Weird 1980's Land Rover alternative - name?

[Dick Cheeseburger]

We were having a family chat this evening, all about cars we remembered from the 80's and 90's. My father worked in the office next to a local China clay pit, and I used to clean windows there as a young teen. There were a couple of Landies used as pit vehicles, along with an E plate white thing, which had similar proportions to a Landie, looked vaguely similar, was pretty good off-road, and was much cheaper than the British alternative.

Can we remember what it was? Can we bollocks! I thought it may have been an Umm, but my father is confident it wasn't. He thought it may have been French engined, but don't quote him on that. It wasn't a Dacia either.

Any ideas? It bugged us for most of the evening, and it still is. It looked a bit like a distant, uglier cousin to a LR.

Answers on a postcard please...

[DodgeRover]

Santana?

[Jim Bergerac]

Portaro?

[Asimo]

Portaro or UMM?

[Felly Magic]

I was just going to say Santana, it started life as a licence built Landy Series, and kept leaf springs even though it was facelifted, ended up as an Iveco

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Santana?

Narp. Just had a look, and a Santana looks too Land Roverish. Were they even a thing in '87? The 4x4 we're thinking of definitely wasn't as aesthetically pleasing as a LR.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Not a Portato either. Hmm.

[eddyramrod]

 It looked a bit like a distant, uglier cousin to a LR.

Merc G-Wagen?

[Jim Bergerac]

Auverland A3 was another obscure 4x4 offered in the UK for a time, E plate might be too early for one though?

[Dick Cheeseburger]

None of the above, sadly.

[Guest Hooli]

LR Lt/Wt?

 

Just throwing it in there.

[warren t claim]

Cavalier mk3 4x4?

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Umm wasn't marketed under a different brand in the 80's, was it?

[Guest Hooli]

Austin Champ

[Jim Bergerac]

Umm wasn't marketed under a different brand in the 80's, was it?

 

Yes, Trans Cat:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/3486520536/

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Yes, Trans Cat:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/3486520536/

You're a legend. Virtual pint heading your way. Love this place!!

Many thanks for all the other suggestions too!

[Asimo]

[warren t claim]

Portaro?

[Timewaster]

Yes, Trans Cat:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/3486520536/

You beat me to it (by about 8 hours)

These things were thrown together in a unit not far from me by an enterprising local garage owner.

There was a rumor that he sold a few to the Russian army and they were after him because the bonnets flew off and killed some of the troops.

Probably pub bullshit though.

[mercrocker]

Disappointed nobody mentioned Cournil