1976 Land Rover 101 Forward Control - Bronze Green, LS3 / 6L80E

The Land Rover 101 Forward Control is one of the more eccentric chapters in Land Rover’s history. Developed in the early 1970s for the British Army, it was designed primarily as a gun tractor - hence the “101” referring to its 101-inch wheelbase.

The forward-control layout places the driver almost on top of the front axle, with the engine mounted centrally behind the cab. The result is excellent approach angles, impressive ground clearance and a uniquely commanding driving position. They were engineered to tow artillery, carry a one-ton payload and be air-portable, all while running the Rover V8 through a heavy-duty LT95 transmission.

This particular example has been fully restored and subtly reimagined. The original Rover V8 has made way for a Chevrolet LS3, paired with a GM 6L80E automatic gearbox. The difference in character is significant. What was once steady and agricultural is now urgent and surprisingly rapid for something shaped like a small building.

The LS3 turns the 101 into a bit of an animal. There’s effortless torque, a proper V8 soundtrack and far more performance than the chassis ever really needed. It’s not practical - it’s wide, tall, unapologetically thirsty and entirely unnecessary. But that’s precisely the point.

Finished in Bronze Green, it still carries the utilitarian honesty of its military origins, just with a far more mischievous streak underneath.

Whether used as a gun bus, an event vehicle, or simply as something completely different in a serious collection, it’s hard to think of another Land Rover that combines heritage and absurdity quite so well.

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