Santana Land Rovers
The origins of the Santana company can be traced back to the formation of Metalurgica de Santa Ana, S.A. in Linares, Spain in 1955.
The company started out by building agricultural machinery and gearboxes.
Their new factory had been built with the aid of funding from the Spanish government, and with their help, the following year an agreement was reached with Rover to build the Land Rover at
the plant.
Santana enjoyed a long association with Land Rover having built in the region of 300,000 'Series' vehicles from 1958 through to 1985.
By the end of this period however, the vehicles being built were quite different in many respects from Land Rovers, and in 1983 all links with Land Rover ceased.
Nevertheless, production continued of a range of Land Rover derived vehicles designated the Santana 2500 until the mid-nineties.
Santana Land Rover Quick History:
1958: The first Spanish-built Land Rovers are launched: Series II models, 75 percent locally manufactured, with a choice of 2-litre or 4-litre petrol engines and a 2-litre
diesel engine.
A large number of these early vehicles went direct to Spanish government departments and their armed forces.
1962: Production of the Series IIa begins, in 4-litre petrol and 2-litre diesel versions.
1962: With local content of the vehicles now at almost 95 percent, Santana begin exporting vehicles, mainly to south American countries and northern Africa.
1967: Vehicles are now 100 percent locally made.
1967: Production of a new model, the Land Rover Santana 1300 forward control begins, available in both petrol and diesel versions.
1968: The Land Rover 109" 'Rural Taxi' (Station-wagon) is launched, with 5 doors and a second row of forward-facing seats.
1969: Assembly of military versions begins, with various specialist configurations, including an ambulance, communications vehicle, etc.
1969: Santana 'Militar' vehicle launched.
This is basically a Series vehicle made to look similar to a Land Rover lightweight, but without any removable panels.
1970: 'Especial' versions of the 88" and 109" Land Rovers are launched, with anatomical seats, Alpine windows, an aerodynamic bonnet and headlights mounted in the front wings.
1972: All models gain the wing-mounted headlights.
1974: Production of the Series III models begins, with some important improvements over the Series IIa, including synchromesh on all gears and a redesigned dashboard.
1975: All models are now fitted with dual-circuit brakes.
1976: All models gain a brake servo, and manufacture of a 1-tonne, 6-cylinder military version begins.
1977: Santana develops it's own 6-cylinder engines, by adding two more cylinders to the current Land Rover 2.25 litre 4-cylinder engines.
Because of this new (longer) engine type, 6-cylinder vehicles are redesigned with the radiator grille moving out flush with the wings and the gearbox and axles are upgraded to deal with the
extra power.
The engine is only available on the 109" version.
This allows the capacity of the fuel tank to be increased.
Overdrive and free-wheeling hubs are offered as a factory fitted option for the first time.
1978: The Land Rover Santana 1300 is replaced by the Santana 2000 forward control vehicle, with a 2-tonne payload and 6-cylinder engine.
1979: The Series IIIa 109" 6 cylinder 'Especial' is introduced.
The lights are no longer round, the front door sliding glass panes become a wind-up/down type.
The windscreen is made as one piece (no centre split), the roof is now made of fibreglass rather than aluminium.
The front central seat is eliminated and a centre-console fitted.
Overdrive and freewheeling hubs come as standard equipment.
1980: The 88" model is withdrawn, and a number of improvements are introduced across the remaining range, including a 5-bearing crank.
1980: Santana 'Ligero', a civilian version of the Series III 'Militar' lightweight-style vehicle introduced.
soft-top or hardtop options are available, all in very bright colours.
1981: The company name is changed from Metalurgica de Santa Ana, SA to Land Rover Santana, SA.
1982: A contract was signed with Suzuki which saw them take a 20% stake in Santana.
Santana began building the Suzuki SJ-series off-roaders, with first sales planned for 1985/86.
1982: The "Cazorla" special edition Land Rover was launched - visually like Land Rover's Stage 1 vehicle, it is fitted as standard with the Santana 6-cylinder 3.5 litre engine, overdrive,
power steering and three windscreen wipers on the one-piece windscreen.
1983: Santana terminates co-operation with Land Rover, removing the Land Rover name from it's vehicles.
1983: Santana Series IV / 2500 model released.
The 2500 introduced the use of parabolic springs, a 5-speed gearbox and front disc brakes.
Power steering becomes standard equipment.
The "Super" versions incorporate part of the improvements of the Cazorla, and the engine size is increased to 2,500 cc.
The "Super T" version was among other things the first turbocharged variant of the 2.25 litre Diesel, with an output of 75 bhp and a torque of 180 Nm, - three years before the British
turbo-diesel.
1984: The six cylinder engines are discontinued, and the petrol version was available by special order only.
1991: Suzuki Motor Corporation becomes the majority shareholder in Santana, with 49% of the share capital.
This led to the company being renamed Santana Motor, SA.
1994: Santana 2500 production ends.
1994-96 The company is forced through re-structuring and ownership changes, and Santana sells it's 2500 production line machinery and tooling to Morattab.
However a new licence contract was signed with Suzuki, and agreements were signed for the production of new diesel-engined models and extension into new sales markets.
1997: The licence contract with Suzuki is extended to 2006.
1999: PS-10 concept vehicle introduced - Essentially a re-design of the Series IV / 2500, but using Iveco's 2.8 litre, four cylinder turbo-diesel engine.
2002: PS-10 'Anibal' production begins.
2002 May 23rd: PS-10 'Anibal' launched at the Madrid International Motor Show, sales to begin in the autumn.
2006: A short wheelbase version is launched at the Madrid International Motor Show.
This vehicle is fitted with an Iveco 3 litre common rail turbo-diesel engine and a six-speed gearbox.
2006 May 26th: Santana and Iveco sign an agreement to work together to develop new light 4 wheel drive vehicles.
2007: IVECO Massif - a rebadged and restyled PS-10 - is unveiled.
Iveco are to market the vehicle worldwide, using the Fiat brand in the South American markets.
 
