Identify Series III - Land Rovers Only

ibuildgreen · 07-09-2009, 02:03 PM

Hello;
Newbie here and not too bright. Looking at buying a 1978-80 Rover in Costa Rica and have heard some horror stories about these vehicles, if they were built in Brazil, not England. Trying to research this, I only find references that list them being built in England, or Canada. I have heard that this timeframe saw a major influx of Rovers that were used to transport coffee out of the mountains. Anybody able to offer a link or info that will identify the place of manufacture? I am able to use the VIN or chasis numbers.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Smokey Mountain Man · 07-09-2009, 03:15 PM

Try looking up SANTANA. That is what those South American made rovers are called.

SeattleRRC · 07-09-2009, 05:13 PM

There are some really nice Series Rovers in Costa Rica. On a surf trip once some friends had rented one from a local company and it was incredible - such a nice truck I couldn't believe it was a rental! And it was a Land Rover, not Santana.

TerryS · 07-09-2009, 05:28 PM

Santana has been sold in South America for many years, but they were never built there, only in Linares Spain (there was also a Santana factory in Eibar, but they built transmissions there). Most people will swear the Santana gearbox is better, as is their overdrive. They are quite common in Argentina.
Land Rovers, also, were never built in South America, but for at least 2 brief periods, were supplied in CKD form to Brazil, maybe other SA countries. There were CKD deals in India, Russia, South Africa and Australia too.

Santana has been building Suzuki licensed vehicles for awhile and the Justy and Jimny seen in many Carribean Islands come from Linares

antichrist · 07-09-2009, 07:35 PM

take a look here: Land Rover FAQ - History, Production, Sales - Chassis Numbering

ibuildgreen · 07-10-2009, 05:20 AM

You folks are great. Thanks much for the fast info and making my purchase research easy. I am looking forward to graduating from normal 4 wheeler to the elite staus of Rover head.

TerryS · 07-10-2009, 06:46 AM

Oh yeah, Very Elite. Kinda like the Special Olympics of the Automotive World

SeattleRRC · 07-10-2009, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerryS

Oh yeah, Very Elite. Kinda like the Special Olympics of the Automotive World

Ha!
I like it-