Who has secretly hankered after an early Series Landy?

[Mungler]

I am secretly drawn to an early tax exempt landy - something with canvass and a fold down front windscreen.

 

However, I get the feeling that it would give new meaning to the words "rusty money pit" and that no matter how good the restoration it would never be as good as say a £1500 Shogun with a 200k miles on the clock.

 

So, who else has found themselves looking at the ex-Mod auction websites or the rear pages of Land Rover International (essential bog reading).

 

I still reckon they are affordable classics of the future.

 

Incidentally my old boss when he was my age bought a couple of Astons as fixer uppers - this was before Astons got a cache and became expensive. He said he paid but a couple of hundred quid for them. Anyways, he never did anything significant with them and they were lying around unfinished under tarp when out of the blue an undisclosed Chinese business man bought them for £50k each - one of the cars had mice living in it and was more a series of boxes of bits than anything else. He was embarassed to take the money

 

So, anyone want to speculate on an affordable appreciating classic in the making?

[MC]

Yes I have always wanted one until I drove one and found I didn't fit.

 

Obviously the original designers in Solihull thought everyone in the world would be 5' 6" and 10 stone wet. Being 6' 4" and the wrong side of 18 stone just doesn't work.

 

I saw a really nice example of a tax exempt series 2 truck cab a year back for 1500 notes and so very nearly bought it. I wouldn't worry about the rusty money pit thing, you could rebuild one twice for the cost of an X5 auto box

[malkiserow]

I used to love 'em. We used to own a few when I was wee lad and a company I worked for a few years ago owned one so I was able to use it when ever I wished. I used it to collect about 25 tons of stone from a derelict farmhouse in a woodland. The Landy was a series 11a and the job it did pulling out tons of stone through the boggy woodland was stunning.

 

Do I want one now......... No. The memories are fine. I really don't fancy messing out with those big rusty balljoints on the front of them or the crappy hand brake.

 

................... still I do need a new shooting truck.........................................but I was inclined towards a Jimny.

[garyb]

M...

 

Speak to Neil... He's still looking to shift his ex MOD Series 3

[Mungler]

M...

 

Speak to Neil... He's still looking to shift his ex MOD Series 3

 

 

 

That's the LWB version I think? Bit on the big side.

 

Also, the last time I saw it, it didn't need a mechanic it needed a priest

[Stealth Stalker]

Yep she's still sat there gathering dust since I got the hilux.

 

SS

[malkiserow]

That's the LWB version I think? Bit on the big side.

 

Also, the last time I saw it, it didn't need a mechanic it needed a priest

 

That is funny. Appreciating asset as you asked.................. not sure, yes more than Jap stuff. A LR specialist once told me to think of them as little lorries and not cars.

[Stealth Stalker]

It'll outlast anything you're currently driving round in

[webber]

Mungler

 

I'll be honest, I have also had similar feelings, more than once, even in recent weeks.

 

Then I woke up, and remembered the Series 2A that I had years ago, and the many hours spent with spanner in one hand and torch in the other. If you want to become a part time Land Rover enthusiast mechanic then go for it. If however you want a useable vehicle then go Shogun.

 

webber

[logstove]

Driving a land rover is like driving a garden shed, cold, damp, draughty, noisy, unreliable, slow, primitive and uncomfortable.

Money pit is about right you spend a week fixing it to drive it for a weekend.

 

JB (not a landrover fan)

[George1990]

I am itching to get one. I want a pre '69 IIa, witht the grille mounted lights, rather than wing-mounted, simply because I think it looks the best.

 

However, getting one means you give up all your free time and cash either bolting bits you like, or more like rebuilding it.

 

A far more sensible way to go is get a Series III, which won't be quite as rotten, but then you won't get your tax exemption. (?)

 

Series 1'a and II's are really for enthusiasts now as you've gotta know what you're doing to keep them on the road.

 

 

 

The only ones worth getting are ones that have been re-chassied (galvanised, at that) with a near pristine bulk head.

 

 

 

And I can't even drive yet!

[Paddy Galore!]

nearly bought one last week not sure what series [on an old P plate, think thats '75/'76] but the deal fell thru.

[Stealth Stalker]

Driving a land rover is like driving a garden shed, cold, damp, draughty, noisy, unreliable, slow, primitive and uncomfortable.

Money pit is about right you spend a week fixing it to drive it for a weekend.

 

JB (not a landrover fan)

You couldn't have put it better...thats why we love em & why I'm getting rid of mine...I'll miss her

[john deere]

Had a series 2 1958 for my birthday. If your handy with a welder anythings possible and parts are dirt cheap.

[Spaniel]

I have a 74 plate series 3 petrol 2 1/4 engine.

For the last 2 years i have done bits on it

Replaced the Exhaust, all the lights, differant seats, stuck a cab on it, and replaced the wheels with Defender larger ones and to be honest I find that if i want a project where i can mess about on a Landie for the next couple of years i have one...but i dont have the time with all my shooting and the dogs, so to be honest im going to sale it as an ongoing project.

 

I just want a truck i can put the dogs in and to go shooting i dont want to become a car restorer...hope that helps

Edited January 24, 2010 by Spaniel

[ST3V3]

you can get a tax exempt seriesIII production of them started in 71 (i think)

im happy with my series although its not tax exempt. pull up in a hedge row chuck the canvas off camo net cable tied underneath the canvas instant hide.

as for lamping windscreen down on the spare wheel set the hand throttle bipod on the windscreen (saying that I have a truck cab on at the minute to keep a little warmer)

makes things quick and easy to move field should you need to only problem I have found is when a bulb blows saturday afternoon not so easy to replace with it being 24v local halfrauds dont seem to stock them

[ME]

I have a series 1972 series 3 SWB.

