RE: Land Rover Series III: PH Carpool

RE: Land Rover Series III: PH Carpool

Monday 11th March 2013

Land Rover Series III: PH Carpool

An old army Landie, rescued from an orchard and back up and running for Shed money - no wonder he's happy!



Name:
Bob Malkowski
Car:
1977 Land Rover Series III 109" FFR 'Leonard'
Owned since:
July 2012
Previously owned:
Loads of VW Golfs (current daily is a Mk5 2.0 GT FSI), TVR 350i (currently undergoing restoration), Land Rover 90 V8 CSW (family owned for about 20 years), Land-Rover Defender 110 TD5 CSW, Range Rover P38 4.0SE, Land Rover Defender 90 TDI CSW, Fiat Cinquecento (everyone has to start somewhere!)

Leonard the Landie, doing the Landie thing
Leonard the Landie, doing the Landie thing
Why I bought it:
"A friend knew I was into Land Rovers and mentioned her Mum had an old military Land Rover sat at the bottom of her Orchard that hadn't turned a wheel in over seven years. Being a Series III, I expected it to be rotten, but it was one of the most solid Series IIIs I'd ever seen. If I hadn't have rescued it, it would have gone for scrap, which would have been tragic. Especially as it appears that it's a VERY rare example of a Military CL specification, 12V FFR (Fitted For Radio)."

What I wish I'd known:
"I wasn't prepared for quite *how* thirsty one of these can be. I've run V8 Landies before, but the 2.25 petrol averages no more than 15mpg! It's muscle car fuel consumption for Morris Minor (at best) performance! Also, having been stood for so long, every bit of the hydraulics (clutch, brakes) needed replacing, and almost every seal had dried out. I'm still working my way through the oil leaks now!"

Leonard happier in water than Bob's passenger!
Leonard happier in water than Bob's passenger!
Things I love:
"It's the most unpretentious car in the world! Everyone loves an old Landie! We've all come to know him as 'Leonard', after Leonard Cohen: slow, weathered, and with many stories to tell! On a summer's day, with a load of friends, canvas tilt rolled up (or even removed altogether), it's very hard to beat for good, honest fun. I also love how simple (bordering on plain crude) the engineering is. There's nothing really that can't be tackled with a basic socket set."

Things I hate:
"Did I mention it's thirsty? It's also horrifically slow, noisy, and dreadfully under-geared with a terrible choice of gear ratios. It has a TERRIBLE ride quality, and the crude, non pre-engaged starter has let me down on a number of occasions. It's cold, draughty and the heater's barely adequate. The lack of power steering makes any kind of low-speed manoeuvre a serious physical work-out too. On the face of it, it's a pretty awful car, but I love Leonard!"

Back on the road for less than a grand
Back on the road for less than a grand
Costs:
"Did I mention it's thirsty? Oh, yes I did! Other than that, it's unbelievably cheap to run. I do all my own work on Leonard, which obviously saves a lot of money on mechanics' fees. Parts for Series Landies are plentiful and dirt-cheap: a complete exhaust system for £50, a brand new indicator stalk for under £20, OE wheel cylinders for £25, and my favourite - brand new wing mirrors for £6. A PAIR! I get the majority of my parts from Paddock Land Rover Spares in Matlock. They're easy for me to get to, and always have the parts in stock. I have Leonard insured on a specialist military insurance policy for just under £120 a year, fully comp. Including buying Leonard, restoring him to roadworthy condition, tax and insurance, I was on the road for about £1,000."

Where I've been:
"The very morning I got Leonard an MOT, I drove straight to a friend's Airsoft event (held at the remains of Tuddenham airfield in Suffolk) - from Nottinghamshire! Bar a stop for fuel, and the journey to and from the MOT station, it was Leonard's first journey in over seven years! Since then, we've had various days out, including the Billing and Peterborough Land Rover Shows. Every journey in Leonard is an adventure!"

Orchard patina maintained for now at least
Orchard patina maintained for now at least
What next?
"Unfortunately, just before Christmas, the big-end bearings let go. I've put a fresh set in to buy me some time, but the engine will have to come out soon. I've picked up a 2.5 petrol out of an early 90, that I'm planning on rebuilding and fitting. With some minor mods and an LPG kit - plus the overdrive I've just picked up - it should make Leonard a bit more practical. At some point, I'll get around to repainting him too."

