4×4S.ORGTHE REGISTRY DRIVELINE · OVERDRIVE
OverdriveDrivelineCommon

Fairey Land Rover overdrive

Fairey Winches · United Kingdom · 1974–now

Bolt-on mechanical overdrive that replaces the transfer-box output gear and raises road speed 27.8% at the same engine speed in any gear, forward or reverse, selected by an in-cab lever. Land Rover tested and approved it and it carried the AA Seal of Approval; Fairey Winches of Tavistock, Devon made it until the company passed to Superwinch in the 1980s.

SourcesMore driveline
Fairey Land Rover overdrive
Fairey Winches Ltd brochure, landrover.vlothuizen.nl · all-rights-reserved · source
1974–nowMADE—PERIOD PRICECommonRARITY13LAND ROVER MODELS6SOURCES

Description

Bolt-on mechanical overdrive that replaces the transfer-box output gear and raises road speed 27.8% at the same engine speed in any gear, forward or reverse, selected by an in-cab lever. Land Rover tested and approved it and it carried the AA Seal of Approval; Fairey Winches of Tavistock, Devon made it until the company passed to Superwinch in the 1980s.

Fits all Series Land Rovers with the standard (Series) gearbox, LHD or RHD; a separate version (RTC7234 O-ring listed by lroe.co.uk) served the LT95 gearbox of the Stage 1 V8.

Rarity. Made in large numbers through the 1970s-80s as a Land Rover approved accessory; secondhand units are listed continually (£450-550 per Auto Express) and reproduction units are sold new at £2,995 (John Brown 4x4, 2026). End of Fairey/Superwinch production not established.

Record: 6 sources; no price recorded.

Specification

MAKERFairey Winches Ltd, United Kingdom
MADE1974–now
RARITYCommon — Made in large numbers through the 1970s-80s as a Land Rover approved accessory; secondhand units are listed continually (£450-550 per Auto Express) and reproduction units are sold new at £2,995 (John Brown 4x4, 2026). End of Fairey/Superwinch production not established.
RATIO INCREASE PCT27.8
TOP GEAR HIGH RATIO5.4:1 standard, 4.255:1 overdrive
FITTINGkit fitted in 2-3 hours; transmission tunnel cut for the lever; cannot be fitted with a rear PTO
MPH PER 1000RPM TOP HIGH{"88":"15 std / 19.2 o/d","109":"16.5 std / 21.1 o/d"}
MAKER ADDRESSAbbey Rise, Whitchurch Road, Tavistock, Devon
INTRODUCTIONFairey brochure c.1974 (AA seal); Auto Express says introduced 1975; Land Rover Writer says early 1970s
LATER HISTORYFairey Winches acquired by Superwinch (1980s), who licence-built it for a time; now discontinued

Fitment

Fits all Series Land Rovers with the standard (Series) gearbox, LHD or RHD; a separate version (RTC7234 O-ring listed by lroe.co.uk) served the LT95 gearbox of the Stage 1 V8.

Variants

Series gearbox unit1970s-1980s

For Series I-III transfer box

LT95 unit1980s

For Stage 1 V8 / Range Rover LT95 gearbox

Imagery

Fairey Land Rover overdrive
all-rights-reserved · Fairey Winches Ltd brochure, landrover.vlothuizen.nl · landrover.vlothuizen.nl · reference only, not reproduced under licence

Sources

landrover.vlothuizen.nl/show/list/7084-1.htmllandrover.vlothuizen.nl/show/list/7085-1.htmllandroverwriter.com/thelandrovers/faireyoverdrives.htmlautoexpress.co.uk/land-rover/defender/100740/how-to-fit-a-fairey-overdrive-to-your-series-land-roverjohnbrown4x4.com/product/fairey-overdrive/lroe.co.uk/OVERDRIVES/Every source above was fetched and read when the record was made.