Series IIB: Flat bed with Hiab (1967)
This is a relatively recent makeover of a 50 year old classic. The Series IIA Forward Control. Perhaps less recognisable to the uninitiated, this derivative of the Land Rover represents a diversion undertaken by the company in the mid 60's as it sought to create a utility vehicle offering a greater load carrying capacity than the regular Landy. It achieved this by moving the cab arrangement up and forward, sitting the driver and passenger above the engine rather than behind it. Hence its name: the "Forward Control". To the rear, load carrying box sections were ran front to aft above the conventional chassis to allow an uninterrupted load bed to sit above the rear wheels.
More InfoYou could hardly claim this member of our collection as a 'good looker'! In fact quite the opposite. No one would argue with our view that this model is, without doubt, an aesthetic disaster. Probably the most questionable design ever to have left Land Rover's drawing board. But it does carry a 'Land Rover' badge, so it warrants inclusion in our Land Rover story.
The concept had a troubled development and even in the final event it was not accepted by the market in anything like the numbers necessary to make it a lasting member of the Land Rover stable. Many Forward Controls were sold to the after-sales market for conversions into specialist vehicles such as Fire Tenders. Our version was built as a flat bed. More recently, the rear has been refurbished, the load bed shortened to accommodate the fitting of a hi-ab crane and drop sides added. We understand that this was done with the intention of it being used by a logging business. However those plans did not transpire so we stepped in to secure for ourselves this example of 'the Land Rover that probably should never have been'.
Part of:
Series II/IIA
Working Rovers
The Collection
Vehicle Owner: The LRHC Trust - by Gift
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