1977 Land Rover S3

Land Rover Series 3 (Utility), 1971-1985

The Land Rover Series 3 was in production from 1971 to 1985. Styled in house by David Bache, it is a front-engine, all wheel drive utility vehicle seating upwards of two adults depending upon its configuration. Bodies included two and four door commercials, station wagons, and a pick up of two lengths.

Externally there was little new for the Series 3, though the dashboard changed - gaining a new plastic moulding and dials ahead of the driver rather than located centrally. The grille became plastic, and the compression ratio of the 2.25 litre petrol was increased. An all-synchromesh box was fitted, as was the Salisbury rear axle that had appeared on some 109" S2a Station Wagons. In 1980, the 2.25 litre petrol and diesel gained five bearing cranks, as well as tougher axles, hubs and transmission. This was a measure to help stop the rear half shafts breaking in use - something that had been happening since the 1960s.

Late models came with the option of the County trim package, with cloth seats and soundproofing intended to market the cars to a different type of buyer. There was also a high capacity pickup option based on the 109" chassis. The Series 3 would also form the basis of the Stage 1 V8 - a modified Series 3 using Range Rover and Forward Control components as a competitor to cars like the six-cylinder Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Patrol which had encroached into traditional Land Rover markets in Australia and Africa. There was also the One Ton - effectively a Series 2b Forward Control with the body of a standard 109" pickup, offering increased payload with the conventional shell.

Earlier Series 2 and 2a models make excellent alternatives to the standard Range Rover, while cars like the Mercedes G-wagen were starting to come on stream as County alternatives and the mighty Range Rover would do much of what a Stage One V8 could. The ever widening Jeep range might also have offered alternatives for those keen on real mud plugging, while farmers in need of a basic utility vehicle could stilly rely on the Renault 4 and Citroen 2CV as alternatives. Arguably the most interesting rival was the Fiat Panda 4x4 - an all terrain, simple vehicle for a fraction of the price. Russia's Lada Niva could do almost anything the Land Rover could, but with coil springs.