Re: SER1 UK taxation classes

[prev] [thread] [next] [Date index for 2005/05/19]

Whilst on the subject of taxation classes...
Who remembers this little dodge, back in the late 1960s or thereabouts, to
get around the Customs and Excise men in the UK so as you could run your
normal diesel Land Rover on red diesel?
The trick was to turn the Land Rover into an agricultural vehicle.  One of
the definitions of an agricultural vehicle was that the back body was/could
be attached by a three point linkage  (you farmers out there will know what
I mean).  So out came the hacksaw, the rear tub of the Land Rover was cut
off, and then re-attached with just 3 pins.  Hey Presto! An agricultural
vehicle, that was now taxable at the agricultural vehicle rate of, if I
remember correctly, GBP 5 per year as opposed to the regular car rate of GBP
50 (my guess).
And you could run on red diesel a fraction of the price of white diesel.
I think the dodge lasted only a year or two before the loophole was closed.

I saw one of these vehicles in about 1972.  It was a SII 88" with a 2l
diesel engine, so it must have been a 1958/1959 vehicle.
I very occasionally see the owner of this vehicle, so next time I see him I
will ask what became of it.  It would be a real rare bit of Land-Rover
history to own now.
If anyone else remembers this, have you seen it done to a Series I?

David Pile.



To change subscription see www.landrover.net/series1/mail