What off-road 4x4???
12 January 2005, 11:05 AM
#1
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What off-road 4x4???
My Dad is soon to retire and we were chatting on the phone recently about what car he should get when he hands back his company car. He has always wanted a short wheel based Land Rover and is really after a rebuilt Series III.
My parents live out in the sticks and have a lot of land with some livestock (sheep) so he has a couple of large trailers hence the decision for a 4x4. He wants something that he wont have to worry about driving it down an overgrown track with potholes from hell which is why we're going down the Land Rover route. He's not interested in the Japanese pick-up's like the Warrior/Animal or the Freelander.
So my question is does anyone know a company in the Surrey area that specialise in Land Rovers and in particular specialise is rebuilding/refurbishing them and selling them on?
Any other suggestions vehicle wise would be gladly received.
His budget is £7000 tops.
My parents live out in the sticks and have a lot of land with some livestock (sheep) so he has a couple of large trailers hence the decision for a 4x4. He wants something that he wont have to worry about driving it down an overgrown track with potholes from hell which is why we're going down the Land Rover route. He's not interested in the Japanese pick-up's like the Warrior/Animal or the Freelander.
So my question is does anyone know a company in the Surrey area that specialise in Land Rovers and in particular specialise is rebuilding/refurbishing them and selling them on?
Any other suggestions vehicle wise would be gladly received.
His budget is £7000 tops.
12 January 2005, 11:28 AM
#2
Originally Posted by prodriva
My Dad is soon to retire and we were chatting on the phone recently about what car he should get when he hands back his company car. He has always wanted a short wheel based Land Rover and is really after a rebuilt Series III.
My parents live out in the sticks and have a lot of land with some livestock (sheep) so he has a couple of large trailers hence the decision for a 4x4. He wants something that he wont have to worry about driving it down an overgrown track with potholes from hell which is why we're going down the Land Rover route. He's not interested in the Japanese pick-up's like the Warrior/Animal or the Freelander.
So my question is does anyone know a company in the Surrey area that specialise in Land Rovers and in particular specialise is rebuilding/refurbishing them and selling them on?
Any other suggestions vehicle wise would be gladly received.
His budget is £7000 tops.
My parents live out in the sticks and have a lot of land with some livestock (sheep) so he has a couple of large trailers hence the decision for a 4x4. He wants something that he wont have to worry about driving it down an overgrown track with potholes from hell which is why we're going down the Land Rover route. He's not interested in the Japanese pick-up's like the Warrior/Animal or the Freelander.
So my question is does anyone know a company in the Surrey area that specialise in Land Rovers and in particular specialise is rebuilding/refurbishing them and selling them on?
Any other suggestions vehicle wise would be gladly received.
His budget is £7000 tops.
I think the Huddersfield Land Rover Centre sell re-furbed Series III LRs + John Craddock in Cannock.
Plenty of places offering ex-Army 90 Diesals (normally asprirated) and the odd V8 (loverly)
Not sure of any dealers in Surrey - but if I think of any I will let you know.
Does your Dad want to get a Defender 90 (probably a 200 Tdi at £7,000)?
12 January 2005, 11:37 AM
#3
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Originally Posted by Etheridge-Bird
Check out Land Rover International magazine and Land Rover Owners magazine - loads of dealers in these.
I think the Huddersfield Land Rover Centre sell re-furbed Series III LRs + John Craddock in Cannock.
Plenty of places offering ex-Army 90 Diesals (normally asprirated) and the odd V8 (loverly)
Not sure of any dealers in Surrey - but if I think of any I will let you know.
Does your Dad want to get a Defender 90 (probably a 200 Tdi at £7,000)?
I think the Huddersfield Land Rover Centre sell re-furbed Series III LRs + John Craddock in Cannock.
Plenty of places offering ex-Army 90 Diesals (normally asprirated) and the odd V8 (loverly)
Not sure of any dealers in Surrey - but if I think of any I will let you know.
Does your Dad want to get a Defender 90 (probably a 200 Tdi at £7,000)?
12 January 2005, 12:17 PM
#4
With £7K I would definetly push for a 90 Defender.
The series III's off-road and on road are a bit jarring in ride quality to say the least (I've chipped a few teeth in my life time ). Unless you get one that's been fitted with parabolic leaf springs and suitable shocks which does have better ride, but still not as good as coil springs.
