On Monday, in article <
[email protected]>
hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk "Huw" wrote:
> ""David G. Bell"" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > One long-exploited feature of the Defender design is the ability to fit
> > very different bodies. It's at the small end of the light truck market,
> > with off-road capacity. Whether or not it's a significant part of the
> > market, I couldn't say.
> >
> >
>
> A van and a chassis/cab version with alternative bodies are no problem with
> any vehicle with a chassis. I would imagine that a chassis/cab version would
> be somewhat deficient without a chassis LOL.
> A van and a plain pick-up and one or two other popular versions would be no
> problem though. Who knows, maybe LR will retain a chassis just for the new
> Defender model, which really can't come too soon because Defender sales are
> suffering a lingering death. Ask most LR dealers how their Defender sales
> are going and they will reply 'what sales?'.
I didn't realise Defender sales were that bad.
If they were careful about the pick-up design, it could cover most
special-body needs. But could the structure be stiff enough for
something like a Pink Panther? No upper cab to bridge the hole where
the doors are. That's the weak point.
I suspect military procurement could abandon Land Rover if there isn't a
standard model close to their needs. If they want something that can
do that topless role it might not be possible, with modern design
regulations, to buy something with a civilian-compatible structure. And
right now there's a lot of essentially civilian-spec Land Rovers in
military service which, if the **** hit the fan, could go out in the
field with the Wolf models.
That's a more useful reserve than backing up Hummers with Jeep
Cherokees.
I know there's stuff in the pipeline that might replace the Land Rover
with a military-specific vehicle for front-line use (is there a front-
line in any likely war?) and then go for some 4wd pick-up for the rest.
But the US Army in Iraq has found that there isn't really a front line
any more, and if you want armour kits for the Hummers, you also need
them for all the supply trucks.
The civilian and military versions of the Defender aren't identical, but
a lot of the military gear is a bolt-on. (Not FFR, but that never has
been.)
Anyway, once the Defender can't be sold into the front-line procurement,
and lack of a chassis could lead to that, it's a lot less attractive for
the other 4wd utility roles. Lose the military market, and maybe the
balance tips.
--
David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.
"I am Number Two," said Penfold. "You are Number Six."
)
