LDV Pilot

Last updated

LDV Pilot
LDV Pilot.jpg
1999 LDV Pilot
Overview
Manufacturer LDV Limited
Production1974–96 (original)
1996–2005
Body and chassis
Class Van
Related LDV Convoy
Chronology
Predecessor Morris J4
Morris 250 JU
Successor LDV Maxus

The LDV Pilot was the last of a series of a panel vans that was produced by from 1974 until 2005, originally as the 1974 Leyland Sherpa developed by the Austin-Morris division of British Leyland, which was in turn derived from earlier light commercials produced by the British Motor Corporation.

Contents

The Pilot was available in capacities from 2.2 to 2.6 tonnes in a 5.7 cubic metres (200 cu ft) load area. Power came from a 1.9 litre Peugeot diesel engine driving the rear wheels through a five speed gearbox. Access to the load area is from either the rear or a sliding side door.

History

Derived from the Morris/BMC J4 and JU250 vans of the 1960s, the core vehicle went through a series of developments, the main one being the revision of the forward control layout of the J4 and moving the engine ahead of the cab and accessible via a bonnet. This allowed the wheelbase to be extended resulting in greater stability, payload, side loading and the distinctive 'Sherpa' profile (though the last of the J4s and the first Sherpa are largely identical from the rear).

The Sherpa gave way to the Freight Rover 200 Series and in turn the Leyland DAF 200 Series before finally becoming the Pilot after LDV was formed in 1993. It was originally designed to be built on car production lines which led to it having a narrow track. This feature was made into a virtue in later publicity by stressing its ability in narrow city streets – this indeed was why the Sherpa series was for many years preferred over the Ford Transit by the Royal Mail, in particular.

Sherpa (1974–1982)

Leyland Sherpa
Leyland Sherpa (1980).jpg
Overview
Manufacturer British Leyland (Austin Morris)
Also calledMorris Sherpa
Production1974–1982
Body and chassis
Class Van
Chronology
Predecessor Morris J4
Morris 250 JU
SuccessorFreight Rover Sherpa

Originally developed by British Leyland the model was launched in 1974 under the nameplate Leyland Van. Later renamed Sherpa, it was sold under a succession of marque names reflecting the turbulent times at British Leyland during the 1970s - being sold as a Leyland, Morris, Austin-Morris and then finally as the Freight Rover Sherpa.

The initial Sherpa line up consisted of vans in 185, 215 and 240 versions (where 185 denotes a GVW of 1.85 tons, and so on); pick ups in 215 and 240 versions; a 240 crewbus and minibus; and various chassis cab options in 220 and 250 versions. Payloads were quoted as 13/14cwt for the 185; 18/19cwt for the 215 and 220; and 22/23cwt for the 240 and 250. Loadspace, at 190 cubic feet (5.4 m3), was considerably higher than that of the J4 and only just short of the Morris 250 JU.

In 1978 the 1.7 and 2.0 litre O series engines replaced the original 1622 cc and 1798 cc B series petrol units, while the 1798 cc B series diesel stayed put. The range was redesignated accordingly: vans: 200, 230 and 250; pick ups: 230 and 250; minibus and crewbus: 250 only; chassis cab: 255 only. A few months later, the Sherpa was rebadged as a Morris. In 1981, BL created the Freight Rover division as part of the Land Rover group, so the Sherpa's badges were changed again.

Sherpa K2 Series (1982–1984)

Freight Rover Sherpa
MHV Freight Rover 250D 01.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Freight Rover
Production1982–1984
Body and chassis
Class Van
Chronology
PredecessorLeyland Sherpa
SuccessorFreight Rover 200 Series

The short lived K2 Sherpa had a neater appearance (using a black vertically slatted grille which gave it a family resemblance to the Range Rover) and much improved side access to the load bay. The Sherpa van could now be bought in 200, 230, 250 and 280 versions. The crewbus and minibus continued in 250 form. Loadspace remained at 190 cubic feet (5.4 m3), but a new "Hi Capacity" walk thru body was also offered, built on either the 255 or 280 chassis cab, and offering 330 cubic feet (9.3 m3) of loadspace. An optional Luton body took loadspace up to 460 cubic feet (13 m3), again with a choice of basic chassis cab GVWs.

The original, integral pick up had now been dropped in favour of a dropside pick up built on the Sherpa chassis-cab. The 255 and 280 chassis cabs were also available on their own, ready to receive bespoke bodywork. Engine availability continued unaltered, with 1.7 and 2.0 litre O series petrol units, the 1.8 litre B series diesel and the option of a Landi-Hartog LPG conversion, first introduced at the launch of Freight Rover the year before. A 4WD Sherpa van was also now offered.