Off-road performance is nothing to worry about, they are very capeable. Just need to make a good choice in off-road tyres (tyres are the most important thing with off-roading). The only issue will be the ageing drivetrain and rust, many landys out there have been bodged about alot, but with your budget you should find a good one.
£4K would get you a good original series that's been restored.
If he really hates the defenders. Then an very viable option is for a "hybrid" chassis. Basically a series body ontop of a defender/range rover chassis shortened to 88". There are off-the-shelf chassis kits that simple bolt on - the only modification needing is wheel arch extensions, and a few other bits and bobs (although you will need range rover/defender doner parts for the axles, steering and brakes). There's quite a few pre-built ones about though.
The hybrid chassis will have all the benfits of a Range rover or defender chassis- coil springs, disc all round brakes, anti rollbars (if you want them), better ground clearance and ride etc. But still retains the Series III looks.
The series III's off-road and on road are a bit jarring in ride quality to say the least (I've chipped a few teeth in my life time
). Unless you get one that's been fitted with parabolic leaf springs and suitable shocks which does have better ride, but still not as good as coil springs.Off-road performance is nothing to worry about, they are very capeable. Just need to make a good choice in off-road tyres (tyres are the most important thing with off-roading). The only issue will be the ageing drivetrain and rust, many landys out there have been bodged about alot, but with your budget you should find a good one.
£4K would get you a good original series that's been restored.
If he really hates the defenders. Then an very viable option is for a "hybrid" chassis. Basically a series body ontop of a defender/range rover chassis shortened to 88". There are off-the-shelf chassis kits that simple bolt on - the only modification needing is wheel arch extensions, and a few other bits and bobs (although you will need range rover/defender doner parts for the axles, steering and brakes). There's quite a few pre-built ones about though.
The hybrid chassis will have all the benfits of a Range rover or defender chassis- coil springs, disc all round brakes, anti rollbars (if you want them), better ground clearance and ride etc. But still retains the Series III looks.
Last edited by ALi-B; 12 January 2005 at 12:25 PM.
12 January 2005, 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by ALi-B
With £7K I would definetly push for a 90 Defender.
The series III's off-road and on road are a bit jarring in ride quality to say the least (I've chipped a few teeth in my life time ). Unless you get one that's been fitted with parabolic leaf springs and suitable shocks which does have better ride, but still not as good as coil springs.
Off-road performance is nothing to worry about, they are very capeable. Just need to make a good choice in off-road tyres (tyres are the most important thing with off-roading). The only issue will be the ageing drivetrain and rust, many landys out there have been bodged about alot, but with your budget you should find a good one.
£4K would get you a good original series that's been restored.
If he really hates the defenders. Then an very viable option is for a "hybrid" chassis. Basically a series body ontop of a defender/range rover chassis shortened to 88". There are off-the-shelf chassis kits that simple bolt on - the only modification needing is wheel arch extensions, and a few other bits and bobs (although you will need range rover/defender doner parts for the axles, steering and brakes). There's quite a few pre-built ones about though.
The hybrid chassis will have all the benfits of a Range rover or defender chassis- coil springs, disc all round brakes, anti rollbars (if you want them), better ground clearance and ride etc. But still retains the Series III looks.
The series III's off-road and on road are a bit jarring in ride quality to say the least (I've chipped a few teeth in my life time
). Unless you get one that's been fitted with parabolic leaf springs and suitable shocks which does have better ride, but still not as good as coil springs.Off-road performance is nothing to worry about, they are very capeable. Just need to make a good choice in off-road tyres (tyres are the most important thing with off-roading). The only issue will be the ageing drivetrain and rust, many landys out there have been bodged about alot, but with your budget you should find a good one.
£4K would get you a good original series that's been restored.
If he really hates the defenders. Then an very viable option is for a "hybrid" chassis. Basically a series body ontop of a defender/range rover chassis shortened to 88". There are off-the-shelf chassis kits that simple bolt on - the only modification needing is wheel arch extensions, and a few other bits and bobs (although you will need range rover/defender doner parts for the axles, steering and brakes). There's quite a few pre-built ones about though.
The hybrid chassis will have all the benfits of a Range rover or defender chassis- coil springs, disc all round brakes, anti rollbars (if you want them), better ground clearance and ride etc. But still retains the Series III looks.
Seriously, though off road tyres will make the difference but I favour Colway remolds which do an excellent job for relatively little money. Bulkheads can be a problem though as they are prone to collecting water, so if you can get hold of a decent rebuilt one then you'd probably be doing yourself a favour. Try contacting Dunsfold Land Rover who often have some decent Series models in and will probably know of a reputable local company that deals in rebuilt ones.
