The Story

9. More Power

By the mid-1960s, Land Rover customers were once again asking for more power from their vehicles... and it was up to Rover to oblige. the Forward-Control models in particular were criticized for being underpowered. These models were strange looking devices introduced in 1962, based on the standard long-wheelbase chassis but with purpose-built bodywork and vastly different styling. They were aimed fairly and squarely at the commercial vehicle market where there was a demand for a tough, go-anywhere, four-wheel-drive workhorse capable of carrying a load of up to 30 cwt. The newcomer was initially sold only in dropside lorry form. Because of its extra weight, the Forward-Control variant was understandably lacking in power, being fitted with the 2286cc diesel and petrol engines.

To answer this question of urgently needed extra power across the whole of the Land Rover range, Rover sought a smaller-capacity version of the six-cylinder engine used in the Rover 3-litre saloons.

This 2625cc petrol engine was ideal in that it offered the required extra power but was also available “off the shelf” thanks to its use in this form in the more powerful of the Rover P4 series saloons.

This 2,6-litre six-cylinder engine was particularly successful in the Forward-Control Land Rovers, where it provided enough power to propel even a fully laden with reasonable gusto. The same engine was eventually to find its way into the long-wheelbase versions of the “standard” Land rover and remained there until the adoption of the 3,5-litre V8 in 1980.

Before the Series IIA Land Rover was finally superseded, Rover were forced into making one of the most obvious changes to its styling so far. Due to new lighting regulations in several export markets, the Land Rover’s headlights were moved (for the first time in twenty years!) from their position next to the radiator grille to the front of the wings - more prominent and more likely to get damaged, but at least they compiled with the regulations! This affected export models from 1968, although the change wasn’t introduced to UK-spec versions until February 1969 when supplies of the old-type front wings were finally exhausted.