Classic Land Rover

[Frix]

I am looking for some advice on buying a Land Rover.

I don't know anything worth knowing about them. There seems to be a few about 88" mainly. I don't know what to spend on one or what to look for when viewing them.

I don't mind too much about the age but I seem to lean towards the older ones.

Any advice gratefully recieved.

[SmokinV8]

What are you looking to do with one? Might seem a silly question but the series vehicles are very basic and slow but have bags full of charm IMO. But if its warmth/comfort/on road ability your after then its a different ball game.

[Frix]

It might seem a silly reply but I don't know. I just want an old one. My GF is a vet so she'd probably borrow it when she's out to farms. I know they are not warm and are pretty basic but that's part of the appeal. I might do the odd spot of off-roading but probably just a bit of a local run-around when I have time to plod.

[mwy1964]

Depending on the vehicle you could pay anything from £100 - £2000 pounds for a Series 2,2a or 3, it really depends on what you want - mint vehicle with tax free status, something to tinker with or a full blown restoration. Parts are plentiful and reasonably priced - Original or Pattern, although the quality can vary wildly.

They are very basic - No power steering a heater that your 80 year grandmother could blow more hot than and suspension that if old and corroded will see you taking many a visit to the dentist for filling replacement. However with the right maintenance and upgrades it can become a very useable and cheap to run vehicle.

The main thing to look for is rust on both the chassis and bulkhead, a new chassis is around £800 plus the time or labour to swap everything across. Although many bits that rust are available as repair sections - dumb irons, quarter and half chassis, and outriggers. Lots of available upgrades - Parabolic springs, bushes and engine swaps, 200TDI being my project for this year. Finally watch out for previous owners bodges, the youngest Series 3 being 25 years old now and will have a few owners.

I use mine as a shooting wagon, paid £400 quid and spent that again getting it roadworthy, and will see the same again, this year, as part of its rolling restoration. It may not have the creature comforts of my BM or Isuzu Trooper but it works and I like its quirks.

[Lefty Guns]

Series land rovers are beyond pretty basic to be honest. I've got an ex mod series 3 109". It's incredibly slow, very noisy, very cold and does 20mpg on a good day. It's bloody great.

Try before you buy! Condition is far more imporant than age. Check the chassis, bulkhead and rear cross member very thoroughly for rust. Replacement parts (even chassis) are easy to get hold of but it's a ball-ache fitting them and very quickly you can end up restoring the whole thing which will never ever repay itself.

They're great offroad (and in the snow!), I use mine as a shooting wagon too and a general offroad/tip/beach bh. Dirty dogs go in it without any concern, as do bags of rubbish, building materials, bits of tree, fencing kit etc etc.

It sounds good and it's actually really good fun for puttering around the countryside. Mine gets used at least once a week just to keep things going.

Edited by Lefty Guns on Tuesday 3rd February 12:41

[Frix]

Thanks very much. I have seen a few. I do go shooting a bit and the MG isn't really cut out for it.

I'll go and view a few and see what I find.

[mrmop]

Hi was in a very similar postition recently, liked the idea of an old one, had to be SWB and I wanted a V8, I bought a series 3 SWB with V8, to be honest the car was fine but, the suspension, brakes and steering was deadful, I sold it pronto and have now bought a 90" with and V8 and a galzanised chassis and the two cars could not be further apart, coils springs,disc brakes and power steering transform the driving experiance, it is a delight to drive and I know I have made the right decision.

Hope that helps


MrMop

[5 wh]

My series 1 was my favorite classic Land Rover by quite a margin(wasnt very comfy but bags of character!)

[GTO Scott]

5 wh said:

My series 1 was my favorite classic Land Rover by quite a margin(wasnt very comfy but bags of character!)

Thats a lovely S1 there

If you want a Land Rover for everyday use, go for an earlyish 90 (coil-sprung and later renamed as the Defender) - ideally with a 200Tdi or V8. 5-speed boxes, the 200Tdi will return 30mpg, rides far better than a leaf-sprung series, and is even better off-road. Doesn't quite have the charm of a series though, and can be a little more expensive to buy bits for.