Santana PS-10 'Anibal'.
So, by the mid 1990s the focus of the company's operations had changed completely from Land Rover to Suzuki, having sold on the Series IV/2500 production equipment to
Morattab, in Iran.
Thankfully, the story doesn't end there.
2000/01 saw the company facing sharply declining sales (2000 - 33,821 units; 2001 - 22,736), resulting in a loss of 301 million Euros.
Santana decided that it needed to broaden its product base, and introduced a new model - the 'PS-10' (outside Spain) or 'Anibal' (Spain only) - at the 2002 Madrid Motor Show.
They plan to sell more than six thousand units per year, and sell directly to Land Rover's home markets.
Bringing the story full-circle, the PS-10 is in fact a (very) thinly-disguised Land Rover, powered by an Iveco 2.8-litre 4 cylinder turbodiesel engine, using parabolic spring suspension, and
produced in two main body styles - a 5-door station wagon and a 3 or 5-door pick-up.
Interestingly, a front-wheel-drive only version is also available in both body styles.
2006 saw the release of a short wheelbase version, with a new Iveco 3 litre diesel engine and a six speed gearbox.
This machine is once again set to lock horns directly with the Defender.
In 2007, Iveco expanded Santana's marketplace by launching the Iveco Massif 4x4 vehicle.
2006 PS-10 Specs:
Engine: Iveco PS10 8140.43 4-cylinder 2.8 litre common rail direct injection turbo diesel, delivering 92 Kw at 3600 rpm and 275 Nm torque.
Gearbox: ZF LT85, manual, 5 gears + reverse.
Drivetrain: Part-time 4x4. The transfer box is based on the Santana 2500 unit.
Suspension: Parabolic Leaf springs
Brakes: Disc brakes all-round.
The handbrake is a disc transmission brake.
Power steering: Recirculating ball type, with ZF pump
Turning Circle: 6.5 metres.
Length: 4.675 metres
Width: 1.750 metres
Track: 1.486 metres
Height: 2.000 metres
Wheelbase: 2.786 metre wheelbase (109")
Tyres: 235/85 R16
Diff clearance: 200mm
Attack angle: 60 degrees
Departure angle: 30 degrees
Fuel Tank: 100 litres
Payload: 1 tonne
2007 models feature the new Iveco 3 litre turbodiesel unit.
 
Santana PS-10 Military Sales pictures.
Iveco Massif
The first images of the new Iveco Massif 4x4 have appeared, ahead of the public debut of the new vehicle, built by Santana Motor.
As with the Santana PS-10 'Anibal', the 'Massif' will feature Iveco engines and power trains.
Iveco 'Massif'.
The Iveco Massif is a rebadged and restyled version of the Santana PS-10 'Anibal' 4x4 vehicle.
This new vehicle will be marketed and sold world-wide by Iveco, using it's established dealer networks.
However in the major South American markets, including Brazil and Argentina, the Massif is expected to be marketed under the Fiat brand name.
Iveco see the Massif as a logical extension of their product range, providing an adaptable and affordable off-road capable solution for some of their niche markets, based around Iveco engine
and drivetrain technology.
Iveco are also able to tap into the specialist use areas already developed by Santana - the PS-10 has already been converted for a number of specialist uses such as fire, ambulance and
military applications.
These specialist designs can directly carry over to Massif.
The military version of the PS-10 is fully air transportable and includes special features such as a reinforced front bumper and fold flat windows.
Iveco are initially targeting annual sales volumes of 5,000-6,000 Massif vehicles, with the focus being on professional use.
Amongst the targets is forestry use.
As with the Santana PS-10, the Massif is expected to be more competitively priced than the newly-updated Land Rover Defender.
Santana Forward Controls
Santana never produced the IIa or IIb design of forward control, deciding instead to build it's own version of forward control type vehicle, the Santana 1300.
This design, manufactured from 1967-1978, was based on a modified 109" chassis, with extra steelwork at the front to support the cab, and across the top of the chassis, to provide support
for a flat load bed at the rear.
It used Rover type axles, as on Land Rovers IIa Forward Control, and was available with either the 2.25 petrol or diesel engines.
The Santana 1300 was replaced in 1978, by the Santana 2000.
This vehicle was based around the 101 chassis and used similar mechanicals to the Land Rover 101 FC's.
The vehicles were fitted with Santana 6 cylinder petrol or diesel engines.
Payload was 2000kg (2 tonnes).
It's not clear when the 2000 model production ended.
Armando's Santana 2500
Armando Giraldo uses his Santana 2500 station wagon regularly for fishing and photography trips around Colombia.
As you will see, he has done a bit of off-road competition in the vehicle, but it is kept in top condition with regular maintenance and repair as soon as it is needed.
 
Armando's Santana 2500 station wagon.
 
With this level of attention, this 2500 should be around for a long while yet!
Help us with our research!
If you can help us out with more information regarding Santana SA, PS 10 or any Santana Land Rover vehicles, please do so.
In the first instance, contact us at admin@lr-mad.co.uk
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