Land Rover Workshops - Hard Tops

The workshop variant of the land rover is a well known variant, about which much of it's official history is known.

However that is the official history, some units performed modifications on vehicles that were not always necessarily approved. In this case, many workshop vehicles appear to have been modified with partial, or complete hard tops. The reasons why are unknown, but they could encompass everything from a lack of availability of canvas tops, through to mechanics being sick of their tools being stolen from the canvas covered originals.

It isn't known if the powers that be knew about these vehicles and simply looked the other way, or if they did not know at all. However as the one on display at the AWM was prepared for a United Nations deployment, it is likely that they knew about it.

Another similar vehicle is the Series 2a Ambulance ERV Conversion, where ambulances were converted to workshop vehicles.

ARN	WB	Date	Contract	Model	Census	Nomenaclature	Engine	Chassis	Body	REMLR No.	Notes	Disposal	Vehicle Name
111-378	109	1960	C104337	Series 2	6043A	Automotive Repair Shop, Truck mounted, 3/4 ton, GS, Garage	151019452	153001053	2145	325	NSW. Brisbane Log. auction. Census plate Blank. Current engine no 25177113F Full Hard top,3 black out lights Now Owned by AULRO Pete c7a. Tool racks in wheel wells (pictures of)	11.08.92	Jane
113-773	109	1964	-	Series 2A	6043A	Automotive Repair Shop, Truck mounted, 3/4 ton, GS, Garage	25175793F	25307214B	-	150	NSW. Archive Photo. Owned by Anthony Egretz, son of member 150 Full Hard top,two black out lights	26.02.79	-
113-841	109	1965	-	Series 2A	6040A	Electronic Equipment Repair Shop, Truck Mounted, 3/4 Ton, GS, Telecommunication	25217886G	25312703B	-	150	NSW. Full Hard top	11.08.92	-
113-813	109	1965	-	Series 2A	6043A	Automotive Repair Shop, Truck mounted, 3/4 ton, GS, Garage	unk	153001042	-	314	NSW. Original Chassis 25312712B was replaced with 153001042 which is also listed for vehicle ARN 111-383 . Broadmeadows auction. Pic: Vietnam Veitnam photo with hard top fitted	26.03.93	Road Patrol
113-852	109	1965	-	Series 2A	6037	Shop Equipment, Utility, Truck mounted, 3/4 Ton, GS	25217019G	25312556B	-		NSW. AWM Exhibit. In UN white with box body. Deployed with United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) to Namibia 1989/90. 17 Construction Workshops RAEME Markings	not noted	-
114-105	109	00.09.1966	C100900	Series 2A	6037	Shop Equipment, Utility, Truck mounted, 3/4 Ton, GS	25248951H	25316469C	13554	47	Hard Top Fitted	not noted	-
114-122	109	1966	-	Series 2A	6049	Shop Equipment, Truck Mounted, 3/4 Ton, GS, Unequiped	25248785H	25316357C	-	256	11/11/1991 returned by 18 FD Sqn to 30077. Ebay 2010 Partal Hard Top Fitted	15.01.92	-
114-258	109	1967	-	Series 2A	6040H	Welding Shop, Truck Mounted, 3/4 Ton, GS, ARC/Gas	25279572H	25321017C	-	331	Brisbane auction. Partial Hard Top fitted.	08.04.93	-
178-039	109	1971	-	Series 2A	6032	Lubricating and servicing unit, power operated, Truck mounted, 3/4 ton GS.	25351473K	25335427G	-	256	Brisbane auction. Spotted and reasonably complete 2009. Quarter Hard top rear body roof only	10.05.93	-
178-064	109	1971	-	Series 2A	6040H	Welding Shop, Truck Mounted, 3/4 Ton, GS, ARC/Gas	25351854K	25335547G	-	165	Camo, Hard top over tray only (this is a repacement for the platform, not an addition) , Jerry can holders under tray at rear, pintle hook at front	not noted	-
30-149	109	23/10/1978	-	Series 3	6006B	Truck, Utility, 3/4 Ton, GS, with winch, FFR, 24 volt system	94124366C	94323428C	39210	56	Equipment Tester. Hard Top GS??N? 465	-	-

111-378

Now owned by REMLR member 325, these photos of it were taken in the carpark of a NSW show.

113-773

This unit has a similar, but more basic body that is quite similar to 111-378. In fact even 113-841 seems quite similar, even with the added windows and so on.

113-841

This particular unit has a body somewhat akin to an ambulance body and looks well done. Certainly the "RA SIGS RULE" on the inside indicates that it was used by a signals unit, so the body probably was used to keep the weather off radio repairs, or even use as a repeater or large transmitting unit.

113-852 Currently on display with the AWM, this vehicle was prepared for a UN deployment, although it is unknown if it was actually sent.
This is an official AWM photograph	Copyright Joshua Murray	Copyright Joshua Murray
Copyright Joshua Murray	Copyright Joshua Murray	Copyright Joshua Murray
Copyright Joshua Murray

178-064

REMLR Member Peter D owns this vehicle, more photos and information can be found on his shed page here.

30-149

Whilst not strictly a workshop conversion, it may well have replaced the above hard bodies in unit. It is a series 3 Fitted for Radio that has had a tall fibreglass body mounted on it to form an electronics workshop.

Unknown Vehicles

The vehicle photographed below is thought to still exist in reasonably original condition. t's camouflage is very similar to that of 178-064 .

Awaiting Auction. From the Ian Withnall Perentie Collection