Have fun.
<runs for cover>
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12 January 2005, 04:33 PM
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lol! Series' are great 
...you'll get an fantastic SIII for £7k, and should be able to spend less and make any necessary modifications needed. Colways are popular, but I wouldn't got for remoulds if it's an everyday road car as well as just pottering around, heard and seen too many horror stories - I favour the BFG Mud Terrains, excellent all round tyres and I've gone places alot of other tyres struggle (with the exception of the Simex boys
). Also overdrive might be a good thing to look out for, mind you, with that budget he probably won't have a problem!
Would agree the LR Mags are the place to look, some real lovely Landys in there. Good luck with the search
Jen
(ex-Scoob and SWB SIIA and 300Tdi Disco owner )
...you'll get an fantastic SIII for £7k, and should be able to spend less and make any necessary modifications needed. Colways are popular, but I wouldn't got for remoulds if it's an everyday road car as well as just pottering around, heard and seen too many horror stories - I favour the BFG Mud Terrains, excellent all round tyres and I've gone places alot of other tyres struggle (with the exception of the Simex boys
). Also overdrive might be a good thing to look out for, mind you, with that budget he probably won't have a problem! Would agree the LR Mags are the place to look, some real lovely Landys in there. Good luck with the search
Jen
(ex-Scoob and SWB SIIA and 300Tdi Disco owner
)
12 January 2005, 04:47 PM
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Went out over Salisbury plain with the lads in their landys etc over the weekend. Big time off roading 3 foot water, two foot mud etc. My mates disco got stuck and had to be winched out 4 times (road tyres though) mates land rover on chucky tyres was the daddy and did the winching, but the biggest suprise to me was the other lads suzuki 1.3 petrol jeep type thing ....It did everything the land rover on chunkys did and he was on road tyres .......... well impressed........and all for £275
12 January 2005, 04:48 PM
#10
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The problem my Dad has is he knows what he wants but has to be realistic and Mum wouldnt let him spend the cash required to get one. He would love a Bowler!!! The good news is he would like one with a V8, external roll cage and some nice big tyres. If he gets all that I might think about visiting them a bit more
13 January 2005, 11:24 AM
#13
Lightweights - very very cool.
I think about 75% of all Land Rovers (Series I, II, IIA, III) are still running.
My first car (17 years old - seems a very long time ago) was a Series IIA SWB petrol hard top - car was first registered in 1965 and I bought it for £1,095 in 1984 with 35,000 mile on the clock - wish I still had it.
PS Sold it 18 months later for £1,500
HAPPY DAYS.
I think about 75% of all Land Rovers (Series I, II, IIA, III) are still running.
My first car (17 years old - seems a very long time ago) was a Series IIA SWB petrol hard top - car was first registered in 1965 and I bought it for £1,095 in 1984 with 35,000 mile on the clock - wish I still had it.
PS Sold it 18 months later for £1,500
HAPPY DAYS.
13 January 2005, 12:41 PM
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Very ...I've just brought a SWB Series IIA hard top truck cab for £100! 
You can imagine what it's like, but then it was a bargin, going to be completely stripped down and rebuilt as a soft top, full roll cage, harnesses etc and a nice tasty V8
Can't wait...
...I've just brought a SWB Series IIA hard top truck cab for £100! You can imagine what it's like, but then it was a bargin, going to be completely stripped down and rebuilt as a soft top, full roll cage, harnesses etc and a nice tasty V8 Can't wait...
13 January 2005, 01:02 PM
#15
Discovery Home & Leisure Channel at the end of 2004, I think the presenters name is Mark......anyway, he rebuilt a 90 with a 4.0 V8 engine and some very trick suspension modifications.
Sure it will be repeated at some time in the future.
Sure it will be repeated at some time in the future.
Last edited by RESSE; 13 January 2005 at 01:03 PM. Reason: Spelling
13 January 2005, 02:55 PM
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Whilst we're on the subject, has anyone got some stilts and a canvass top for a SWB Series III that they want to get rid of? Alternatively, does anyone know where I could pick up a second hand set anywhere?
13 January 2005, 03:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Flatcapdriver
Whilst we're on the subject, has anyone got some stilts and a canvass top for a SWB Series III that they want to get rid of? Alternatively, does anyone know where I could pick up a second hand set anywhere?
http://search.ebay.co.uk/canvas_Land...1QQsotrvalueZ1
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