Series ll 88-inch model known as State ll. It was built in the jig shop at Land Rover's Solihull factory and kitted out as ceremonial review vehicle. As this vehicle was intended for Royal use it was finished in claret paint with a dark blue leather interior.

The unusual radiator grille could be a later update and is similar to that used on Series lll models. The plated front bumper and hub caps are unique while the blue lenses in the front side lamps denotes it's a part of the Royal fleet, the lamps are switched on when there's a Royal on board.

As it's a reserve vehicle, there's only 13,450 miles on the clock and while Her Majesty is quite happy for the car to be driven it's strictly against protocol to stand in or use the Royal viewing platform.