Rolls Royce B40 Engined Land Rover.

The British Army wanted to introduce common mechanical parts across its military vehicles and commissioned prototype Land Rover 80" series ones fitted with the Rolls Royce B40 engine, as used in the FV1800 Austin Champ.

The Rolls Royce B40 engine was larger than Land Rover's own 1.6L and required the radiator being moved forwards and the bonnet being raised slightly at its leading edge.

The B40 Land Rover is allegedly sweet to drive and will cruise easily at high speed - for a Land Rover! However the experiment was too costly and simpler military adaptions of the standard civilian Land Rover proved much more successful in the long run.

The particular Land Rover pictured, ESU 229, was used as a royal parade vehicle and was at the Museum of Army Transport in Beverley.

- 4wd.sofcom.com/4WD.html

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