Thus the definitive answer? From the date it was possible to buy either, which sold the most? The 109.

1. Stereotypical worldwide 109 buyer was a business or the military.
2. Stereotypical UK 88 buyer was a farmer.

It's certain some were private buyers, only not in great number. Suspect they were middle-England and bought the 109 CSW or the huning/shooting crowd. But that's only he UK. There were more business and military customers worldwide hence more 109s sold. The 109s had a harder life and at 15-20 years old, 88 or 109 - these were just 'old vehicles' of little or no value. The places they wound-up were not businesses, thus not kind to 109s.

Present day: Now on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th.... owner, with the odd firewood/ local-tip run, listen to the party-line and present owners would have us believe ownership motives are the same as the first buyer.

There's umpteen 88s to every 109 thus by dint of survival rates it's a moot point. Someone is not coming clean here, because the maths doesn't lie.

True. While the LHD 2.25 petrol 88" was the largest selling individual model overseas, the 109" outsold the 88" comprehensively abroad in RHD export petrol (72%) and RHD export CKD petrol guise (65%), leading to higher overall numbers of 109" IIAs sold (55.5% overall by my reckoning).

Quote from: Mycroft on Today at 06:23 PM

Quote from: NoBeardNoTopKnot on Today at 02:27 PMI think we mix 'popularity then or now' with sales figures. Except in the first year or so of production, buyers bought rather more 109s than 88s.
You had to have a need for an 88, and not everyone had that, 88s are not as practical, they bought more 109s.

88s were LESS popular with buyers.

However as 88s & 109s progressed thru' the food-chain it is the 88 that better survives. Hence popular now.

According to Gaydon records, 88" IIas took up over 57% of the UK Land Rover market, with petrol 88" models being by far the most common type sold (41.6% of all UK sales).

This is true, but with export figures included the lwb was the biggest seller. Apparently the most common type was a 109" truck cab. Also worth remebering quite a lot (although still very much a minority) of export vehicles ended up being sold in the UK, for example the searle conversions.

Lovely day today

I just got this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135021624857?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=zrlcd_jdthi&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=Fxm85MKLRNC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

And this, so im sorted now!!!


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135021624857?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=zrlcd_jdthi&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=Fxm85MKLRNC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I'm interested in that bulkhead hole to the left of the Smiths heater. It looks chewed out rather than rust. Do you know it's origin or purpose, Exile?

Quote from: NoBeardNoTopKnot on Today at 02:27 PMI think we mix 'popularity then or now' with sales figures. Except in the first year or so of production, buyers bought rather more 109s than 88s.
You had to have a need for an 88, and not everyone had that, 88s are not as practical, they bought more 109s.

88s were LESS popular with buyers.

However as 88s & 109s progressed thru' the food-chain it is the 88 that better survives. Hence popular now.

According to Gaydon records, 88" IIas took up over 57% of the UK Land Rover market, with petrol 88" models being by far the most common type sold (41.6% of all UK sales).

Quote from: simonbav on Today at 03:44 PMHas anyone experience using these or similar hole punch/joggler? Rated up to .8mm stainless material

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135021624857?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=zrlcd_jdthi&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=Fxm85MKLRNC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Well spotted sir

I was looking at the Dunsfold collections Rolls powered 81" the other day and only then realised it was the rear axle that got moved back. Not quite sure why, I didn't climb under it to investigate. Maybe it was purely to allow a longer propshaft?

https://www.dunsfoldcollection.co.uk/collection/series1/81-rolls-engined-military-trials#v

Craig.

Quote from: w3526602 on Yesterday at 05:35 AMHi,

 
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)

The 81" always had the Rolls Royce engine, there was no need or purpose in extending the wheelbase by 1", it was done solely to accommodate the much bigger engine.

You are correct there was never a 109" series 1 station wagon, as it was never offered with a diesel engine. The series 1 lwb utility chassis is quite unlike the station wagon chassis. They were not commonised until the series II appeared.

Many more lwb were built than swb, some export markets not even offering the 88". Few have survived as they were usually workhorses, and less desired meant often worth more as parts donors for an 88". The home market was more balanced, but it was mainly utility and military orders filling the 109" order books, with private buyers preferring the 88".