Shall we be blunt? Many of you won't like these words because what's said is true of the bulk of owners.

You'll see far more LWB Ford Transit/ Merc Sprinters - this over the SWB variants.

We should rarely see 88s. Only 88s are the survivors. How so?

In all respects except turning-circle and parking/storing -  a 109 is superior.
The 109 was never the rare one, the 109 sold in equal or larger numbers. Sadly, "It's the tool for the job' and a 'workhorse' - with variations on the same - prevail. Precisely because that's what today's Series LR clearly isn't.

It's broadly about vanity. Today's standard owner does not have the mindset of the first owner. He's a poseur. Pondering the 'correct' wiper-blade arm for 1962 is the end-game. Evidence the weekly tyre-thread. Tyres are replaced because they're old, not because they're worn out. When you don't go anywhere. tyre-thread Nigel justifies old tyres because there's no need for new.  Of course there are exceptions amongst us, some of us will have 8000+ miles this year to show, yet we are few.

No one calls today's Ford Transit/ Merc Sprinter a 'workhorse' because they don't use it, and do a firewood &/or tip-run once in a blue. That'd be ridiculous, yet no one laughs when that's said on here.  And a Ford Transit/ Merc Sprinter is a LWB because their owners are not in a "I won't admit it, only I'm faking it" mindset.

In 50 years time I suspect any Ford Transit/ Merc Sprinter found will be the rarer SWB.

Market-gardeners, our 109 has been in the family since new. If today's Series owner was the original owner, the stats would show different survival rates. In short, the reason to own a Series LR has changed - this whilst pretending it hasn't. The results favours the 88.

Hi,

 
If you want a rare SWB, seek out an 81"!

I believe they made 200 ... half with a Rover Engine, half with the Rolls Royce engine from the Champ ... for Army "suitability" trials ... interchangeability of spares, etc.

I can't remember why they decided they didn't want the Champ. 

602 (Who contrived to squeeze a BMC 2.2TD into a Champ ... about 50 years ago ... and found it was cheaper to run than Barbara's Hillman Imp, but only because diesel cost a lot less than petrol per gallon)

You could probably get the most money by disassembling it and selling the gauges separately. I believe those early style fuel and amp gauges are rather rare if functional.

To paraphrase Ringo Starr:
88s are more popular because more people like them 🤔

Simples.

Don't worry about what others may think. It's your vehicle, your choice and if others don't like it that's their hard luck.
I don't care what others think about my Series 3, it's all mine.

The one they should have built was the 100 inch, there was  aphoto of a S1 100" pickup prototype but I cant find it

Peter

Once you are actually driving around there are a surprising number of people who notice, some even nod or wave. Anything other than a modern bland black blob is quite unusual.

As you've already got both why don't you get them both on the road then make your own mind up.
I've owned 3 80", 2 86" and too many 88" to remember but once I drove a 109 I wouldn't drive anything else.
Being my only transport, they're so much more useful for what I carry and in my opinion so much smoother without all the bucking up and down.
They aren't as easy to manoeuvre but that's easily off-set against the rest.
But then everyone has their own opinion and needs, and not many use it as their daily.

It would just be nice to have something that's classed as a classic and not just an old Land Rover running down the road, that's where I think the 109 differs from the 88

It's the way you are thinking ...

You're not doing it up for other people, it's for you !
You shouldn't be worrying about what other people think - life's too short.