"The Series IIa Land Rover is considered by many the most hardy series model constructed. It is quite possibly also the type of classic Land Rover that features strongly in the general public's perception of the Land Rover, from its many appearances in popular films and television documentaries set in Africa throughout the 1960s, such as Born Free. Certainly it was whilst the Series IIa was in production that sales of utility Land Rovers reached their peak, in 1969-1970, when sales of over 60,000 Land Rovers a year were recorded.
This particular vehicle is based on a Land Rover Series II, on a forward control chassis, which were primarily bought by the Ministry of Defence. As far as we know, it rolled off the production line in Solihull in the West Midlands, probably as a cab and dropside body and subsequently was delivered to the Ministry of Defence. It seems that this vehicle remained with the MOD for some time until it was sent to the fire engine experts HCB Angus who converted it into a fire engine with a crew cab, it was then registered in 1969 as such. In 1970 it was delivered to Christchurch RAF department and concluded its service there in 1978. The history for this vehicle is a little hazy but we know it saw service with the Strathclyde Fire Service and the lettering for this can still be seen under the paint at the rear. It also, at some point, worked at Rolls-Royce as their works Fire Tender and then it was sold to a Norwegian collector of Land Rovers for the last 13 years, until four years ago when the present owner purchased it. It is presented in the correct fire engine red with white interior and crew cab, all the pumps are intact to the rear and the side facing equipment and locking shutters are all still present. Blue flashing lights and horns can be seen adorning the top of the front driver’s cab, these have not been tried or tested so we cannot confirm if they are in working order. This vehicle is currently SORN and would need recommissioning, as due to ill health the present owner has not used it for about two years.
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