The Landy August 15

One man’s lifelong relationship with a 1982 Series III 109 Hi-Cap – and how it’s now come full circle

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‘it had DONE less than 1000 miles when i bought it’

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GOLDEN BROWN

That remote-control Range Rover… dead clever, but isn’t the point of a car for people to sit in it…?

Full story: Page 4

A tug from the police that turned into a three-year wait for a DVLA inspection… no wonder Shaun Carlin took the chance to make his 90 shine like new again Full story: Page 16 The ‘Arizona Tan’ colour you used to see on 110s has been compared to many things.

Not many are very flattering…

But it’s rare to see one whose paint hasn’t suffered over time.

After a decade-long restoration, on the other hand, this 110 proves just how good a brown Landy can look.

Full story: Page 30

Which Landy would you choose for overland travel? Bet you didn’t say Discovery 3…

Full story: Page 34

To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k

Issue 18: August 2015

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Pre-Pros wow Dunsfold crowd We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk

Mike Trott

A record thirteen pre-production Series I Land Rovers came together for the 2015 Dunsfold Collection Open Weekend, a feat never achieved before in Land Rover’s history.

Over 120 of the world’s rarest, most obscure and most fascinating Land Rovers were rolled out for this year’s Open Weekend, with the preproduction Series Is stealing the show down in Surrey.

These pre-production vehicles have never been together before in the

Marque’s history, as the vehicles will have been sent off to be tested and promote Land Rover in destinations all around the world.

Since the collection’s last Open Weekend, the Dunsfold-based Green Oval nirvana has become a charity, and as such these biennial and brilliant weekends have become a pivotal part of the collection’s future.

And luckily, the trustees know how to put on a show for enthusiasts!

Event organiser and trustee Philip Bashall commented: ‘It was an absolutely fantastic weekend and we’ve

had very good feedback, with everyone who attended being very positive about the show.

‘We’ve had comments such as “best Land Rover show ever,” as well as “a wonderful show, just like the old days,” which all makes the hard work worth it.’

It’s not difficult to see why this is one of the must-see events for Landy enthusiasts – the only thing missing

being buckets for all the drooling mouths. Phil admitted to us that even the car park was a site to behold, with over 2000 visitors arriving over the course of the two-day event.

He continued: ‘As a historian, it’s good to see all these different Land Rovers, and as for the pre-pros, people were just blown away! Having 13 of them there was a record which we’re very pleased about, and Jaguar Land Rover, who were in attendance throughout the weekend, said they were delighted with the event.

‘People were very charitable and everyone dug deep into their pockets.’

The traditional auction on the Saturday night helped to raise much needed funds for the collection – which now consists of 123 vehicles, and it

will continue to grow under Phil’s watchful eye.

Whether it’s Range Rovers, Discoverys, Series Land Rovers, weird and wonderful prototypes or military muscle, this remarkable collection is well worth a visit.

If you’d like to do your part in the preservation of these great Land Rovers, you can become a ‘Friend of the Collection’ for £35 a year. This will entitle you to newsletters and regular updates on the collection, as well as an opportunity to get up close and personal by helping to set up for future Open Weekends and other shows.

For more information on the Dunsfold Collection, or if you fancy a look at some wonderful Land Rovers, visit www.dunsfoldcollection.co.uk

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Issue 18: August 2015

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Taking the Land Rover for a walk JLR plans ‘Pothole Alert’

Mike Trott

Ever been a fan of remote control cars?

Jaguar Land Rover may be about to make your day.

The company has showcased some of the newest and most advanced technologies to emerge from its UK research team. And the most novel of these developments is the Remote Control Range Rover Sport.

Designed to demonstrate the progress JLR has been making on autonomous driving, the RC Range Rover Sport can be controlled by the driver from outside the vehicle through the use of their smartphone.

The idea is that you can control the vehicle up to a maximum speed of 4mph via a dedicated smartphone app – which gives you control over the accelerator, brakes, steering and even the transfer box.

So, whether it’s a tight multi-storey car park or a tricky rock crawling section, this is probably an app you’ll want to purchase in the future… unless you actually enjoy driving, of course.

Drivers need to be within a 10-metre radius of the car for it to work, so don’t expect to be able to pull any hilarious pranks. The system simply halts the car if the smart key is no longer detected.

