Some Perentie History

A couple of weeks ago Benita and I met up with Darren a fellow Perentie Owner and general Land Rover guru, who just happens to live in the New Forest!

Given that there is only a handful of Perentie’s in the UK this is very fortuitous……but if it were not for the Australian Perentie Owners Club Facebook group, we have never met; the wonders of social media!

We met up a Setley Vineyard near to Brockenhurst for tea, cake and a Perentie viewing session. Darren’s Perentie is a FFR (fitted for radio) and is in excellent condition, still in its Military paint and with all of the original radios in place. – Wonderful!

This led us into a conversation about the history of Benita’s Perentie, about which we know very little……..so off to the Register of Ex-Military Land Rovers to find out more!

Little information was available, we found the ARN (Army Registration Number) though, this led us to the entry in the auction catalogue when the vehicle was sold. This told us than the vehicle with the RAF in Richmond NSW and had done overseas service with the Australian quarantine Service……this was where is was damaged and was apparently sold as such, as a non runner. – Oh Dear.

Darren suggested that a company called Agricultural & Cross Country Vehicles Ltd would probably have imported the vehicle. I took a look at there web site only to find a picture our very own Perentie………

Anyway, I contacted Agricultural and Cross Country who confirmed that they has painted the vehicle and replaced the engine and gearbox, which was the reason for the non running. This explains the Turbo version of the 4BD1 engine which was not standard for the 4×4 version and the LT85 Gearbox rather the the stock LT95 – more Gearbox posts later!

They also provided some images of the Perentie post auction in its Military clothing…………the Gearbox in the back confirms the story.

Anyway, moving forward we may find out more, Darren has some contacts in Australia, so more information may turn up in time. I will also contact the auction house in Oz, to see if they still have the Military log book, which sadly, did not come with the vehicle.