Unfortunately for me, the 1-Ton story does
not simply end with the
chassis numbers
detailed elsewhere, as the 1-Ton was linked to other vehicles.
The first example of a 1-Ton like vehicle is in the form of the APGP
Amphibious airportable 109" developed in the early 1960s. Although
military 109" vehicles had used drop shackel suspension for a few
years, the APGP was the first to combinet this with 900x16 tyres, and
either lower transfer box ratios, or lower axle gearing. The vehicles
were rated with a 1-Ton payload, but used 2286cc petrol engines, the
six-cylinder in a Landrover was still some years away.
Having seen a Shorland with the body
removed which clearly resembles a 1-ton being fitted with front and
rear ENV axles, drop shackles and heavy-duty springs. The one or two I
have had chassis numbers for however would put them as RHD Export six
cylinder utilities, rather than 1-Tons. As only 64 RHD Export vehicles
were built I am inclined to think the Shorland was built on another
sequence, but was basically 1-Ton specification, either supplied by
Land-Rover or modified by Shorts. Further research would suggest in
fact that the Shorland preempted the 1-ton by a few years, I understand
starting in 1964, so engineering for the Shorland may well have
contributed to the eventual design of the 1-ton.
The TACR1 airfield
crash rescue tender was another version of 1-Ton, or at least some of
them were. 22 IIA models built on the 231 prefix chassis sequence with
the 2.25 petrol engine. These were all delivered in "Mist White" to the
RAF at Ashton Down, Gloucestershire between 1970 -1971. Not many seem
to have survived however. They were on ENV axles and were in all
respects just a 1 ton with the 2.25 petrol engine instead of the 2.6.
The Series 3 vehicles were closer to being a combat chassied 109
running on 900s, as they lacked the ENV axles, although some did have a
Salisbury front axle as per the later series 3 1-tons. The Series 3
vehicles all seem to have been built on 911 prefix chassis numbers
(making them 2.25 petrol 3/4 ton basics). The vehicles themselves seem
to have changed over tme, as one fairly early one has salisbury axles
front and rear, wheras most of the survivors (or whats left of them)
have rover front axles. Was this a build specification or just
something the military did? The makers plate and military specification
plates actually identify the TACR1 as a 1 ton vehicle, seemingly
ignoring landrovers own specification. For more information see TACR1 register website
The norwegian Military also used vehicles with low
ratio transfer boxes, but on 7.50x16 tyres, but were apparently
supplied with 8.25x16 tyres when new(although some sources suggest they
had 900x16s to start with). I have no information if this was a common
fitment, or any other knowledge of these vehicles.
Some UK Market 1-Tons were also supposedly fitted with standard
gearboxes and 7.50x16 tyres, although I only know of two in that set
up, one an ex-breakdown truck, the other a fire engine, but I have yet
to confirm if this was factory fitment or owner modification. I expect
there are very rare if they are factory as they kind of defeat the
point of a 1-Ton.
I have been told that nobody ever made overdrives for the 1-Ton Gearbox
but I have to say I am not fully convinced by this as one has
apparently surfaced on a gearbox in a scrap series III around a
large-diameter mainshaft which implies it may well be a 1-Ton gearbox.
I have not been able to confirm if this was a series-production item,
something I consider very unlikely considering the scarcity of the
1-ton even when in production, or a home-made or modified overdrive.