With the running gear removed from the 107" chassis the similarities with its close relative, the 109" Station Wagon Chassis, can be clearly seen in a side-by-side comparison.

Using the 109" CAD drawing as a template the difference measurements were over-layed on top and test sections were downloaded to the AMADA CNC Station and automatically punched.

These sections were then compared to the original and further difference measurements were taken. Small adjustments to the profile of the CAD drawing were made until a perfect match was obtained. Interestingly the positioning of the main cross members and outriggers is remarkably similar.

The s-shaped bulkhead outrigger is a feature of the 107, the outer section of the bracket supports the front bulkhead as does the straight version on the 109, however the brake and clutch pedals on the 107 go directly down through the floor and connect to operating rods and linkages which travel through bushes in the chassis, hence the crank in the outrigger to allow for the pedal actuating rods.

Incidentally the 107 truck chassis is totally different to the 107 Station Wagon, the truck version is based on a "stretched" 86" chassis, whereas the profile of the chassis legs on the Station Wagons is quite different to allow for the positioning of the rear floor supports and door fixings.

One question that remained unanswered was the design of the back cross member end plates, most Station Wagons of this age appear to have a back cross member which is very similar to the military style flat channel with a smaller inner channel section, this 107 had a flat rear cross member but with the two channel sections forming a complete box section.

Research could not definitely establish if this flush design was original or not, it didn't look like a repair and the joining fillets certainly looked like they had been factory fitted, perhaps someone out there knows ?

The Series One 107 Register, looked after by Les Lawrence, and the Land Rover Series One Club, provided a lot of useful and interesting reference material as well as many valuable contacts for those hard to find spares, the Series One Club magazine LEGEND is something of a bible when tackling these rarer projects.

The 107 Register website which is well worth a visit can be found at:- www.oneoseven.org.uk

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