which sidelights?

[582LTR]

I don't think that I have ever been called Nigel before but fair enough,  One of the things I like about this club is the fact that there are people who want to try and replicate a particular period of build and there are those for whom that is the last consideration. Some do care that their Land Rover represents as close as possible to what is most likely to have rolled off the production, but are equally glad that the marque is preserved in whatever derivation. If the original poster wants to know what is most likely to have been fitted to their vehicle originally I would suggest in March 58 the domed plastic sparto. If he wants to replace with whatever is most aesthetically pleasing to them - the world is their oyster. As has been said, they may get shaking heads if they stick a digital display on Big Ben :-)

Kind regards

James

[diffwhine]

I have a cousin called Nigel... Didn't XTC do a song about him? Wasn't somebody making plans for him?

It is true that on the line, whatever was available and met the spec was fitted. All the way through series and Defender production the suppliers of the stop, indicator and stop lamps (all the later standard round types) came from multiple suppliers. LEP, Lucas, Wipac and so on. We need to remember that this was seen as a commercial vehicle by Land Rover right up to the end of Defender production. The aesthetics of which light looked right was largely irrelevant provided the correct size and illumination lights were fitted at each corner. It would be nice to know what was originally fitted to a given historic vehicle, but without actual historic or photographic proof, its pretty difficult to be that accurate.

[Peter Holden]

Fortunately we have photos of our S2s from the 1960s

Peter

[NoBeardNoTopKnot]

Fortunately we have photos of our S2s from the 1960s

Peter

That's it right there, and the point I was making. I belong to a local classic-car club, and there's always an MG owner with driving-gloves and leather elbow patches. If you spend any time on other forums and car-clubs you're soon aware how Mini, Beetle and LR owners are mocked. We get roasted something rotten. I have to smile, I'm left to wonder if I've become my own stereotype. Seems LR owners with umpteen jerry-cans, are all called Nigel, have facial-hair, and can recite the advantages of four different routes to Cleethorpes.

If you can't beat 'em... I think the stereotype is me.


 

[Alan Drover]

The local classic vehicle club of which I am a member has a predominance of tractor owners. There's no leather patches, rivet counting  or snobbery here and my Land Rover is very welcome.
To quote Groucho Marx:-
"I wouldn't belong to a club that would have me as a member."

[JohnR2]

Fortunately we have photos of our S2s from the 1960s

Peter

That's it right there, and the point I was making. I belong to a local classic-car club, and there's always an MG owner with driving-gloves and leather elbow patches. If you spend any time on other forums and car-clubs you're soon aware how Mini, Beetle and LR owners are mocked. We get roasted something rotten. I have to smile, I'm left to wonder if I've become my own stereotype. Seems LR owners with umpteen jerry-cans, are all called Nigel, have facial-hair, and can recite the advantages of four different routes to Cleethorpes.

If you can't beat 'em... I think the stereotype is me.


 

do eyebrows count as facial hair?

[NoBeardNoTopKnot]

=========
do eyebrows count as facial hair?
========

Definitely helps, sounds like you're in the spirit. Mind, this life-style takes dedication. Knowing the difference between the Mk4 and the Mk3 is a job that doesn't do itself.

Start with something simple. 1950s Lemonade bottle-tops is a good one. If you really want to do things properly, the defining feature is a near-pathological interest in uncovering archaic and forgotten things/activities/technology from 'yesteryear' and restoring them to their 'former glory', or even creating/selling more.

The more pointless the better. You don't even have to be any good to be highly successful. Look at me.
Morris-dancing being a good example - if you get it right, you can dream-up any old tosh - and no one can tell. 

[Exile]

It is true that on the line, whatever was available and met the spec was fitted. All the way through series and Defender production the suppliers of the stop, indicator and stop lamps (all the later standard round types) came from multiple suppliers. LEP, Lucas, Wipac and so on. We need to remember that this was seen as a commercial vehicle by Land Rover right up to the end of Defender production. The aesthetics of which light looked right was largely irrelevant provided the correct size and illumination lights were fitted at each corner. It would be nice to know what was originally fitted to a given historic vehicle, but without actual historic or photographic proof, its pretty difficult to be that accurate.

My 1959 diesel was fitted with Sparto indicators that looked like this:

[diffwhine]

Those are the same indicators as fitted as original to my 65 Station Wagon.

I like the stop tail lights though - very period!

[Peter Holden]

Those stop and tail are original sparto as still fitted to our 59 YNM

Peter

[2DieselMan]

On Exile's 1959 diesel the Sparto Indicators fitted look like the later Sparto indicator style - the attached photo showing the original Sparto light assemblies.   

See the attached photo, on my 58 the Sparto Brake Lights were Factory fitted whist the Indicators were fitted either in the Factory or Dealer as an Option, as the Lucas TPS1 Vacuum Indicator switch is dated 58. 

Exile as I believe a lot of SII Land Rover's left the Factory and Dealerships without Indicators maybe the Sparto indicators on your SII were fitted later?   

[2DieselMan]

Just found the later Sparto Light Lens on the LROE website, Rob is saying that they are SIIA Suffix B Onward - See Photo

[Exile]

On Exile's 1959 diesel the Sparto Indicators fitted look like the later Sparto indicator style - the attached photo showing the original Sparto light assemblies.   
 

Exile as I believe a lot of SII Land Rover's left the Factory and Dealerships without Indicators maybe the Sparto indicators on your SII were fitted later?   

I bought the vehicle from the first owner's son, who had grown up with the vehicle for 50 years.

He told me that his father ordered every conceivable extra from the factory when he ordered it. The dash and auxiliary panels do look as though they were painted at the same time (see photo) and there is no primer under the aux panels, which is the case when these are sent out as spare parts for later fitment.

However, I will see if I can find a date on the vaccuum switch.

I would conclude that the indicator system is factory fitted, but that the lenses may be later replacements.

I wonder if they chose Spartos again, because they have the same size base?

[simonbav]

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?

[Exile]

 

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?

Its purpose was to demonstrate to the unbelievers that Land Rover bulkheads, and specifically the footwells, were made out of a steel that rotted for a living.