Jaguar Land Rover has also been busy working on the ‘Multi-Point Turn’ Range Rover Sport. It can sort out those three-point turns with which some people often seem to struggle.

Dr Wolfgang Epple, Jaguar Land Rover’s Director of Research and Technology, commented: ‘Getting a car out of a tricky parking manoeuvre can be a stressful experience for any driver. A Remote Control car, or a vehicle that can autonomously turn in the road, demonstrates how we could use these new technologies to

reduce the tedious parts of driving and improve road safety.

‘Research into technologies like these won’t only help us deliver an autonomous car; they will help make real driving safer and more enjoyable.

The same sensors and systems that will help an autonomous car make the right decisions will assist the driver and enhance the experience to help prevent accidents. Autonomous car technologies will not take away the fun of driving.’

Now, not that we here at The Landy are particularly stubborn – but the day we let a robot do the everyday driving for us is the day we all look for a new day job. Quite literally, in fact.

Fortunately, Jaguar Land Rover’s vision is to give the driver a choice between an engaged or autonomous drive. We know which setting we’ll have it locked into…

Above: JLR is planning to use GPS and to fit digital surround cameras on the front of its vehicles to capture the exact position of pot holes so they can be eradicated more quickly by local authorities

Jaguar Land Rover is launching a new car technology called ‘Pothole Alert.’

The technology uses sensors on a car to identify the position and proposed level of danger that approaching potholes will cause – as well as broken drains and manholes covers – to share real-time data with other vehicles and road authorities in order to help with the prioritising of road repairs.

Currently, it is estimated that around £2.8bn in vehicle damage is caused each year by potholes.

Dr Mike Bell, Global Connected Car Director, Jaguar Land Rover, said: ‘Our MagneRide equipped Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport vehicles feature sophisticated sensors that allow the vehicle to profile the road surface under the wheels and identify potholes, raised manholes and broken drain covers.’

Dr Bell added that the sharing of data could help prevent billions of pounds worth of vehicle damage and make road repairs more effective.

The company’s research team has also been working alongside Coventry City Council.

Councillor Rachel Lancaster, Cabinet Member for Public Services at Coventry City Council said: ‘We already collect lots of data which we monitor very carefully ourselves. But having this kind of extra information might allow us to further improve our maintenance programmes, which would save the taxpayer money.’

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News

Issue 18: August 2015

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LR Run hits new heights on way to Brugge Words Mike Cooper Pictures Phil Lightman and Jonny Stokes

Awards

Most Original: 1969 Series IIA 109 SW Dormobile Conversion (Michael Siegers) Best Land Rover: 1951 Tickford (Mike Rivett) Mayor’s Favourite: 1970 Series IIA 88 (Ryan Wright) Bent and Battered: 1957 Series I 88 (Kevin Leach) Best Decorated: 1963 Series IIA 88 (Chris Nightingale)

The Charity Land Rover Run has broken its fundraising record, after a 41-car parade from Kent to Brugge.

Setting off from the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel le Ferne on 6 June, the convoy of pre-1975 Land Rovers departed for Brugge in Belgium, aiming to raise valuable funds for the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust – the charity of choice for this year’s run.

The Trust has recently completed The Wing, a stunning museum with its roof following the shape of a Spitfire wing, and containing memorabilia and state-of-the-art interactive displays.

This, of course, all needs maintaining financially – which is where the 2015 CLR came in.

A traditional ferry crossing to France (this year’s run was the sixth annual event) was followed by a negotiation of Calais’ many traffic lights before a stint down to Ardres.

Driving the relatively empty roads through the rolling countryside of Pasde-Calais, and even cheered on by even a few French locals, this was a journey of purpose and pleasure.

Climbing the steep and twisting roads towards Cassel, the brigade savoured the 98-octane fuel at continental prices before meeting up with a few Belgian friends for the last leg into Brugge.

Now with a mix of Series Is and IIs, a Minerva, a Tickford and a 109, the Land Rovers reached the World Heritage city of Brugge in time for that evening’s gala award ceremony.

