Our Landy left the UK production line as Car# 153001027, which translates as:
1 = Land Rover
53 = Series 2, 109in wheelbase, Petrol, RHD
0 = 1960
01027 = 1027th vehicle that year.
The army plate has been painted over and that sadly removed the black 'type text' on the plate. Engraved data shows the Landy entered the Aussie Army in June 1960, as part of Contract Number C104337, which was the first contract (purchase) for over 1000 vehicles and signed on the 16-12-1958. The first vehicles were not delivered until 1959 and continued for 12 months afterwards.
Her Army record shows ARN 111-387 as a "Truck, Flatbed, 3/4 Ton, GS, Radar Set AN/KPQ1, No 2 Loading" and she is a 1960, Long wheelbase (LWB) Series 2 and the original tyre size were 7.50/16 (These are the tyres I re-fitted during the restoration).
She left the Australian Defence Force on 6th Dec, 1983 in New South Wales.
The AN/KPQ1 was a mortar tracking radar system that was used to track incoming mortar fire from the enemy and pinpoint its location and more details can be found on the AN-KPQ-1 page.
The Land Rover arrived in Vietnam in late 1960, and it is assumed she entered general service, but was then converted into the Flat Bed Truck for radar operations soon after. At some point during this time, the electrics were converted over to Negative Earth, and the army black-out light switches were installed. The key hole for the ignition was sealed up (so people didn't lose the keys), and a start button was installed, which I have retained. Very heavy-duty 2AWG cabling was installed for the radar electrical systems, which was still in place and has now been used for the engine starter motor and battery charging systems in the camper and the engine.
