How can you tell the difference between Series 2s and early 2A's?
The easiest way is the chassis number as the Series 2 had a nine digit number that included the year of manufacture as the forth digit. Series 2 chassis numbers started with a 1. Series 2A chassis numbers start with a 2, and comprise of 8 digits.
141 0 02546 is a Series 2, 88” petrol, 1960 build, car number 2546.
241 02546a is a Series2A, 88” petrol, 2546th built since start of IIa production.
The Forward Control model was Land Rover’s answer to calls from customers wanting more payload . The prototype of this vehicle first ran in 1960 and was available as a Series 2A from September 1960. The Series 2A Forward Control had a 109” wheelbase, using 75% of the standard 109” chassis components. This vehicle was only available with the Rover’s four-cylinder petrol engine of 2286cc. The vehicle was under powered and unstable due to the combination of vehicle height and standard width axles.
To improve themodel the Rover engineers completely re-designed the vehicle, including options of Rover’s six-cylinder petrol engine of 2625cc, the length of which necessitated moving the front axle forward 1” increasing the wheelbase to 110”. This vehicle became the Series 2B was introduced in September 1966, other modifications including wider and stronger axles and stronger transmission.
