AA62, The extra width came about by a requirement to have two Landrovers side by side. back in 1995 the Air Portability section at JATE were working on the spec. at the same time the new landrover showed up with the spare wheel mounted on the side rather than on the bonnet.
I bet the team at Solihull did not appreciate what influence they had over the design of this aircraft 20 years on.
To turn that contention on its head, the so called 'Lightweight' Land Rover or AP (Air Portable) Land Rover was designed to comply with an RAF requirement of getting two Land Rovers, side by side, in a Beverley!
It was essentially a Series IIa 88", with shortened axles and some of the weight removed. They are still lumpy old things though.
Roger.