Registration No: B76 HEW
Chassis No: AA226705
MOT: March 2025

• Despatched new to the Falkland Islands and used for less than 12 months
• Purchased from the Ministry of Defence by the military mechanic who worked on it whilst in the Falklands
• Minimal mileage in service and a mere 153 miles covered since returning to the United Kingdom
• Surely one of, if not the most original Lightweight Land Rover surviving!

The smallest Land Rover available at the time was a Series IIA 88 inch wheelbase, which was too heavy. A new modification to the basic Series IIA was devised by making many body components easily detachable and removing many non-essential items. The result was the Land Rover Half-Ton, known widely as the Lightweight or Airportable. In practice, to reduce weight sufficiently for the helicopters of the day to lift them in combat conditions, the tilt and sticks, the upper parts of the body, the doors and windscreen were removed, to be refitted later. The most significant change, however, was a reduction in width by four inches, by redesigning the standard Series IIA axles and fitting shorter half-shafts, which meant it would fit on a standard pallet. Complete, the Lightweight IIA weighed 1202 kg, over the specified weight and heavier in fact than a 'standard' Land Rover. The term Lightweight was, therefore, confusing. However, with the removable body panels taken-off it was below the limit. Since improvements to the helicopters meant more lift was available, the Ministry of Defence accepted it for use. Production continued until 1984.

Chassis ‘AA226705’ was supplied new to the Ministry of Defence, destined for the Falklands Islands, and was provided with the military registration ‘05 KD 29’, having been received into service on the 20^th of March 1985. Used for a short period of time and covering few miles while in active service, the Land Rover was lightly damaged (understood to have been in January 1986), and the Lightweight thereafter sat unused in Port Stanley. Purchased from the Ministry of Defence in December 1991 by the military mechanic who was both stationed with it in Port Stanley and had worked upon it while it was operational, he repatriated the Land Rover and repaired it in the early 1990s.

MOT tested for the first time in 1993 with 7 miles on the odometer, it had its second MOT test in 1994 at 136 miles. Thereafter sitting in a dry garage due to the long-term ill health of the mechanic, the Lightweight was purchased by the vendor approximately thirty years later and was returned to the road last year, with the Land Rover only requiring new fuel tanks and brake cylinders. Otherwise untouched since 1993, the Lightweight is in remarkable original and unrestored condition, and boasts its original chassis, all the original bodywork, original canvas, and even the original tool kit!

Surely therefore this is one of, if not the most original Lightweight Land Rovers surviving! Not only displaying pleasing original features throughout, ‘B76 HEW’ (as now registered) is offered with a history file that contains its two military handbooks, military number plates, Vehicle Record Book, other military history, and a current V5C document showing two owners (post-M.O.D). Starting readily and running excellently during our photography session, the Land Rover possesses a fresh MOT certificate (until March 2025) with no advisories. This time-warp example is a remarkable original survivor.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452