My Land Rover Truck Cab
Discussion
After getting some attention at the last Sunday Service, I thought it would be the right time to put on readers cars.
In December 09 I got rid of my modified Jeep Cherokee under the scrappage scheme. I had only managed a few weeks without a 4x4 when something happened.....Ebay.....
Cutting a long story short, I ended up with this.
A 1972 registered Tax Exempt Land Rover Series 3 Truck Cab, apparently with the 'rare' curved rear quarter glass. It has a mighty 2.25 litre petrol engine which isn't the most economical.
Not knowing a great deal about the older Land Rovers I set out to collect it from the other side of Oxford (About 60 miles from home). The previous owner had been a game keeper so the bed was used to carry grain. On the trip back home it soon become apparent as to why the previous owner had replaced a lot of the ignition system and was selling it. The car was suffering from a hot running problem, engine stopping on a number of occasions.
This immediately got the car christened as Tailback Tony.
Since owning the truck I've had to spend very little on it. A Replacement rotor arm and set of spark plugs, along with a tune up of the carb fixed the hot running issue. It failed the MOT renewal this year on some tired suspension parts, all of which I managed to replace myself, for less than £40.
Insurance is peanuts too, my renewal came in this year at £40.11.
With a realistic maximum speed of 45mph (any faster and your ears will bleed and wallet empty in no time) it isn't the fastest steed in the stable, but with a solid chassis and unrestored bodywork it certainly has some character and produces a smile.
In summary, this was a spur of the moment purchase into the unknown and a year on I'm loving it. I was going to sell it after getting it MOTed, but I think keeping it a little while longer won't hurt anyone. Cheap to buy, cheap to insure, free to tax, cheap parts, but by god it drinks like a darts player.
Two final pictures from Sunday Service. With thanks and photo credits to y2blade
In December 09 I got rid of my modified Jeep Cherokee under the scrappage scheme. I had only managed a few weeks without a 4x4 when something happened.....Ebay.....
Cutting a long story short, I ended up with this.
A 1972 registered Tax Exempt Land Rover Series 3 Truck Cab, apparently with the 'rare' curved rear quarter glass. It has a mighty 2.25 litre petrol engine which isn't the most economical.
Not knowing a great deal about the older Land Rovers I set out to collect it from the other side of Oxford (About 60 miles from home). The previous owner had been a game keeper so the bed was used to carry grain. On the trip back home it soon become apparent as to why the previous owner had replaced a lot of the ignition system and was selling it. The car was suffering from a hot running problem, engine stopping on a number of occasions.
This immediately got the car christened as Tailback Tony.
Since owning the truck I've had to spend very little on it. A Replacement rotor arm and set of spark plugs, along with a tune up of the carb fixed the hot running issue. It failed the MOT renewal this year on some tired suspension parts, all of which I managed to replace myself, for less than £40.
Insurance is peanuts too, my renewal came in this year at £40.11.
With a realistic maximum speed of 45mph (any faster and your ears will bleed and wallet empty in no time) it isn't the fastest steed in the stable, but with a solid chassis and unrestored bodywork it certainly has some character and produces a smile.
In summary, this was a spur of the moment purchase into the unknown and a year on I'm loving it. I was going to sell it after getting it MOTed, but I think keeping it a little while longer won't hurt anyone. Cheap to buy, cheap to insure, free to tax, cheap parts, but by god it drinks like a darts player.
Two final pictures from Sunday Service. With thanks and photo credits to y2blade
Thanks for the comments guys.
Shaw Tarse said:
Splendid, I bet you park wherever you want to!
Indeed, don't have to worry about trolley dings in it or anything.SWH said:
Superb old bone shaker 
Think I got almost 17mpg out of my old '67 SIIa, only the once though.
17mpg.... were you on the back of a tow truck at the time? I'm hoping now I've fixed a leaking fuel pipe that the mpg will be a bit better than the 8 it was managing before.Think I got almost 17mpg out of my old '67 SIIa, only the once though.
jumplead said:
Thanks for the comments guys.
Nah, the tow truck was only when it broke down on the drive home from buying it... think 17mpg was mostly luck and fair bit of coasting (boo, hiss, bad person, etc), and sorting out the binding brakes! In reality it was around 12mpg, worse than a friend's V8 one at the time...!SWH said:
Superb old bone shaker
Think I got almost 17mpg out of my old '67 SIIa, only the once though.
17mpg.... were you on the back of a tow truck at the time? I'm hoping now I've fixed a leaking fuel pipe that the mpg will be a bit better than the 8 it was managing before.Think I got almost 17mpg out of my old '67 SIIa, only the once though.
Great motor!
The addition of a set of 750x16 tyres will increase your current 45mph to 55mph before your ears bleed, greatly increase off-road ability and possibly even reduce fuel consumption a little! A weber carb and an overdrive might see 22mpg and 70mph, but not simultaneously. . . . . .
PS - don't be tempted by anything wider when it comes to tyres or you'll need to jam a scaffold tube in the steering wheel to turn it at low speed and it's best to get a set pf LWB rims to fit the 750s to.
The addition of a set of 750x16 tyres will increase your current 45mph to 55mph before your ears bleed, greatly increase off-road ability and possibly even reduce fuel consumption a little! A weber carb and an overdrive might see 22mpg and 70mph, but not simultaneously. . . . . .
PS - don't be tempted by anything wider when it comes to tyres or you'll need to jam a scaffold tube in the steering wheel to turn it at low speed and it's best to get a set pf LWB rims to fit the 750s to.
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