I spent 15 years in the British Army as a Radio Telegraphist and then Radio Technician during the era when these were being phased out and the diesel 110s were replacing them. That vehicle looks to have originally been a 3/4T SIII FFR (Fitted For Radio). SIII FFRs had quite some differences from GS (General Service) vehicles:

1. 24V electrics, ignition system all shielded. Two batteries in a metal box where the middle front seat is in that one. HUGE 24V alternator.
2. 2 or 4x 100Ah radio batteries behind the centre bulkhead in a large steel box. Generated so much current that it was possible to weld a spanner/wrench if not careful when tightening the lugs.
3. Above the radio battery box, a radio table for mounting the radios on, which ran pretty much the width of the vehicle.
4. Antenna mounting arms for HF antennas on the sides of the vehicle (you can see the mounting holes for these)
5. Antenna Tuner Unit mounting points on the front wings/fenders, which you can see.
6. "Dexion" racking above the centre bulkhead for fitting radio and power cables to.
7. Double stack front bumpers, as seen
8. Stub rear bumpers, as seen
9. Mounting points for pick and shovel on the tailgate
10. Spare wheel mount on bonnet/hood (the commenter below who says it wasn't originally mounted there below for visibility reasons is wrong). Yes it was, and yes, the visibility over it was poor.
11. Dual fuel tanks with changeover lever (great fun to put it in the center neutral position as a prank)
12. Manual throttle to charge the batteries when static.
13. Side bonnet/hood catches.
14. Centre-dash mounted light switch with convoy mode

Many of these features have been removed from that example, but looks like it was originally an FFR, given what's still on it. No reason to have the antenna mount points if it wasn't FFR, and hand throttles were rare on other vehicles.

Comments below regarding "why left hand drive" - it's because when that vehicle was new, the majority of the British Army was stationed in Germany, and nearly all vehicles there were ordered as left hand drive. Also a comment about it being possibly military police because of the rifle clips - no, they were standard on FFRs, but I've seen them on some GS vehicles. It could have been an MP vehicle, but just as likely it was issued to any other unit that had a need for vehicles with radios fitted (ie nearly all units). Another comment regarding the rope round the bumper being for "street cred" - the Complete Equipment Schedule contained a steel tow rope, and we often wrapped them round the bumper.

In desert storm we had a small off road test against an American Humvee and the LR destroyed it. I drove these in Germany, England, Saudi, Kuwait, Iraq, Bosnia, Canada, Northern Ireland. They will always hold a special place in my heart, even with all of the issues. These things would take a real beating.

The S3 is still fit for purpose.
A staple of the British Armed Forces, one of the all time classics.

Jay runs it through a mud puddle on the shoulder of the road...hilarious!!

Owning a Landrover makes you into a better mechanic. For an off road vehicle, you need something that is simple. Here in Australia, if something fails on a modern electronically controlled vehicle, you could be stuck a thousand km's from any help with no way to fix it yourself. Today's off roaders are too smart for their own good.

Due to its ability to go most places, there was a point in the 20th century where the first car a lot of people in the world ever saw was a Land Rover.

"Feels bulletproof" I assure you, if you ask any British Serviceman from the past 50 years, they will be able to confirm that it is definitely NOT bulletproof.

When I was in the UK arm forces These were the backbone of whatever force you were in… They are absolutely incredible and never really let you down. A few of the trim bits fell off, but the main bits never let you down.

As a "true car guy" or gear head. .
You have to love Jay. A national treasure.
Hes livin the dream he worked hard for.
I always laugh as he says something I was thinking or asks a question I was wondering.
Thanks Jay!!!

My first vehicle was a 1971 Series IIA 88. Slow, bumpy, noisy, cold in winter, and I miss it more than any vehicle I've ever owned.

if you know the quirks of these they will never let you down probably the best vehicle the uk has ever made

I like this kind of content, don't get me wrong I like all the fast, high tech, luxury cars too but its nice to see something with dirt, dust and with a patina to it and in this case history.

I love how Jay says "Well, I've got a tank over there in the corner" 😎👍🤣

Finally! A classic Land Rover in Jay's garage!
👏👏👏🤲🙏🌷

An overdrive is the way to go on these.
My 88 S3 had one and made life so much nicer :D

That was fun, gentlemen! I think the best part of this show is that you never know what's gonna come through the Garage! Thanks, Alex, Jay, and the crew for another great episode!✌️❤🙂🇨🇦

I am in UK and also own a Series 3 ex-MOD FFR. Your would have originally had large aerial boxes on the front wings. All FFRs were 24V electrics with 2 12V batteries under where your middle seat is.Great cars. Steering would be lighter with the original 7.50x16 tyres though your tyres look great. The rear differential cover is painted white so that when you select Convoy Mode all the lights go out (even instrument lights go out!) except for a small light on the chassis that points at the diff housing. Each Land Rover in the convoy then follows using the glow from the white diffs. The front vehicle of course would not have convoy mode switched on.

Don't you just love when you have an owner that knows absolutely nothing at all and just makes it up as goes along,with just the odd bit correct by luck

Drove these lots in the Falklands in '82-'83.  They would go anywhere, which was just as well because the crushed rock tracks the Engineers laid quickly got rougher than the general terrain, but with sharper rocks to cut the tyres.  Back in UK, driving these 1970s versions any long distance was awful!  The pinky Land Rovers for the desert weren't bright pink like a Barbie doll, more a sort of pinkish tinge to the sand colour.

As a Landrover guy for over 20 yrs, this is great to see!   I'm still driving my 04' Disco  TD5  and  even though it's slow compared to modern trucks, it still is a pleasure to drive.
Thanks for this video Jay and Alex.
Gregg 🙂