Freight Rover 200 Series (1984–1989)

Freight Rover 200 Series
Freight Rover 230 Kaluga (30242002812).jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Freight Rover
Production1984–1989
Body and chassis
Class Van
Related Freight Rover 300 Series
Chronology
Predecessor Freight Rover Sherpa
Successor Leyland DAF 200 Series

With the next facelift, the Sherpa (now known as the Freight Rover 200 series) gained square headlamps, new bumpers and repositioned indicators. Alongside the original bodystyle there was new wide bodied variant (Freight Rover 300 Series). The 200 Series was initially available with a two tonne GVW. The capacity for the 200 series remained at 190 cubic feet (5.4 m3).

A Luton style body was offered, built on the 255 chassis cab, providing a capacity of 400 cubic feet (11 m3), and a maximum payload of almost two tonnes. The chassis cab also formed the basis for drop side pick ups, in 255, 280 and 285 versions, again available with either short or long wheelbases. Of course, the chassis cab could also be ordered on its own, again in a choice of lengths, so that bespoke bodywork could be fitted, with the added option of either single or double cabs. The 200 series continued to be offered as minibus or crewbus.

While the K2 Sherpa's engines remained available (including the ancient B series diesel), a 2.5 litre diesel unit was now offered on the 300 series. The B series diesel bowed out in November 1986 for the 200 series, being then replaced by the 2.0 NA direct injection Diesel Rover MDi / Perkins Prima, (as found in Maestros and in turbocharged form in Montegos and late Maestros (from 1992 to 1994)) which was effectively a dieselised BL O series engine.

This was a somewhat raucous, noisy and unrefined engine but was however a very reliable unit capable of excellent fuel economy, although the performance of the naturally aspirated engine was not a strong point. As a city van it was adequate but totally unsuitable for motorway work due to the noise levels. At the same point, the O-series 1.7 and 2.0 Petrol engines were given an upgrade becoming the O2.

A low compression version of the Rover 3.5 litre V8 unit (taken from Land Rover) also became available on certain versions of the 300 Series (with a modified drivetrain) from 1986, producing 132 horsepower (98 kW). This version was designed for emergency services and express delivery operators, and was bought in large numbers by the police and ambulance services. Economy was very poor with this engine, with a claimed figure of only 14.1 miles per imperial gallon (20.0 l/100 km). [1]

However, with the sale of Freight Rover in 1989, the Rover Group left this sector of the light commercial market.

Leyland DAF 200 Series (1989–1993)

Leyland DAF 200 Series
Leyland DAF 200.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Leyland DAF
Also calledDAF 200 Series
Leyland Cargo
Production1989–1996
Body and chassis
Class Van
Related Leyland DAF 400 Series
Chronology
PredecessorFreight Rover 200 Series
SuccessorLDV Pilot

With Freight Rover becoming Leyland DAF, the 200 Series was given a new radiator grille, bearing the Leyland DAF badge. The 200 Series continued to be built on car lines and its narrow width meant it became a very popular city van. The last 200s switched from the Perkins Prima engine to the less economical but more refined, naturally aspirated indirect injection PSA XUD 1.9L engine.

LDV 200 Series (1993–1996)

LDV 200 campervan 1995 LDV 200 Series D 2.6 T (36673876122).jpg
LDV 200 campervan

Following the sell off of the van business from the insolvent Leyland DAF in 1993, LDV Limited was formed.

LDV Pilot (1996–2005)

LDV Pilot
Ldvpilot.jpg
Pre-facelift LDV Pilot
Overview
Manufacturer LDV Limited
Production1996–2005
Body and chassis
Class Van
Related LDV Convoy
Chronology
PredecessorLeyland DAF 200 Series
Successor LDV Maxus
Pre-facelift LDV Pilot rear Howletts Free Mini Bus near Bekesbourne Railway Station - geograph.org.uk - 2059485 (cropped).jpg
Pre-facelift LDV Pilot rear
Post-facelift LDV Pilot Solar-Powered LDV Pilot%3F (50151973111) (cropped).jpg
Post-facelift LDV Pilot

In 1996, the van received a facelift with less boxy front panels and a redesigned dashboard and seating and was renamed the Pilot. The facelift also saw the end of the '80s Rover stalks, but not the instruments and minor switchgear.

The van became popular as a minibus, and was available in pick up and fleet based vans, as well as being used by the army for transporting troops. Power arrived in the form of a Peugeot 1905cc diesel engine throughout the entire range, however it made the Pilot sluggish and only able to achieve 75 mph (121 km/h) (One of the rare versions with the turbocharged version of this engine was an altogether more satisfying drive).

