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Morestone AA Road Service Land Rover

Issued 1957    Length 79mm

 

Morestone replaced the large AA Road Service Land Rover with a smaller model with no accessories and simpler construction. It was also the first of three Land Rover models which used similar castings, the others being the Military Police Land Rover and the Breakdown Service Land Rover.

 

The AA Road Service Land Rover had two differently cast versions of the body but shared the same type of base.

 

The first casting had windows at the back and 'AA Road Service' cast on each side-panel picked out in black trim. It also carried the number plate 'TLN 867' on the front. The body was a one piece casting including the roof into which the plain base slotted at the front and was rivetted at the rear. The base included the driver figure inside. There was no id. on the body nor on the base which was quite flat and plain.

 

In line with the real AA colours, all the Land Rovers were painted yellow but the early version was painted in two distict shades. The first issue was a pale, lemon-yellow with a semi-matt finish and a black roof extending over the edges to the side panels. Black trim was added to the waist and roof lines, and to the side castings and the front number plate. Silver trim was added to the headlights and the single spot light.

The second variation was given a much richer dark-yellow colour and had silver trim applied to the grille as well as the lights. The roof and other black trim was the same as the first issue.

 

On both the first two variations, painted metal wheels were fitted before painting on axles which ran through raised supports on the base. The tyres were black, lightly-treaded with a spare on the bonnet. 

 

The third AA Land Rover was a completely new body casting. There were several changes. First, there were no windows at the back, second the front number plate became 'CLI 1812', and third the model had id. added with 'Made in England' at the bottom of the left side door. There was also more detail in the casting with additions like door handles and hinges, although the back of the model was completely plain.

 

Most noticeably, the side panels on this second casting were flat and smooth with 'AA Road Service' decals applied, and the black roof was painted in a different way with the paint not extending over the edges. The only parts which remained unchanged were the base and wheels although the tyres were now the knobbly type. 

 

The AA Road Service Land Rover had a box similar in appearance to the one used for the larger AA Land Rover but a smaller size. The 'AA' logo and 'Morestone Series' were printed on all four sides as well as on the end-flaps. This box was used for all variations.

 

The AA Land Rovers are quite scarce and mint boxed examples, especially the last issue, are hard to find.

Morestone AA Road Service Land Rover
Morestone AA Road Service Land Rover

Variation 1: Lemon-yellow, rear windows, 'TLN 867'

Morestone AA Road Service Land Rover

Variations

 

All variations had Morestone Series illustrated 'AA' boxes

 

1)  LEMON-YELLOW, 'TLN 867', rear windows, 'AA Road Service' cast on sides, no id., treaded tyres

2)  DARK YELLOW, 'TLN 867', silver trim on grille, rear windows, 'AA Road Service' cast on sides, no id.

 

3)  DARK YELLOW, 'CLI 1812', no rear windows, 'AA' decals, 'Made in England' on left door, knobbly tyres

Morstone AA Road Service Land Rover
Morestone AA Road Service Land Rover

Variation 2 : Dark-yellow, rear windows, silver trim on grille

Morestone AA Road Service Land Rover
Morestone AA Road Service Land Rover

Variation 3: Yellow, 'CLI 1812', no rear windows, side decals, id.on n/s door

Morestone AA Road Service Land Rover variations
Morestone AA Road Service Land Rover variations

 Variation1 (left), Variation 3 (right)

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