Throughout the ceremony, the Mayor of Zedelgem presented a variety of awards to owners of different Land Rovers. The awards determine the likes of who has the Most Original Land Rover and Best Land Rover; who gets the Bent and Battered award and title of Best Decorated Land Rover, while the Mayor was also able to choose his own personal favourite.

Event organiser Peter Wales then presented a special ‘Next Generation’ award to Seppe Verhaeghe for his magnificent restoration of the Series 1 80-inch he bought when he was sixteen – and has just finished after nearly two years’ worth of work.

The following morning brought along the Charity Auction, conducted as always by the ruthless but mirthful Richard Beddall.

In not much over an hour, some 55 lots had been sold and £2200 had been added to the funds raised.

Peter Wales said: ‘It was probably the best CLR to date. Brugge and the weather were fantastic; the champagne reception hosted by the Mayor of Zedelgem was a highlight.

‘It was also a great testament to Solihull’s finest that our 41-strong convoy made it home without a major problem. Maurice Wilks would be very proud.

‘To date we have raised £7131, including £2200 raised during the auction on the day in Brugge. This exceeds our original £5000 target.”

Next year’s run will be supporting a charity very close to the hearts of Land Rover owners, with the Dunsfold Collection set to be the recipient of this noble event.

Left: The parade of pre-1975 Land Rovers makes its way south to Brugge for what is the sixth annual Charity Land Rover Run. To date, the event has raised a total in excess of £37,000, with a new charity being selected each year. Next year will be the turn of the Dunsfold Collection

To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk

Comment

One of the things people most often say about a new Land Rover is that it’s like a blank canvas. You get a basic vehicle for your money, and then you can start turning it into your own work of art.

Of course, the analogy only goes so far, and if truth be told almost all the ‘unique’ Defenders we create are really only variations on a theme.

Still, given that this is what owners start doing with new Land Rovers almost from the day they bring them home, it’s probably in keeping, if a whole lot more controversial, when people do the same thing with what are now considered classics.

Take a look in the classified ads towards the back of The Landy this month and you’ll see what I mean. There’s a Mk1 Rangey that’s been restored from the ground up – and brought back together using a suspension lift and other nonstandard parts. An early Discovery that’s been turned into an Aussiestyle ute. A 109” Series II with a double-length bonnet (seriously).

And, best or worst of all depending on how you look at it, a 107 Station Wagon that’s been cut up and turned into a double-cab.

Needless to say, you wouldn’t expect anybody to do such a thing to a Landy that was already clean, classic and original. Though I know someone who, way back in the mid-1990s, decided to cut up a 90SV because he knew how much it would annoy the anoraks. Anyway, butchering a rare gem to create a flight of fancy would be a pretty poor show. But with so many modding-bynumbers Land Rovers around, you’ve got to admire the people who manage to retain their creative vision in the face of so much uniformity.

The trucks they create are very good at dividing opinion, of course.

But when they’re so clever, so visionary and so well executed, you can hardly help but cut them a little slack. After all, they’re just the result of someone treating a Land Rover as just what it is – a blank canvas.

Alan Kidd, Editor

Issue 18: August 2015

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Issue 18: August 2015

News

Experience the past

Land Rover has unveiled its new Heritage Driving Experience at Fen End in the West Midlands.

Customers can now experience the thrill of driving Land Rover’s oldest and most treasured legends, thanks to the opening of its customer test facility – where models from the Series I to military 101 Forward Control and classic Range Rover will be lined up, ready to head out in the hands of paying customers both on and off-road.

Budding drivers will be offered a selection of packages – which will allow customers to drive vehicles from a specified era, or to cover a range of vehicles to get a real feel of how Land Rover has changed from 1948 to present day.

Informative instructors will provide direction, facts and anecdotes to accompany your experience, while you’ll have to time to test out Land Rover’s heritage either on track or along the new off-road course.

Vehicle exhibits will put the cherry on top of what should be a memorable day of driving.

Packages start from £40, which will give you a passenger ride alongside an instructor – but you’ll surely want more than that.

For £85 you can opt for the ‘Series I, II and III vs Modern Defender’ package, which as the name suggests gives you the chance to commandeer a Series I, II or III and compare it to a drive in today’s equivalent.

Other packages include the ‘Land Rover Historic Drives’ (£90) and the ‘Range Rover Then and Now’ package (£125), before climbing to the ‘Land Rover – The Collection,’ priced at £250.