It also had little torque meaning most hills required the driver to change down. Early models have basic interiors consisting of two or three seats, Mountain Blue coloured plastic dashboard and LDV branded FM/AM cassette radio. Gears are selected using the now unpopular floor mounted gear stick. The van was also used by various police forces and the Royal Mail.

Turkish variant

A Turkish-made BMC Levend 80 TDI Turbo Intercooler BMC Levend bonnet truck.jpg
A Turkish-made BMC Levend 80 TDI Turbo Intercooler

A Sherpa derived van [2] was also produced in Turkey by BMC Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. as the BMC Levend, and as of 2006, a pick up derivative is also sold. This was not promoted in the United Kingdom.

Kit car

A short lived Sherpa 200 derived Kit Car produced by Sherpley Motors of Loughborough was manufactured briefly between 1997 and 2007, first being reported in Which Kit of October 1997.

The kit was engineered to loosely resemble a vintage Bentley. The early Speed Six design just used Sherpa axles and suspension, fitted to a custom chassis and mated to an engine of buyer's choice before being fitted with an Aluminium and fiberglass fabricated body; the later Speed Four model used the complete Sherpa 200 chassis and running gear (and occasionally engine) to enable it to pass the stricter SVA rules imposed after 1999.

The vehicle did not prove to be popular, and only 17 examples of the Sherpley were manufactured between these dates; the last one known to be sold still in kit form was advertised on eBay in 2013, prior to being sold privately for an undisclosed sum.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DAF Trucks</span> Dutch truck manufacturing company

DAF Trucks is a Dutch truck manufacturing company and a division of Paccar. DAF originally stood for van Doorne's Aanhangwagen Fabriek. Its headquarters and main plant are in Eindhoven. Cabs and axle assemblies are produced at its Westerlo plant in Belgium. Some of the truck models sold with the DAF brand are designed and built by Leyland Trucks at its Leyland plant in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Motor Corporation</span> Automobile manufacturer

The British Motor Corporation Limited (BMC) was a UK-based vehicle manufacturer, formed in early 1952 to give effect to an agreed merger of the Morris and Austin businesses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Leyland</span> 1968–1986 automotive manufacturing conglomerate

British Leyland was an automotive engineering and manufacturing conglomerate formed in the United Kingdom in 1968 as British Leyland Motor Corporation Ltd (BLMC), following the merger of Leyland Motors and British Motor Holdings. It was partly nationalised in 1975, when the UK government created a holding company called British Leyland, later renamed BL in 1978. It incorporated much of the British-owned motor vehicle industry, which in 1968 had a 40% share of the UK car market, with its history going back to 1895. Despite containing profitable marques such as Jaguar, Rover, and Land Rover, as well as the best-selling Mini, BLMC had a troubled history, leading to its eventual collapse in 1975 and subsequent part-nationalisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leyland Motors</span> Lorry and bus manufacturer

Leyland Motors Limited was an English vehicle manufacturer of lorries, buses and trolleybuses. The company diversified into car manufacturing with its acquisitions of Triumph and Rover in 1960 and 1967, respectively. It gave its name to the British Leyland Motor Corporation, formed when it merged with British Motor Holdings in 1968, to become British Leyland after being nationalised. British Leyland later changed its name to simply BL, then in 1986 to Rover Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minibus</span> Passenger-carrying motor vehicle (12–30 seats)

A minibus, microbus, or minicoach is a passenger-carrying motor vehicle that is designed to carry more people than a multi-purpose vehicle or minivan, but fewer people than a full-size bus. In the United Kingdom, the word "minibus" is used to describe any full-sized passenger-carrying van or panel truck. Minibuses have a seating capacity of between 12 and 30. Larger minibuses may be called midibuses. Minibuses are typically front engine step-in vehicles, although low floor minibuses are particularly common in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LDV Group</span> Former British van manufacturer

LDV Group Limited, formerly Leyland DAF Vans, was a British van manufacturer based in Washwood Heath, Birmingham. Historically part of Rover Group and Leyland DAF, it was later a wholly owned subsidiary of the Russian GAZ Group. Owing to the global recession and a lack of long-term investment, production was suspended at the LDV factory in December 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LDV Maxus</span> Light commercial van model

The LDV Maxus is a light commercial van model, originally produced by LDV Limited. It was launched at the end of 2004. The model was jointly developed under the LD100 programme code by LDV and Daewoo Motor, prior to Daewoo entering receivership in November 2000, in a five year, £500 million development programme. It was intended to replace LDV's Convoy model, and Daewoo Motor Polska's Lublin II model. A narrower derivative sharing the bodysides of the SWB low-roof versions was partially developed under the BD100 codename to replace LDV's Pilot model, but this never reached production.

