Friday 18th June 2010

SOTW: Land Rover Series III

Shed goes all rural with an old Landie. Ooh-arr etc...

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Shed is well aware the 'Speed Matters', but the recent arrival on the PH fleet of our very own brand new Land Rover Defender - and the subsequent groundswell of PH love for the venerable off-roader - has had Shed scouring the classifieds for a Landie of its own for some weeks now.

Now, the PH Fleet's oh-so-shiny Keswick Green long-wheelbase Defender might seem a world away from the rugged little workhorse that is today's SOTW, but the indomitable go-anywhere spirit that shines through from every panel on this little Series III is still evident in the newer car.

Mind you, there's no doubt that the Series III is the purer expression of Landieness - the CD player, part-leather seats, six-speed gearbox, electric windows and 'proper' dashboard that makes towing My Caterham to race tracks less of a chore do somewhat soften the earthiness that remains at the heart of a Defender.

There's no such cushioning with this Series III, however. Wheels, seats, an engine and a steering wheel are about all you get. That's about all you need, though: whether you plan to take it green-laning, use it as a workhorse to chug about the farm in, or just to live out your Heartbeat or Emmerdale fantasies with it, few cars will do so much with so little fuss.

This early Series III looks a little weathered and grimy, but then that's more a badge of honour on an old Landie rather than a negative point.

The advert is endearingly terse, not saying whether this 1972 model has the 72bhp petrol or 61bhp diesel 2.25-litre four-pot engine, what sort of service history it has - or even whether it has any tax. These things are clearly just not important to rural Land Rover folk.

What it does say is that there are four nearly-new tyres on it, that it has freewheel hubs (allowing you to make it rear-wheel drive by disconnecting the front driveshaft) and that it has an MOT until September.

The vendor discloses literally no more information than that - but you don't need to know much more, do you? That's the beauty of an old Land Rover - much like the advert, it's an uncomplicated, speak-as-you-find sort of affair - and I really like that.

When the inevitable comes and a man from Gaydon takes away my Defender I hope there's an old Land Rover like this one out there in Classified Land. Because if there is I will be buying it.

Advert is reproduced below.

Land Rover Series 3 SWB
£950 ono
Excellent workhorse, only 200 miles on 4 new tyres, freewheel hubs, MOT Sept.

Join SOTW on Facebook

[pSyCoSiS]

Cool shed!

[benjalex]

SPOT ON!!! Love the landies

[JayMan]

Will go on for ever that thing.

[Johnspex]

You just gotta love that.

[Matt_N]

I saw a Landy with a twin rear axle the other day with pick up bed, nice V8 burble coming from the rear too!

[dan19evans]

if i had £950 and lived near it.. i would buy that straight away

[L100NYY]

I want that

[mat13]

Ive been looking at these all week, as soon as i get my holiday out of the way in september im buying one to restore over the winter.

[dandelph]

Its pre 73 so tax is free

[Riggers]

dandelph said:

Its pre 73 so tax is free

A fine point - hence why the original advert doesn't mention it... I really should have worked that one out...

[spoonoff]

Knock him down to £900, and give the remaining £100 to The A-Team fo materials, and pretty soon you'd have a very special shed indeed...

[carinaman]

I was visiting friends out in the sticks not too far from Lotus a few weeks ago.

In the week that I stayed with them a Land Rover around the corner in a neighbour's drive way went from a chassis and a engine to a complete Land Rover. I didn't see it moving though.

I'm not sure it's PH though?

It's a tow vehicle?

I've driven a couple off road with guidance, and it was fun but doesn't the charging around the woods and fields wear off after a while?

Greenlaning doesn't appeal to me.

I guess there are no GATSOs off road?

Perhaps if I get a boat or a canoe and only wanted to stay local it may suffice.

I'm not sure about the SWB hard top I was following along the A38 yesterday with the uncovered tyres poking out 2 inches either side?

[Fordo]

great shed- needs to be covered in more mud though

[Andy321]

Can't help liking that, I think it's the car equivalent of an old farty spaniel, yes it has it's faults but you can't help but love it for it's enthusiasm and affability. The general rule on older landies is that only the good ones survive and if the bulkhead and chassis outriggers are in good nick then it might be a good deal ... by the way, it's petrol, not tax exempt and is currently SORN (according to the DVLA site).

Good shed, literally.

[poprock]

I’ll be amazed if this doesn’t sell to a PHer before the day is out.

[carmadgaz]

That looks rather nice

[paynter17]

i want i want i want

[Lordsmut]

Best shed x far

[AMGexigeS]

Fab SOTW, got a 1966 series 2A a couple of years ago and it's been fab, watching my neighbours fighting to get their cars out of the snow whilst I chugged past as snug as a bug was blissful. You have got to have one!!! Free tax and £85 a year for insurance to boot!

[angusc43]

Each to their own but I really don't get the Landie thing, really. I used to passenger in the back of a SWB one many moons ago when doing a student job for the local council over the summer break. It was by a large margin the most unpleasant automotive experience I can recall.

My neighbour has a V8 Anniversary which is more like it.

But as I don't live on a farm I don't hanker after one.

Is it just me?