The Carmichael Commando was a 6-wheel (6x4) Range Rover conversion based on the 2-door Range Rover. It was originally designed in the early 1970s as a Range Rover based firetruck used on airports but by the late '70s Carmichael also offered civilian luxury variants of the Commando Range Rover. Carmichael also had a 4x4 four-door version of the Commando Range Rover conversion available, which had the same length as the 6x4 vehicle but without the extra axle; if any were ever built is unknown to me.
The Carmichael Commando
A Carmichael Commando 6x4 Range Rover fitted with Wolfrace wheels, which were the standard when it came to Range Rover modifications. Interesting are the sidepipes mounted on this car. Could this be the car that would eventually become the Wolfrace demo-car?
The bootspace in this Commando is massive, especially when the rear seats have been folded in a forward position.
A look at the front seats which look standard except for on thing: the head rests. These headrest are made by Recaro and have built-in speakers for the soundsystem.
Another Carmichael Commando in a two-tone livery. Wolfrace wheels fitted.
This Carmichael Commando was built for Wolfrace, the manufacturer of the wheels (and seats) that you see under many custom Range Rovers from the 1970s and 80s. The car has sidepipes and a fold-away roof. Interesting two-tone black-silver paintjob.
The "Range Rover" on the bonnet was replaced by "Wolf Race" with the DFT62.
The Carmichael Highlander
The Carmichael Highlander Range Rover was basically a Carmichael Commando with a raised roof. It was introduced in 1979. The conversion with the raised roof allows for a extra head-space for the added 3rd row of seats.
A Carmichael Highlander Range Rover navigating rugged terrain. The car has been fitted with Range Rover conversion's standard wheels, the Wolfrace "Slot" wheels.
The Carmichael Clansman
The Carmichael Clansman Range Rover was a four-door version of the above Highlander. The conversion was offered in a time prior to the introduction of Range Rover's factory four-door in 1981. It shows the original front-doors shortened and in similar fashion to the various early two-to-four-door conversions, and the added pair of doors with a door-handle much smaller than the original of the front doors.
A side-view of the Carmichael Clansman, clearly still based on the Range Rover two-door. Just like the shorter four-door conversions it has shortened front doors and added extra pair of doors. The sliding windows are fitted to the rear doors and a large one-piece rear window, with small extra windows for the high-roof conversion. Note the differences in arrangement to the two-door Carmichael Highlander. Clearly seen from this angle are the 3rd row of seats, which are seated higher and on top of the rear axle of the Clansman.
Text: copyright Bram Corts
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