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The
Ant is a
Landrover Replica kit, a scaled-down replica of the Land Rover Series 2 and is being built by Les Hayden, he sent us some info and
pictures. The vehicle that he is building uses the mechanical parts of
the little Nissan 1400 LDV which sits on a newly designed chassis that
takes the Nissan running gear and he made new fibreglass moulds for the
vehicle. It looks very cute, Les says "I have tried wherever possible to
keep the Land Rover proportions correct."
The pics shown here of the little Land Rover are the prototype under
construction. Les continues with his description, "I have made it all
modular, like the Landy that inspired it, so that it can be built up in
open "game viewing" form, or by adding the rear cab and roof it can be
an LDV, or by bolting on the roof extension, rear sides and rear door
one can have a station-wagon. It is presently standing on the small 12"
wheels of the donor vehicle, but I will later change these for 14"
wheels and tyres, which will look better. After spending the past
twenty-five years designing and manufacturing sports car kits, I am
finding this project a lot of fun, and can't wait to have it in everyday
use on the road. I have designed a very strong chassis, and the load bed
is 1,5 meters long, so it should make a useful little workhorse. I
started the project as a one-off vehicle for myself, but it is
attracting so much attention that I have decided to make more and offer
them in kit form. My daughter, who has a SWB Land Rover, now wants one
of these as well."
 This
little Land Rover has been designed to use as many components of the
Nissan 1400 bakkie as possible, because they are inexpensive, tough and
readily available, the Nissan is unusual for a small bakkie in that it
is RWD, which makes it ideal as a donor. It uses the Nissan
engine/gearbox, radiator, rear axle, propshaft (shortened), rear axle
and rear suspension, front suspension, brakes, pedals, fuel tank,
instruments and seat, seatbelts and heater/demister. The bodywork is GRP,
moulded in GP polyester resin and chopped strand matting, and the
chassis is a MIG welded steel structure using rectangular-section
tubing.
Les has great plans for this little Land Rover, the Ant, "I think
that it will be a good seller, as it looks cute, will be cheap to run,
reliable and tough. I see a market also amongst surfers and the youth
from affluent families -students who want a cute and distinctive vehicle
that is different to the Golfs and Corsas of their friends. It will also
make a very useful second family vehicle, in that it can carry loads
such as garden refuse, or the dogs to the beach.
For more info on this unique little Land Rover replica kit
Antinfo
Land Rover Models and Toys Shop |
