Land Rover 109

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By the mid-1970s, British Leyland had become stuck in a rut and were under attack on all fronts.

Land Rover was their most profitable division, thanks to the unexpected success of the Range Rover and the lack of development expenditure that had gone into their ‘cash cow’, the evergreen 109” and 88” Series models.

This lack of serious development had become a major issue, the usually reliable export markets of Africa and Australia were being tempted away by the likes of Toyota with their indestructible Landcruiser. Basic though it was, its lusty and unbreakable 3.8-litre six made the ancient and lack-lustre 2,286cc four-pot Rover engine seem feeble in comparison and even the 2.6-litre straight-six couldn’t compete on anything like equal terms – except perhaps when it came to its thirst for fuel!

The Government of the day poured millions into BL to try and revive its fortunes, a large chunk making its way to Land Rover for the development of the successful four-door Range Rover and coil spring 90 and 110 models. As an emergency stop gap, Land Rover announced the 109” V8, a temporary fix to try and compete with the Landcruiser head-on.

A partial success, it used the venerable 3,528cc V8 coupled to the Range Rover’s crude but indestructible LT95 gearbox with permanent four-wheel drive. Still riding on semi-elliptic cart springs, it was not a machine of great comfort, but at least had enough power on hand to fend off the competition for a while. Referred to internally as ‘Stage One’, its part in the re-emergence of the Land Rover brand was assured.

The principal differences over the standard 109" were the V8 engine and transmission and flat fronted styling, designed to give sufficient clearance for the water pump from the V8. The axles were different too, with higher ratio differentials and a revised design at the front. It was available as a hard top, pickup, Safari and later as a high capacity pickup. When the radically new coil sprung 110 finally arrived, it could be ordered as standard with the big V8 alongside its new range of diesel and four-cylinder engines.

This very original 1980 example was purchased by the vendor having spent much of its working life on a nearby caravan park. The chassis is serviceable, showing some signs of welding over the years, the car carrying an MOT until October 2016. A recent brake overhaul has seen new copper pipes, master cylinder, wheel cylinders, shoes and skimmed drums. It has just had a full oil service and new clutch cylinders and according to the vendor retains its original engine and gearbox and bulkhead, the latter in sound condition.

The indicated mileage of 62,000 miles is thought to be correct given the nature of its working life, although there is insufficient documentation to substantiate this. The tyres are good and the front doors retain their rare interior trim panels, a feature often missing from vehicles of this age.

Ready for work or play, this Stage One V8 is a relatively rare machine on British roads and looks like a 'must have' for the avid Land Rover collector.