Following on from last month's article about the Challenger/Juno project we now focus on another military project vehicle. Like the Juno this vehicle is also owned by the Dunsfold Land Rover Trust.

This may look like a Land Rover Lightweight - or Air-portable - but it is in fact a lot bigger - hence the nickname "Big Lightweight'. Built in 1966 on a 110" chassis it was designed as a gun tractor and has more in ommon with the civilian Series IIB Forward Control than any other Land Rover.

The body is 12" wider than a standard Land Rover and quite a bit taller. The axles are mounted UNDER the springs to give it a little more clearance and even more height. It was designed to be easily stripped down for air transport and had the capability to tow a powered trailer.

Under the bonnet is a 6cyl 3.0 litre from the Rover P4 line producing 120bhp with a solex carb similar to earlier Land Rover models.

It came with a 5 speed all syncromesh gearbox driving through 2 transfer boxes (to power the trailer)

the Steering box is inverted and mounted on the front bumper. Differential Locks were not fitted as standard.

After spending many years tpowing a mower at the Solihull Factory the Dunsfold Land Rover Trust aquired is - in a pretty sorry state at the time - and restored it between 1989-1990.

Two years after the Big Lightweight was developed Land Rover introduced the 101 Forward Control with many similar features

The Land Rover 100" Prototype, The Challenger Prototype and the BIG-Lightweight Prototype