Leyland DAF was a commercial vehicle manufacturing company based in Leyland, United Kingdom, and a subsidiary of DAF NV. In February 1993, Leyland DAF was placed into receivership.

Freight Rover was a British commercial vehicle manufacturer based in the Washwood Heath area of Birmingham, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Land Rover Group</span> Division of British Leyland and later the Rover Group

Land Rover Group (LRG) was a division of British Leyland (BL) and later the Rover Group that was in existence between 1981 and 1987. LRG brought British Leyland's light commercial vehicle production under one management, consisting of the Land Rover utility 4x4 range, the Range Rover luxury 4x4 and the former Leyland Sherpa van range. LRG operated two factories in the Birmingham area – the Solihull plant and the Freight Rover plant at Washwood Heath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BL O-series engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The BL O-series engine is a straight-4 automobile engine family that was produced by the Austin-Morris division of British Leyland (BL) as a development of the BMC B-series engine family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMC Otomotiv</span> Turkish vehicle manufacturer

BMC Otomotiv Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., doing business as BMC Otomotiv and BMC, is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in Turkey. Its products include commercial trucks, buses, military trucks and armoured vehicles. The company was founded in 1964 by Ergün Özakat in partnership of British Motor Corporation which held a 26% stake. It was purchased by Çukurova Holding in 1989, and seized by the Turkish government's TMSF in 2013. BMC has been taken over with a final bid of TL 751M, by a partnership of 51% Turkish side and 49% Qatari side.

The L-series engine is an automotive diesel engine built by Powertrain Ltd, a sister company of MG Rover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morris Commercial Cars</span> British automotive manufacturer

Morris Commercial Cars Limited is a British manufacturer of commercial vehicles formed by William Morris, founder of Morris Motors Limited, to continue the business of E G Wrigley and Company which he purchased as of 1 January 1924.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morris Commercial J4</span> Motor vehicle

The Morris Commercial J4 was a 10 cwt forward-control van launched by Morris Commercial in 1960 and produced with two facelifts until 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LDV Convoy</span> Motor vehicle

The LDV Convoy is a light commercial van that was manufactured from 1986 until 2006. The Convoy was a development of the Leyland DAF 400 Series, which in turn was based on the Freight Rover 300 Series. The Convoy and its predecessors were wider and longer versions of the LDV Pilot, all based on the Leyland Sherpa series of vans from 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Land Rover series</span> Motor vehicle

The Land Rover Series I, II, and III, or simply the Land-Rover are compact British off-road vehicles, produced by the Rover Company since 1948, and later by British Leyland. Though inspired by the World War II jeep, the Land Rover immediately distinguished itself from all other cars. From launch, it was the first mass-produced civilian four-wheel drive car with doors, and an available hard roof. Contrary to conventional car and truck chassis, it used a sturdier fully box-welded frame. Furthermore, due to post-war steel shortage, and aluminium surplus, Land Rovers received non-rusting aluminium alloy bodies, favouring their longevity. In 1992, Land Rover claimed that 70% of all the vehicles they had built were still in use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Club of Four</span> Alliance of truck makers

The Club of Four was an alliance of four European truck manufacturers: Saviem, Volvo, DAF, and Magirus-Deutz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leyland Landtrain</span> British truck

The Leyland Landtrain was a truck that was produced in the 1980s by British Leyland. Designed for the export markets in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, it was particularly popular in Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe. The Landtrain was designed to be used in areas of limited infrastructure, where roads may be rough and fuel scarce. It was powered by four different engines and produced with three different gross vehicle weights (GVW), 19 tonnes, 30 t and 36 t

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morris WE</span> Motor vehicle

The Morris WE/Austin S203/S403/S503 was a bonneted truck produced by the British Motor Corporation from 1955. After a revision in 1964, it was marketed as the Morris WF/Austin S303/S403/S503 and from 1968 as the BMC WF. In the export markets, the Austin model was usually called the Morris, WE/WF. After BMC merged with Leyland Motors to form the British Leyland Motor Corporation, it was produced as the Leyland WF from 1970 to 1981 and replaced by the Leyland Landmaster.

References

  1. "Sherpa V8 races to market". Commercial Motor. 23 November 1985. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  2. "BMC Levend". BMC Turkey. Archived from the original on 23 October 2006.