1972 Land Rover Series 3, 2.25 Diesel.

1972 Land Rover Series 3, 2.25 Diesel.

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SlimRick

Original Poster:

2,258 posts

166 months

Tuesday 14th April 2020
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A new arrival at Chez Rick just prior to everywhere closing their doors pre Corvid 19. It was born the same year as I was, and it's definitely a keeper. Looks mostly original and short of a few replacements and minor upgrades, will be staying that way.

On arrival:


Replacement seats, soundproofing and carpet set:







A wash and a polish of the original paintwork:





New thermostat and heater valve:



Now awaiting delivery of 8 litres of coolant and enough oil for a full flush and oil change and new filter due to arrive this week.

SlimRick

Original Poster:

2,258 posts

166 months

Tuesday 14th April 2020
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And it turns out to have been through the hands of another PHer previously:

JimexPL said:
This was when I first picked it up.








This was when I sold it. I see the original number plates have gone and the correct body colour headlight surrounds have been sprayed silver like later cars.
I’m sure the rotten crossmember and tow bar is still sitting behind the shed...





The previous owner used it to look after horses, didn’t have enough money to get it through the next mot, and had left it at a small Land Rover specialist to settle a bill on another car.
A friend convinced me to buy it with him, even though neither of us needed another Landy, and with the help of my cousin got it back on the road. I remember raising the idle to get rid of the smoke for the mot! The speedo under reads as it had 6.50 tyres on from new; I recall the co-owner driving it 20 miles home, cruising at an indicated 55mph, and when we checked it with gps it was over 65mph. I was amazed that it stayed in one piece!

It's definitely a survivor, having not left Leciestershire from new until I sold it (to a guy in the Isle of White), where the new owner sent his father to pick it up and drive it back. I doubt it had ever done more than a 30 mile journey in its history!
Does it still have the service book with it? I probably have the original (rusty) wheels somewhere.



Edited by JimexPL on Monday 6th April 23:09


Edited by JimexPL on Tuesday 7th April 00:41

Shakermaker

11,317 posts

101 months

Tuesday 14th April 2020
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Brilliant, and I love that classic blue and white combo colour scheme on these as well.

JimexPL

1,445 posts

213 months

Tuesday 14th April 2020
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Marine blue is great.

It had about 77,000 miles on it when I sold it (early 2016 I think), and I was the sixth owner. I seem to recall that the chassis number dates it to the first full year of Series III production.

I remember the gearbox being the nicest I'd experienced in a Series Land Rover, with hardly any slack and good syncromesh, and really positive steering (again, for a Series!). The crossmember that we replaced was the original one, so it has had caring owners!

I did the rear crossmember, outriggers, clutch cylinders, ignition barrel, rear spring shackles and bushes, alternator and battery, and degreased the engine which had 40 years of crud on it.

So much of the car was unmolested - original rear early Series III tail lights, nothing had been chopped or added to the dashboard, and no painting (other than the door tops and front grille panel, which I did.

I already had three other Landies, and couldn't justify keeping this one as well, particularly given that one of my others is also a Series III 88", albeit a last year of build station wagon.

Bullet-Proof_Biscuit

1,058 posts

78 months

Sunday 19th April 2020
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Cool, my first vehicle was a 72' K in the exact same guise. Any improvements planned? Paras/OD/etc?
Following, smile

SlimRick

Original Poster:

2,258 posts

166 months

Monday 20th April 2020
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As the weather's half decent, it would be rude not to whip the roof off smile


SlimRick

Original Poster:

2,258 posts

166 months

Friday 26th June 2020
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I don’t think the hard top will be going back on smile



Edited by SlimRick on Friday 26th June 19:20


Edited by SlimRick on Friday 26th June 19:20

SlimRick

Original Poster:

2,258 posts

166 months

Friday 3rd July 2020
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Now officially a soft top.