New summer project! "Rosie"

[Heyitsmike]

So while looking for a new summer project, a friend of mine found this truck online, and told me to buy it..... So I did.

It's a 1975 Land Rover 101 forward control that we've now nicknamed "Rosie"
these are designed as a "one tonne" truck that was still light enough to be dropped from a helicopter, yet strong enough to tote around one of England's new artillery weapons at the time, while also loaded with 2500lbs of junk. This one in particular was assigned to the British "M.O.D." It uses the land rover 3.5l v8 (formerly the Buick 215) with dual carburetors. Mated to a 4 spd transmission and a pto connected to a massive mid-ship mounted winch that can be strung to either the front or rear fairleads
so far, we've brought it home, and gotten it running. After several days of messing with old british wiring, I decided to put in an aftermarket DUI distributor for the "Buick" motor rather than the land rover motor. (A difference of about $500) and after sitting for 3 years, the motor cranked right over and sat at idle. So that's where I stand!

Updates to follow!!!

here, have some pics!

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dgge1337wccgcj4/AAA-qfdBI-3LQird8Jbjur0Ya

 

[elkhtr]

Neat looking rig.
Keep us posted.

 

[Heyitsmike]

Gonna put these tires on. Only have 3 though... Anyone know where I can pickup 2 michelin XML tires for a 16" rim?

 

[maddawg308]

If anyone knows where to get those tires in used condition, the guys at M715Zone.com know. They are all over weird offroad tires in 16" size.

 

[Heyitsmike]

Thanks for the tip!
P.s. Love the Jayne Cobb avatar.

 

[patracy]

Interesting rig!

 

[PaFarmer]

That is cool. I had not seen an FC Rover with the aluminum box on the bed.

 

[Heyitsmike]

Haha. That's custom. I call it "P.O. Chic"

They did make them with a radio and ambulance body, and a very rare radio interceptor called the "VAMPIRE"

Though I believe this top will be coming off to make room for the soft top. All said and done I'm hoping for it to look a little something like this

 

[Whiterabbit]

Love the 101FCs because they always had that British Bulldog look.
Have fun making it yours!

 

[Heyitsmike]

Finally sourced some seats for free! Used, but in much better shape. Saved from the dumpster. More leg room and no rodent damage!

Before


After

 

[srodocker]

Interesting truck I like it.

 

[zebedee]

It's a small world - glad you found a gem.

Hey Mike - don't know how I missed this thread!!!

From the dropbox pics it seems that you have a pretty complete vehicle relative to it's military service - may have even seen service in the first Gulf War. The military registration 62 FL 06 will be the key to finding it's inservice history. Civi mods I see are the overdrive (an absolute must!), seats, hard top, tyres and front n side protection. Also there would have been a Jerry can holder on the underside of the body, next to the winch. Do you have all the hood sticks? What are your plans for the truck?

Gives me a little momentum to get mine up an running again, perhaps even a trip to Carlile in a week or so!!!

I hope you have found the "101 Club", fantastic resource for spares etc., however more recently they seem to have tended a little further towards civi camper conversions than retaining military history. I was their memb' sec until 20 years ago when I came to the states.

A little correction to your initial post - all 101's (except for sales to foreign governments) were made for the MoD - Ministry of Defence, ie., the government, though they were issued to the Army, RAF, Navy etc., as needed.

All my 101 pics are on my old pc, but here is one..... of the last two 101's that were in use as wreckers by 2 PARA for front line recoveries, air dropped from C130's. Converted in-house to Forward Recovery Trucks - one ended up at the REME museum, the other...............


If you are interested, I have a spare Sankey 'wide track' trailer which would have been the correct trailer for the GS 101 (when not used to pull the 105 mm gun, or various trailers for the Rapier misile system etc...) for general troop cargo.

 

[Heyitsmike]

Hey Mike - don't know how I missed this thread!!!

From the dropbox pics it seems that you have a pretty complete vehicle relative to it's military service - may have even seen service in the first Gulf War. The military registration 62 FL 06 will be the key to finding it's inservice history. Civi mods I see are the overdrive (an absolute must!), seats, hard top, tyres and front n side protection. Also there would have been a Jerry can holder on the underside of the body, next to the winch. Do you have all the hood sticks? What are your plans for the truck?

