YVB 151H was originally built in Olive Green – a colour which did not make it into the production pallet. YVB 153H (Chassis No 3) and YVB160H (chassis No 8) were the first two vehicles to be completed to “production” specification, as publicity required a Blue and a Red vehicle for the promotion photography. The seats were originally finished in vinyl – rather than the pvc Palomino items and the dash was the smooth prototype style – which was later replaced with the correct production item. First registered 2 nd January 1970.Īs was the case with the first 3 chassis numbers – it also has corresponding engine, gearbox and axle numbers – in this case 35500001.īecause the project had been pushed forwards by some 6 months, at the time of build, some production items were not yet available – namely the seats and the textured dash board. YVB 151H is the first of the pre-production vehicles, chassis number 35500001A – production line vehicle No 1 – requisitioned 26 th September 1969 and built 24 th November – 17 th December 1969. There then followed 20 “Press Launch” cars registered NXC 231H to NXC 250H.
The “YVB” registration numbers were secured from the Croydon Issuing Authority, in a further attempt to disguise the vehicles if they went on the road. The name “Velar” (Italian = To Veil, to Cover”) was used to conceal the identity when necessary of the prototypes and the Pre production (YVB registered) vehicles. There were 28 “Pre-Production” chassis, (YVB registrations) made into 27 vehicles, and one drivable chassis There were 7 prototypes built, between 19 – of these 2 are known to survive. There is often myth and confusion surrounding the early Range Rovers, prototypes, pre-production, “Velars” and press vehicles. It was also likely that other markets would follow this US trend.ġ966 saw a formal project set up at Rover to develop the new vehicle.īy 1970 – the vehicle was ready to enter production. This idea was shared with colleague Gordon Bashford, and the two of them came up with a design for a 100” wheelbase station wagon vehicle.Īt the same time, William Martin-Hurst (Rover’s managing director) had commissioned a review of the company’s worldwide markets – which concluded that the coming trend in the USA was for “four wheel drive leisure vehicles” – exactly the type that King-Bashford 100 inch station wagon was intended to be.
Now in the ownership of a private collector.ĭuring the mid 1960s, Spen King had the idea to produce a more driver friendly Land Rover, by using the long travel coil springs from the latest Rover 2000 saloon car. These codes are correct for our 1997 300Tdi 90 which the V as the 10th digit.Description Owned by Land Rover Centre from the early 90’s until 2014 Land Rover 90 and 110 vehicles with 'A' and 'B' codes are not easily distinguishable, but no issues currently surround these vehicles that require the model year to be known.
The remaining Range Rover chassis numbers follow the listed pattern. Range Rover Classic vehicles with 'A' codes were manufactured from 1979-1984, followed by vehicles with 'B' codes from 1984-86.
Production of the Series III ceased in 1984. Land Rover Series III vehicles with 'A' codes were manufactured from 1979-1984. The numbering scheme for 'A' and 'B' model year codes is not the same on all vehicles. This is the info I use (lifted from Famous Four's Web site): The years for the 10th digit don't seem right.