Author
Discussion

CambsBill

1,909 posts

177 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
I gave up calculating the mpg on mine years ago, you'll end up talking yourself out of driving it otherwise, so my advice is to mentally offset the fuel with the depreciation you're not suffering and enjoy the experience.

If the ride's hard, try a couple of bags of sand in the back.

Other than that, thumbup

ETA Who's the insurance with? Mines up for renewal and it's crept over the £150 mark now



Edited by CambsBill on Monday 11th March 10:05

The Danimal

Original Poster:

178 posts

154 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
Lovely thing. Don't repaint him... he looks ace like that! Keith Richards would look rubbish with a face lift.

Sealey

29 posts

151 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
Well done for saving Leonard.

May I suggest that the fuel economy might be slightly improved with a change of footwearhehe

herebebeasties

666 posts

218 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
Almost a shame to repaint that - will lose some of its charm. Patina is good. :-)

Lazygraduate

1,789 posts

160 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
Now that would be in the fridge on the cool wall! Love it

pSyCoSiS

3,581 posts

204 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
That's a very cool Landie!

Enjoy it mate.

(btw - nice boots!)

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
The Danimal said:
Lovely thing. Don't repaint him... he looks ace like that! Keith Richards would look rubbish with a face lift.
Indeed - you've got a lovely patina on there already, what a real Landy should have!

aeropilot

34,302 posts

226 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
I also agree it would be a shame to repaint it - looks perfect the way it is smile

rtz62

3,340 posts

154 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
A feature about a car thats as slow, and as cool as a glacier; what a refreshing change!
I used to drive a V8 at work sometimes; incredibly thirsty and slower than Sam Dingle.
But you can't help but love them!

Familymad

618 posts

216 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
http://www.rhclassicinsurance.co.uk/

The new best friend of Series owners........ I have 3 and all cost around £50 a year fully comp.

MPG?? What's that? I look at journeys more like..... Halfords is a gallon away or Heathrow is 2 gallons. Miles don't come into it.

Life's a Series adventure!

Bish

809 posts

206 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
In a way I wish I had never painted mine......but my OCD got the better of me!!





only1ian

684 posts

193 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
Airsoft and a landie! You need to join the army and get paid do these things for real...!

Interesting carpool though

JoeBolt

271 posts

161 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
During my time in the forces, I always enjoyed driving the Lightweight (Air Transportable) most of all. They were just a bit nippier, even with the 2.25 petrol engine. That's the one I'd like to own, but I'd definitely want to fit a more modern engine. Perhaps a jap diesel? Lightweights are quite rare due to the fact that they were only produced for the military.

mrtwisty

3,057 posts

164 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
I must admit that I don't understand why you Landie people put yourselves through it! By your own admission they are, in almost every way, a terrible form of transport.

I'm glad you do though! I love seeing these old beasts noisily grinding their way around. Proper machinerysmile

Familymad

618 posts

216 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
Had been there and done the 'big fast expensive' car which crippled me in depreciation.

Now I buy noisy, windy, rattly boxes of aluminium fun. I buy parts and 'fix' them. Tinkering is good for the soul.

Monkey needs to get on and sort his Series 1 before I buy it ............

astra la vista

208 posts

133 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
Sealey said:
May I suggest that the fuel economy might be slightly improved with a change of footwearhehe
beat me to it. proper frankenstein* boots!






yeah, i know frankenstein was the scientist* and the monster didn't have a name but so what?

there was a kid at my school who had an operation and ended up with one leg shorter than the other. he had to wear an orthopaedic shoe and his nick-name was frankie b. smile

Edited by astra la vista on Monday 11th March 13:30

Bash Brannigan

211 posts

186 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
Great article!

Can you let me know more details on the insurance? Looking at getting an old Landie and been offered an Army one so any details on this would be really useful! Cheers

Mark-C

5,010 posts

204 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
Lovely - really miss mine and I never got round to sorting the paint out either.

I also struggled with the fuel economy having had a V8 before. Fifteen MPG sounds about right to me.

Gratuitous shot of old friend ....


Caulkhead

4,938 posts

156 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
"The ride is terrible!"

I'm not surprised - look at the years of rust on those leaf springs.

Job no. one:

Change engine oil and filter and retain old oil. Paint old oil onto leaf springs. Bounce up a decent sized kerb and repeat. The ride will now be greatly improved! smile

iandc

3,708 posts

205 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
It looks brilliant as it is. DON'T PAINT IT!!! PS and keep the boots!