Gives me a little momentum to get mine up an running again, perhaps even a trip to Carlile in a week or so!!!

I hope you have found the "101 Club", fantastic resource for spares etc., however more recently they seem to have tended a little further towards civi camper conversions than retaining military history. I was their memb' sec until 20 years ago when I came to the states.

A little correction to your initial post - all 101's (except for sales to foreign governments) were made for the MoD - Ministry of Defence, ie., the government, though they were issued to the Army, RAF, Navy etc., as needed.

All my 101 pics are on my old pc, but here is one..... of the last two 101's that were in use as wreckers by 2 PARA for front line recoveries, air dropped from C130's. Converted in-house to Forward Recovery Trucks - one ended up at the REME museum, the other...............


If you are interested, I have a spare Sankey 'wide track' trailer which would have been the correct trailer for the GS 101 (when not used to pull the 105 mm gun, or various trailers for the Rapier misile system etc...) for general troop cargo.

Thanks!
I was looking for a different landy project at the time and this one just kinda fell into my lap. I do have the canvas hood, which I'd like to go back to. But I do not have the hood sticks. Was thinking about making some out of conduit if I can't find any around here.

The front and side protection are I'm assuming there for looks. The rock rails on the side are not even connected to anything really, and even block the winch from being strung to the back. So while I plan on them coming off, I may still use the stock to make something to try and protect the winch and the gas tank. I'm not really sure what the ironmongery on the from was, but that came off as well, and the welds they used were all starting to crack anyway so I thought it best.

I absolutely do not need the sankey trailer, but I am curious as to what offers you might entertain?

 

[EwaMarine]

Do these trucks roll in the UK forces with a NATO three tone paint scheme??

 

[Heyitsmike]

I believe most of the uk trucks were decommissioned and sold by the end of the 90's but I could be wrong. I believe Malaysia still uses them, or so I've heard

 

[zebedee]

I believe most of the uk trucks were decommissioned and sold by the end of the 90's but I could be wrong.

Most being the operative word. Since they were all gassers (Rover 3.5 V8, they fell by the wayside when the fleet went all diesel. There was a rumour that they may have been retro fitted with Perkins but that too didn't happen.

I believe Malaysia still uses them, or so I've heard

No, Malaysia trialed them but the Volvo won the contract. I tried to locate the test trucks when I was in KL '98/'99 but to no avail.

Do these trucks roll in the UK forces with a NATO three tone paint scheme??

No - all British CAMO was two colour, approx 2/3:1/3 with the predominant colour being major background, subordinate colour to break edges, act as shadow....
Temperate; green/black,
Arctic; white/green or white/black
Grassland (Malta, Canada); sand/green

Desert was generally single colour sand though some specialised units did use secondary colouring ie., pink(the colour the sand goes at dawn/dusk).


Hope this clarifies for you.

 

[Whiterabbit]

I'm fixing to put the 1/3 black on my MoD 109 this weekend. It'll drive you nuts looking for an "official" UK camo pattern like the US does with it's camo patterns. I think it was pretty much a "slap some black on it" camo pattern! LOL!
One of the guys I know is trying to bring a 101 to the Ga. rally! SWEET!

 

[Heyitsmike]

I'm torn between the original british racing green color, the land rover pastel green, and desert tan. I like them all

Any of you rover nuts going to the Metal Dash Weekend? If so, I might see you there!

 

[zebedee]

...... It'll drive you nuts looking for an "official" UK camo pattern like the US does with it's camo patterns. I think it was pretty much a "slap some black on it" camo pattern! LOL!

Ha ha.. Yup, it's prety straight forward. Use the minority colour to 'break' up the corners, middle straight edges top to bottom and wheel arches. Plenty of examples around (on the interwebs), varous books and forums...

I'm torn between the original british racing green color, the land rover pastel green, and desert tan. I like them all

They do look fantastic in BRG with complementary galv cappings but only if they are mint with all the aluminium panels undented and straight, as if fresh from Solihull.

Any of you rover nuts going to the Metal Dash Weekend? If so, I might see you there!

I am seriously thinking about it - just need some free time to "dust off" the toy...

 

[Whiterabbit]

That's a little too far north for me. LOL!