 

It is cramped behind the wheel, it has no power steering, it is cold and drafty, it broke down in the sea last year, i could go on....

 

Thing is, when I get in it I smile, I will drive it just for the sake of it sometimes. I got it up to 60 mph between Mersea and Colchester last year and it felt more like 160 mph !

 

I have always preferred the look of the "lightweight" or "air portable" one myself. When I get more space for more toys I will get one.

 

 

Lightweight -

 

[Harnser]

Mungler ,

The man you bought your disco from has the best series landrover I have seen . Not quite as old as the one you are talking about ,but a full safari spec and a recently fitted 200 series landrover diesel engine . Its his pride and joy ,I dont think he would want to sell it though .

Harnser .

[Cookiemonsterandmerlin.]

I am secretly drawn to an early tax exempt landy - something with canvass and a fold down front windscreen.

 

However, I get the feeling that it would give new meaning to the words "rusty money pit" and that no matter how good the restoration it would never be as good as say a £1500 Shogun with a 200k miles on the clock.

 

So, who else has found themselves looking at the ex-Mod auction websites or the rear pages of Land Rover International (essential bog reading).

 

I still reckon they are affordable classics of the future.

 

Incidentally my old boss when he was my age bought a couple of Astons as fixer uppers - this was before Astons got a cache and became expensive. He said he paid but a couple of hundred quid for them. Anyways, he never did anything significant with them and they were lying around unfinished under tarp when out of the blue an undisclosed Chinese business man bought them for £50k each - one of the cars had mice living in it and was more a series of boxes of bits than anything else. He was embarassed to take the money

 

So, anyone want to speculate on an affordable appreciating classic in the making?

 

Mungler I bought a bmw M5 E28 1987 one of the only 187 uk models for £2000 a bargin and sold five years later for 12 grand.

 

Regards OTH

[rodp]

I am itching to get one. I want a pre '69 IIa, witht the grille mounted lights, rather than wing-mounted, simply because I think it looks the best.

 

However, getting one means you give up all your free time and cash either bolting bits you like, or more like rebuilding it.

 

A far more sensible way to go is get a Series III, which won't be quite as rotten, but then you won't get your tax exemption. (?)

 

Series 1'a and II's are really for enthusiasts now as you've gotta know what you're doing to keep them on the road.

 

 

 

The only ones worth getting are ones that have been re-chassied (galvanised, at that) with a near pristine bulk head.

 

 

 

And I can't even drive yet!

 

A/ If you repair it PROPERLY it will last another 30/40 years, the bodged ones have to be repaired every weekend.

 

B/ They lowered the quality and gauge of the steel on series 111 apparently, they're just younger so look in better nick.

 

C/ series 2 and 2A are virtually the same as series !!! to repair, they just went metric on some parts. Series 1 are quite a lot different and some are hard to get, still easy to repair though.

 

D/ still some good ones about that have not been re/chassied, one on our drive for instance, a 2A but not for sale.

 

E/ you can get trax exempt series 111, they came out in 71 (I didn't like them at the time, too new fangled with a plastic dash) Tax exemption cut off is Jan 72.

 

 

Sorry to burst your bubble and yes, I was a L/R nerd, for forty years nearly but I'm better now .

[Mungler]

Yep, tax exempt 2 door with a canvas top.

 

Mind you, I want a nice reliable modern td5 lump and running gear.

 

I understand they are called "hybrids".

[rodp]

a nice reliable modern td5 lump

 

I don't think those two go together

[dusk2dawn]

Eat your heart out Mung, I know I,m c o n s i d e r a b l y older than you and had a head start. I have owned (being a LR nut)

 

From memory;

 

a 1950 series 1 swb, sad to say it was a hardtop but was green, sidevalve and somewhat gutless.

 

a 1962 series 2 90, again green and a sight better than the above, this was a truck cab with canvas tilt. no overdrive.

 

a 1983 reg ex mod 109, should have been a Q but got a Y, resprayed green, truck cab very low miles.

 

a 1979 series 3 90, green truck cab used this picking up for 8 years till it failed mot on bulkhead rot.

 

a 1975 series 3 90, green truck cab, overdrive, transfer box on way out so sold on rapidly for profit.

 

a 1994 def 300tdi, green hardtop, todays customised lamping wagon and I love it, high miles but runs fine.

 

Anyone thinking of buying an old Landy, be careful there,s lots of rubbish out there that will cost and keep on costing a mint!!

 

Cheers Rob.

[rodp]

What you really want is one of these (if it's attached ? )

2 ltr Vauxhall 8 valve

Gertrac box

Vuaxhall power steering

Suzi discs all round (machined to fit)

Ford escort and fiesta calipers

Suzi transfer box with 1 joint shaft

Loads of other mods but can't remember them all now.

 

Out accelerate Mk1 Golf GTI to about 60 / 70 mph, do a standindg start 3rd low almost up vertical.

Got some old wheels and tyres on here, can't remember why. Sold this 12 months ago when I gave up trials.

[rodp]

 

And this is what I towed it with, (300TDI) Sadly sold 12 months ago and miss it dearly Old knees and cramped cab don't go together