mystery engine number

[richard]

Good morning,

Before I start asking questions, let me introduce myself. I do not own a lightweight, nor have I ever done. I do however have a bronze green hooded petrol 1964 Series 2a 109" 'heavyweight'. Have had it for about 10 years now. I'm a member of your Series 2 Club counterpart. I live in the Netherlands and the Rover is a few years younger than I am.

My Series 2a rolled off the production line in 1964, went straight to Amsterdam, but was only officially registered with the RDW (your DVLA) in 1969. It disappeared – again – form the radar (military?) and reappeared in the eighties when someone bought it at an army dump to use it for camping trips with a scouting group. The next owner restored it, and 'my' PO had a rebuilt 2.25 engine installed. That particular engine is the reason I joined this forum.

The engine number is 99500360B. I couldn't find any reference to that specific number, until I stumbled upon a 2016 thread on this forum that mentions that particular series 995xxxx. Someone suggested to me it could be a Santana engine used by Land Rover when there was a shortage of parts in the UK, series 991xx and 992xx being used by Santana, but the author of the post, 'Vlaanderen', or Norman, lists it as 995xxxx 8:1 Compression For Belgian Military 4x2 1974-1975.

Can any of you tell me more about this specific series of Land Rover engines?

Many thanks in advance.

Richard

[AR4412]

Hi Richard,

I'm sure I read an article on the Belgian two wheel drive Land Rovers in one of the LR magazines a few years ago, and IIRC it did state that the engine Serial Numbers started 995. But a look through my old magazines at the weekend failed to find anything. (I guess it would help if I could remember which one I read it in.)

Anyway, me and Mr Insomnia were having a look on the web in the early hours, and stumbled across this.

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/ ... ia.330341/

Not much. But, it's the only reference I came across for a 995 engine.

Regards,

[richard]

Good morning!

Thanks for that. Of course Land Rovers are far more important than a good night's sleep

I tried googling for the article you mentioned myself, but can't find anything either, yet. But I think in recent years some have closed shop. I did find another mention of the Tanzanian 4x2 however, on the Historic Military Vehicle Forum, a long thread spanning more than a decade on 4x2 Series Land Rovers, 1, 2 and 3. A member with forum name SFB asks owners of 4x2's to help them compile a register. There's an email address. I'll give that a try…

Richard

[AR4412]

Good luck tracking down more information, I wish you success.

Regards

[richard]

I just received a 'permanent error' and 'address failed' on the email address I mentioned earlier. I'll keep you posted if I do find anything.

Richard