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You turn up to purchase your first Series 2 from somebody whose advertised an original vehicle but how do you know if it really is? The best way to to take along a friend who knows a thing-or-two about these vehicles, failing that, the images below should help you identify what you really are looking at.
Hover over the yellow ‘hotspots’ to reveal more information about that area. The areas are the most common changes you may see, they’re not the only changes that were made, for more information on the development of the S2 and what-changed-when, please see our Vehicle Timeline and Info page along with our extensive library of Land Rover service sheets. If you know the chassis number of a vehicle (see this page to show where this number can be found), you can decode the number using our decoding tool.
Due to the amount of information within the images above, this page is best viewed on larger screens.
Hinges. Side and rear hinges we proud, S3 hinges are flat.
Bonnet hinges. S2 had rectangular, 4 bolt hinges, S3's were 3 bolts.
Radiator. S2 was wide radiator up until January 1970 when it then became thinner with a rounded top.
Clutch and brake reservoir. S2 is one container
for both, called the 'bean can', S3 is translucent.
Dynamo. S2 had dynamo, alternator was an option. S3 was just alternator
Windscreen hinges. S2 has flat steel hinge plate, S3 is box section
Series 2 hinge vs Series 3 hinge
Headlights. Up to March 1963 the lights were in the grill and had a chrome rim.
From March 1963 to April 1969 the lights stayed in the grill but they lost the chrome.
April 1969 saw the lights moved to the wings.
Sills. S2 had 4" deep sills until December 1968 when
they became shallower. S3 continued with the shallow sills.
Grill. S2 metal 'T' grill for lights in the grill, 'Maltese cross' metal grill for lights in the wings (April 1969 onwards). S2 DID NOT have plastic grills, this was saved for the S3.
Valance. Up to 1964 the valance was flat, post January '64 it was curved.
Wiper motor. Early S2 had a single, driver side wiper motor, the passenger wiper was optional
. Wipers
were attached to the galvanised windscreen up to May 1967. A single motor housed in the
dash was introduced in May 1967. This fed both wiper arms. via a flexible drive cable. Wiper
spindles protruded out of the bulkhead,
not out of the windscreen.
Dash. Located in the centre, body coloured until May 1967 then painted black, to indicate negative earth.
Heater. S2 had optional heater swapped from
round to flat type in 1969. Fitted as standard to s3s.
Steering wheel. Spoked wheel until 1965 when it
changed to plastic. The S3
steering wheel was also plastic but the central horn button moved to a steering column.
Vent control. Twist control until September 1960, then changed to levers.
Side window locks. S2 had a metal lock at the top of the window, S3 had a plastic lock at the bottom of the window.
Seats. 'Elephant hide' grey sprung seats until 1965, then
replaced with foam, black seats. Deluxe seats available from Oct 67.
Gearbox. No synchromesh in 1st and 2nd
gear until February 1971 when all gears were synchromesh.
Handbrake lever. Up to October 1967 the leaver was straight, after then
it was
cranked upwards with the introduction of compulsory seatbelts in May 1967.
Dates given are for official change announcements.
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