Our Landy left the UK production line as Car# 153001027, which breaks down as:
1 = Land Rover
53 = Series 2, 109-inch wheelbase, Petrol Engine, RHD
0 = Model Year 1960
01027 = 1027th vehicle produced that year.
Engraved data on the army compliance plate indicates this Series 2 entered the Australian Army in June 1960. It was assigned under Contract Number C104337—the very first Australian military order exceeding 1,000 vehicles, originally signed in December 1958.
Official Australian Defence Force records document ARN 111-387 as a "Truck, Flatbed, 3/4 Ton, GS, Radar Set AN/KPQ1, No 2 Loading." This 1960 LWB Series 2 originally ran on 7.50/16 tyres (re-fitted during restoration) and was officially discharged in NSW on December 6, 1983.
The AN/KPQ-1 mortar-locating radar system was vital for tracking incoming mortar trajectories and calculating counter-battery firing coordinates during active military deployment.
Deployed to Vietnam in late 1960, ARN 111-387 was customized for specialized communications and electronics duty. Key modifications included converting electrical circuits to Negative Earth, fitting military blackout lighting, sealing the key ignition in favor of a heavy-duty push-button, and running thick 2AWG copper power cables. Today, those same historic power cables supply the modern starter motor and dual-battery auxiliary charging system.
