A batch of Series 3 General Service Land Rover's were selected by the Army to be converted into specialist Ceremonial vehicles to undertake wreath carrying and funeral carriage towing duties. Exactly how many were converted is still open for debate, one source quotes 8 vehicles having been converted, however other sources suggest that 14 or 15 were converted.

The most obvious aspects of the conversion is the high gloss deep bronze olive paint and the removal of the canopy and canopy hoops. The Bush bar and jerry can holders have also been removed along with the tool brackets from on top og the front guards.

The tailgate is a specially built piece with a flat sheet on the outside and the unit and formation plate holders have been removed. A deluxe bonnet without a spare tyre holder has also been fitted and a custom cover sewn to cover the tub area of the vehicle.

The less obvious changes to the vehicle are mechanical. A holden or ford engine was fitted along with an automatic gearbox. This also has the effect of rendering the vehicle two wheel drive. The engines were converted to run on gas, and a custom exhaust system was fitted. In the case of the holden units, a six cylinder 202 engine and trimatic automatic box were used.

The vehicles were also given registrations 01 upwards. It has been suggested that the army had a budget of $800,000 for 14 cars. Around $57000 was spent on each vehicle, almost everything was changed at the time. However the accuracy of that statement has yet to be proven.

The Army Museum Bandiana has retained one example of these specialist vehicles in excellent condition. It is also vehicle 01, however it was originally registered as 29-258.

Other examples are in private hands, with units in Tasmania, Victoria and NSW having been seen for sale at various times. The unit that appeared for sale on E-bay in victoria was supposedly unit 9 of 14. That unit's original registration was 28-788.

The rear of the same vehicle showing the custom tailgate.
Copyright: Richard Green

The rear driveshaft with disc hand brake on the differential. Normally the handbrake is a drum on the start of the driveshaft attached to the transfer case, but this vehicle has no transfer case as it is 2wd.
Copyright: Richard Green