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Jeep/Land Rover hybrid

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by paulhumphries, Feb 6, 2006.

  1. Feb 6, 2006
    paulhumphries

    paulhumphries New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2006
    Messages:
    22
    In 1958 a planned joint venture between Willys produce a prototype vehicle - a CJ-5 body on Land Rover chassis and running gear.
    I've found one picture of the complete vehicle and a smaller one of the chassis as well as some basic details in a book - "Jeep: From Bantam to Wrangler" by Bill Munro.
    This has got me thinking. My CJ-5 will need a lot adapting (diesel engine, power steering, five speed gearbox, converting to RHD) and there will be registration difficulties whereas putting the CJ-5 body on a Land Rover chassis would be a lot easier.
    A "replica" would therefore solve a lot of problems - style of Jeep but easy to repair (in UK where a Jeep spares will be difficult to source).
    Anone ever seen more pictures than the two shown in the book ?

    Thanks.

    Paul Humphries,
    Stoke-on-Trent,
    Staffs.,
    UK.
     
    paulhumphries, Feb 6, 2006
    #1
  2. Feb 6, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    i just got rid of a 1968 series IIa. My dad wnted me to put the body on my jeep chassis. It would be cool, but the rover was in fine shape and i dared not take it apart. Actually i believe the first rovers were actually the opposite and it was a rover body on a willys chassis. They both intermingle pretty good :)
     
    DanStew, Feb 6, 2006
    #2
  3. Feb 6, 2006
    gte636p

    gte636p Member

    smyrna, Ga
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2002
    Messages:
    492
    yup, from what i remember dan has the story right. some guy set out to improve his jeep...
     
    gte636p, Feb 6, 2006
    #3
  4. Feb 6, 2006
    paulhumphries

    paulhumphries New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2006
    Messages:
    22
    It's well docmented that the first Land Rover was a ex WWII Jeep with British built body.
    We had a shortage of steel so alluminium was used and the prototype even had central steering position !
    The Jeep chassis is designed to flex - I've read almost 11" at max from corner to corner. Land Rover body has no strength so the chassis is far more substancial than Jeep item. Put Land Rover body on Jeep chassis and you'd have a very "flexible vehicle :)

    I did consider putting the CJ-5 body on my '94 Discovery chassis but the axle track is too wide. I've had Land Rovers given to me in the past as once the chassis rots then they are almost worthless. A new chassis is cheap so I'm formulating the idea of building a replica and having best of both worlds.

    Paul Humphries,
    Stoke-on-Trent,
    Staffs.,
    UK.
     
    paulhumphries, Feb 6, 2006
    #4
  5. Feb 6, 2006
    mb82

    mb82 I feel great!

    Charlottesville Va
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2003
    Messages:
    2,706
    Don't take any offence but here is just an observation.
    Jeep body on Rover Chassie= rusted away in 2 weeks flat R)
    Think about it Jeep bodys rust out in no time flat and so do Rovers frames.

    Not saying it will happen but that was my first though. It would be cool though.
     
    mb82, Feb 6, 2006
    #5
  6. Feb 6, 2006
    paulhumphries

    paulhumphries New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2006
    Messages:
    22
    I hate rust :-(
    It's common for new Land Rover chassis to be galvanized and I have found a company who will also do the Jeep body tub.

    Paul Humphries.
     
    paulhumphries, Feb 6, 2006
    #6
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