That Quick Land Rover

Sir,

On reading the letter from John Britten I assume the quick Land Rover he saw on the M3 was a 101. The 101 is a forward-control Land Rover built specially for the Army and RAF; it has no ties with the old forward control Land Rover. Its type number comes from its t101t in. wheelbase. It uses the Range Rover engine and gearbox, Salisbury axles and leaf springs. Production ceased at the end of ’76 by which time 2,000 had been produced, at a reputed cost of £12,000 each.

The first prototype was made in 1970, fitted with the Rover 110 engine, this was replaced by the V8 in 1971 when series production started. The 101 can be fitted with a powered trailer, making it a 6×6, the drive comes from a P.T.O. on the gearbox and then via prop-shafts, including one between the vehicle and trailer, to the trailer axle. As far as I know there are only three in private hands, apart from one or two Rovers have. Maximum speed? Rovers say it’s 75, but they have been known to A bar a LWB Land Rover somewhat in excess of this speed, on private land of course.

Our club magazine, the “All Wheel Driver”, will soon be publishing an article on the 101 and I will make sure John gets a copy.

D. A. WALKER, Ealing Restoration Secretary, A.W.D.C.

(Mr. Walker has added further details to the information supplied by Graham Robson last month – Ed.)