£1000 running project - Series or Disco 1?

[Sway]

Hi Guys,

Looking to buy a Landy in the next couple of months. Looking for something characterful for the 8 mile drive to work, dump/garden runs, easy to work on, and to teach me off road, with a view to improving it as my skills increase. Oh, it'll also earn me major kudos at work as I'm based in a farm office and the boss has a lovely Lightweight!

Should have about £1000, for a Mot'd runner, I have a very good welder mate who is willing to assist with any chassis/bodywork needed, and not too worried about top speed, comfort or water tightness! I have a Focus C-Max family car that can always be roped in to commuting duties if the Landy is off the road for whatever reason....

Love the idea of a V8 Bobtailed Disco, but obviously would need to put quite a lot of time and effort into building it thus. In the meantime would it just be a old tatty SUV?

Series look so damn good, would need less work to fit my 'ideal' and I can get one the same age as me! (Not as minor a thing as it sounds, as whatever I get I'd like to keep for some time). They also seem a lot easier and potentially cheaper to maintain and improve.

So experts of Landy PH, what are your thoughts?

Sam

[Lefty Two Drams]

Personally, I reckon a series 3 will suit your needs down to the ground. Much more character!

[West4x4]

Go for the series everytime. I found that a disco doesnt have the feel or character of a series doesnt make you smiie when you drive but it still feels slow noisey and crude compared to a car. Plus a series can be tax free and you can change the body to suit your needs. For tip runs fit a a truck cab for summer cruising a soft top and if you get into offraoding there better than a standard disco and easier to modify

[cpas]

I'd probably say a Series 111 as well - you may even get one that's tax exempt, and insurance will be really cheap - especially if insured for 3000 miles or so with Footman James or Adrian Flux (about £100 per year). Discos are really cheap but suffer horrendous rot to the cills and rear floors especially models fitted with sunroofs). It may be worth spending a small amount more to get a good Series - I sold one recently which had been rebuilt on a galvo chassis for £1600!

[Tff]

Yes, having had a 93 Disco (and presently owning a Series 1 for fun use only) go for a Series 3 every time. Very usable and fun with no depreciation, anyone can work on them & forget the troubles you get with old Discos which will be plentiful & costly. Happy trundling - spend a bit more & you'll get a decent one.

[vauxmini]

you mention a bobtail disco.what about a bobtail range rover you can pick them up cheap i had fully prep'd offroad machine that was solid and clean enough for dialy use
only cost me 1200 quid.

the series are good trucks they are basic, reliable and cheap to run and fix

disco's are a bit more modern but cheaps ones generally are a bit tatty and need work

[Sway]

Looking like series 3...

Bobtailed disco (or rangie) would be nice, only thing is I'm not sure of thier position with the DVLA/VOSA, which puts me off. If I could get definitive info, it may change my mind.

Just got to sell the Mopar V8 and gearbox currently in my garage, then look to see how much I have to play with.

Front runner at the moment would be a 88" series 3 truck cab with a decent bulkhead and not too much chassis welding needed. Sound reasonable for £1000 - £1200?

Thanks for your help,

Sam

[West4x4]

Yeah sounds reasonable should pick something nice up tax and tested for £1200