This lets you drive all the best and most significant Land Rovers, dating from the 1940s to the 2010s.

Series Land Rovers, military vehicles, expedition-prepped models and modern-day Defenders and Range Rovers are all included. Surely that’s got birthday present written all over it…

Further packages are available as well as a number of gift voucher and special promotional packages as new models are added to the experience.

Visit www.heritagedriving.co.uk for more details.

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It’s tow so good for the Discovery…

Land Rover’s Discovery – the ‘Tow King’ – has reclaimed its crown once again, winning its class at the Tow Car Awards 2015.

The Discovery won its 1,900kg+ class to record an extraordinary eighth win in the Tow Car Awards’ nine-year history, providing further confirmation that the Disco remains the daddy of the towing world.

Competing in the heavyweight towing category, the Discovery has demonstrated its capabilities year after year, with no other manufacturer able to boast such an impressive record.

A panel of expert judges voted the Discovery the victor, while the awards were presented by The Camping and Caravanning Club, in association with What Car? and Practical Caravan.

It was the popular 3.0-litre SDV6 SE Tech model that would face the thorough examinations of this year’s towing tests, with the judges commenting: ‘The Land Rover Discovery’s tally now stands at eight

class wins in the nine years of the Tow Car Awards. New rivals keep taking a shot at the title, but for now the Discovery remains on top. It’s an absolutely superb car to tow with.’

Nearly 40 cars took part in this year’s event, battling it out across all the various categories, with judges marking on a number of points from acceleration and stability to slalom course competence and the vehicle’s ability to deal with questionable cambers and surfaces while hauling an appropriate load. Practicality, running costs, reliability and safety were also assessed.

Some of the Discovery’s success is now owed to technological enhancements, such as Trailer Stability Assist, which recognises when a trailer is in tow and, from 37mph upwards, keeps an eye on it for you to make sure things are in ship-shape. However none of this would be any use without the underpinnings of a well designed heavy-duty 4x4 – which every Disco has been from the word go.

Land Rover continues to bask in its own success after being labelled Best Brand at the 2015 Telegraph Cars Awards.

This is a first for the Solihull manufacturer, but an accolade made even sweeter after the Discovery Sport was named Best SUV, making it three in a row following success for the Range Rover Evoque in 2014 and the Discovery in 2013.

Steven Huntingford, Head of Cars at Telegraph Media Group, commented: “This is the third year in a row that

Land Rover has won the award for Best SUV, each time with a different car.

Such consistently high standards explain why Land Rover is our Best Brand.”

He added: “Above all, SUVs are bought as family cars, so the fact that the Discovery Sport has seven seats to its rivals’ five is a huge advantage.

While it’s clearly a worthy choice, the Discovery Sport is anything but dull, with tidy handling, nicely weighted steering and a supple yet controlled ride.”

Telegraph for Land Rover

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Issue 18: August 2015

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Time to go to school – courtesy of Land Rover A brand new education facility has been opened at Jaguar Land Rover’s £500 million Engine Manufacturing Centre in the West Midlands.

The new Education Business Partnership Centre, situated near Wolverhampton, will cater for thousands of visitors each year in order

to inspire young people into the world of engineering.

Jaguar Land Rover’s ‘Inspiring Tomorrow’s Engineers’ school

education programme has already reached over three million youngsters to date – and with the opening of the new £650,000 Education Centre, the company will strive to increase that figure even further.

The project has been developed in partnership with Staffordshire County Council, South Staffordshire Council, Wolverhampton City Council and Wolverhampton College.

Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive of Jaguar Land Rover, commented: ‘Jaguar Land Rover is a business driven by design, technology and innovation.

It is critical that we attract talented young people to become the next generation of engineers to support our growing business.

‘I’m delighted to open the Education Business Partnership Centre, which will play a key role in nurturing future talent and inspiring more young people to pursue engineering careers.’

The Centre utilises a wide variety of cutting-edge technologies – including a holographic table which projects images of the company’s Ingenium engines to illustrate how they are manufactured.

Students will be able to use iPad stations to complete bespoke modules once returning from their factory tours, and they will be able to try their hand at controlling scaled-down robots similar to those used on the actual production lines.

