The Land Rover Llama is a vehicle designed and developed by the British company Land Rover in the mid-1980s. 11 prototypes and one production vehicle were built during 1986/7 in the hope of winning a contract from the Department of Defense to replace the existing Land Rover 101 tractor fleet. Weighing on Land Rover One Ten, Llama is intended for sale on military and civilian markets. However, the Department of Defense did not choose the Land Rover design and without the security of this sale Land Rover did not want to risk putting Llama in the market.
The name 'Llama' is just the code name given for the development project - the vehicle is actually called Land Rover 110 Forward Control in official Land Rover documentation. However, this design is now known by Land Rover marque enthusiasts as 'the Llama'.
Video Land Rover Llama
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Land Rover as a company underwent a period of restructuring in the 1980s. This involves improving the company's products, leading to the launch of the Ninety/One Ten/127 range in 1983/4 as well as updates to the Range Rover. When Rover's car production leaves the Solihull plant, Land Rover is able to close many satellite factories in Birmingham and bring the engine, gearbox and other components under one roof. As part of this change, Land Rover wants to reduce the number of specialist conversion jobs sent 'out of the house' to other companies. This led to the formation of the Special Vehicle Division and to start the Llama project.
In order to open up the heavier-duty off-road vehicle market (such as those occupied by vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz Unimog), it was decided to develop an existing Land Rover version capable of carrying larger and heavier ones. load. Such vehicles will also be able to base various bodystyles and equipment options.
The project is driven by the decision of the Ministry of Defense to replace the Land Rover 101 Forward Controls fleet, which is a special armed tractor built by Land Rover in the 1970s. More than 1700 101s have been sold to MoD, plus small amounts to other military buyers. When Land Rover sales go down worldwide, winning such an order will give a much needed boost to the company.
Land Rover has produced 'Advanced Controls' (ie vehicles where ride control is positioned above or right in front of the front axle) of the Series II models in the 1960s, based on a standard long-wheelbase chassis. It makes sense to use a similar design for the new version.
Maps Land Rover Llama
Design
Project Llama started in 1985. The chassis was based on One Ten, and the basic layout of the vehicle was adopted. Chassis is made of thick steel from a normal Land Rover chassis. Land Rover claims that 85% of the chassis and drivetrain components of the Llama are taken from existing Land Rover models. A 3.5 liter V6 (215 c.u.) Rover with Zenith/Stromberg carburter is used, tuned to produce 110 horsepower (less than the power developed by the same engine in other Land Rover products). 5-speed LT85 manual transmission from V8-powered One Ten is used, with two-speed LT230, permanent 4 wheel drive transfer box.
The spring spring suspension uses the existing components, but with a unique twin rear springs to deliver a 1.75 ton charge. Using standard Ten axles (units designed by Dana built by Salisbury Engineering) cause stability problems, so bespoke units are used, being 12-inches (30 cm) wider than the standard ones.
Land Rover develops a fiberglass cabin body in a steel-tube 'space frame'. It hinged in front and tilted forward to allow access to machines and gearboxes (machine access has become an issue with older Advanced Forward models). The cabin is fully trimmed in plastic and rubber panels, using pod instruments from existing Land Rover models, and other controls and components from other Rover Group cars such as Austin Metro and Austin Montego. This complete interior reflects Land Rover's intention that Llama should eventually be sold on the civilian market.
The prototype is fitted with a back body covered with 'General Service' or with a steel box body/fiberglass. Some Llamas are equipped with mechanical winch driven from the gearbox, which can be fed through the front or rear chassis cross-members for vehicle recovery.
One Llama vehicle is built on the Solihull production line to test the suitability of vehicles with mass production and to see if the Llama can be built on the Land Rover One Ten production line.
Trial
The Llama prototype was sent to the Department of Defense to be tested. It comes with various rear ends to show the versatility of the design. This includes the standard open drop-side rear tray, a 'General Service' version with removable canvas hood, removable glassable pods that can be loaded and unloaded from the chassis by hydraulic hooks, a sturdy closed back body (mocked as Ambulance and radio communication vehicles) and one example is equipped with an artificial missile launcher. Vehicles are subject to load loading, off-road testing, stability, cold weather and durability/performance. It shows some flaws with the design. The main thing is that the spring-coil suspension and the high center of gravity cause poor stability on rough ground when full of charge. 2.5-ton vehicle performance is bad, especially when loaded. The gasoline engine fitted to the Llama is also a problem, as the MOD recently conducted a standard on diesel power for all its vehicles. The V8 is the most powerful Land Rover engine available, and carrying a stronger diesel from another builder will remove the Llama key selling feature - its share is the same as the standard Land Rover (where the MoD has a fleet of nearly 20,000).
Land Rover built a Llama prototype powered by an 85-horsepower Turbo Diesel engine. However, this has a very low performance.
The MoD eventually chose a 4-wheel drive version of the Dodge 50 truck, converted by Reynolds-Boughton Engineering and designated as RB44. After just a few years in service, the entire fleet should be overhauled and fitted with important brake modifications at great cost to British taxpayers. The poor reliability of RB44 meant that the British Army chose to overhaul its fleet of Land Rover 101s, which remained in operation until the early years of the 21st century.
Cancellation
Without a guaranteed order from the MoD, Land Rover would not risk launching Llama in the civilian market, in direct competition with successful Unimogs, especially given the lack of a suitable machine for Llama. The project was canceled in early 1988. Effects
on Land Rover Range
Very few new technologies are developed for the Llama project, so there is no real effect on the existing range. Nevertheless, the range of Ninety/One Ten, and its successors, carries reminders of the Llama project over the years.
The warning lights template on the Land Rover dashboard is modified to anticipate the launch of Llama to include a new light. It carries the symbol of a tilted taxi truck with a big exclamation mark. The goal is to alert the driver of the Llama if the locking mechanism for sloped cabins is opened. The new cluster is suitable for all Land Rover from mid 1987 (with key-cable warning light not connected, clear). The design of this warning light cluster was still used on the Land Rover Defender until 1998, 10 years after the Llama project was canceled.
Existing Llamas
- One production line built by Llama is on display at Heritage Motor Center in Gaydon.
- The redundant prototype was eventually used as a service vehicle at a location at the Land Rover plant in Solihull.
- Prototypes # 1,2,4,5 and 10, which include the only example of a turbodiesel, are maintained by the historic Dunsfold Land Rover Collection at Dunsfold in Surrey.
- In 1998 a new 'Llama' was built on a bare chassis of what would become a No.2 production vehicle, using some part of the demolished prototype and many newly built parts. These vehicles are now street-legal and regularly appear on shows.
Related or similar vehicle
- Land Rover Ten
- Land Rover Landline Advanced Controls
- Land Rover Rate Control 101
- Mercedes-Benz Unimog
- Pinzgauer High Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle
Source
- Dymock, E (2006) Land Rover File , Dove Publishing, ISBN 978-0-9534142-8-4
- Robson, G (2002) Land Rover: Series One to Freelander , Crowood Press, ISBN 978-1-86126-558-6
- Taylor, J (1988) Land Rover 1948-88: Collector's Guide , Motorcycle Racing, 978-0947981259
- Land Rover International Owners , November 2004 edition, p28-33, Emap Automotive Publishing
- Dunsfold Collection
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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