Peter Bilson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Assets, Wolverhampton City Council, speaking on behalf of Jaguar Land Rover Education Business Partnership Centre partners commented: ‘We are delighted to work in partnership with Jaguar Land Rover to support its school education programme.

We are committed to providing the best possible educational opportunities for local young people across Staffordshire and the West Midlands and the Education Business Partnership Centre will be hugely valuable, reinforcing the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects to modern industry, highlighting career opportunities and helping young people strengthen their employability skills as they prepare for the world of work.’

For further information about the new Education Business Partnership Centre, or to enquire about becoming one of the growing number of young people reaping its benefits, contact Liz Love, Education Business Partnership Centre Manager, on 07880 175 057 or email elove@jaguarlandrover.com.

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You’re hired…

Five wounded or sick ex-Servicemen and ex-Servicewomen have completed JLR’s first Invictus Games work placement legacy programme and will now start their new employment within Jaguar Land Rover.

Staff Sergeant Wayne Walker is one of the five who will join the Solihull outfit after his time in the Queen’s Royal Lancers, where he served in Iraq and sustained his injuries.

Having been medically discharged after a 19-year military career, Wayne, 36, enrolled on the training programme last December and will now take up the role of Process Leader at Jaguar Land Rover.

During his military career, Wayne served in operational tours of Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq – the latter being where he was caught in the detonation of an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) which resulted in a serious knee injury that has seen him go through more than twenty operations to date.

Speaking of this new chapter in his life, Wayne said: ‘I was put forward for this opportunity via the Armed Forces’ Motorsport Charity, Mission Motorsport, which supports those leaving the Forces. I wasn’t sure what would come out of it, but I’ve received incredible support throughout the programme from my family and everyone at Jaguar Land Rover.

‘I am delighted to have been offered this permanent position which means security for my family’s future and has been a great confidence boost.

I hope this will inspire others also leaving the Forces.”

Following Jag Land Rover’s involvement in the 2014 Invictus Games and the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant, the company is keen to uphold its pledge and desire to work with Armed Forces veterans.

Gregg Niblett, Defender Manufacturing Manager, who is ex-military himself and will now be Wayne’s manager, commented: ‘I am delighted to welcome Wayne to Jaguar Land Rover. For someone who has only spent their career in the forces, it is a huge step to transition over to civilian life and Wayne’s can-do attitude has enabled him to apply himself to the job. There is a thriving ex-forces community at the Solihull plant and we get together regularly to support new recruits transitioning to civilian careers both within work and outside through community and charitable initiatives.’

To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk

NEXT MONTH

Belgian Beauty: Peter Wales first saw his Minerva while stood in the rain – but with less than 15,000 miles on its clock, he was soon dancing for joy PLUS

What happens when you buy a Range Rover Classic that’s had £3k spent on the stereo alone ?

Dunsfold Dynamo – we pull this pristine NAS 90 from the collection and take a look at why the Americans were so lucky…

NEXT MONTH’S LANDY IS PUBLISHED ON 27 JULY You can pick up your copy of our September 2015 issue from

newsagents or Britpart dealers – or read it online at www.thelandy.co.uk

01283 553243 • enquiries@assignment-media.co.uk • www.thelandy.co.uk • www.facebook.com/thelandyuk Editor Alan Kidd Assistant Editor Mike Trott Admin and Editorial Assistant Gemma Pask Art Editor Samantha D’Souza Contributors Dan Fenn, Gary Noskill, Paul Looe, Mark Bailey Photographers Steve Taylor, Russell Stevens, Jen and Noam Ben Tsion

Advertising Sales Manager Ian Argent Tel: 01283 553242 Advertising Production Tel: 01283 553242 Publisher Sarah Kidd Email: sarah.kidd@ assignment-media.co.uk Every effort is made to ensure that the contents of The Landy are accurate, however Assignment Media Ltd accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions nor

the consequences of actions made as a result of these

nearest Britpart dealer can be found at www.britpart.com

When responding to any advert in The Landy, you should make appropriate enquiries before sending money or entering into a contract. The publishers take reasonable care to ensure advertisers’ probity, but will not be liable for any losses incurred as a result of responding to adverts

Where a photo credit includes the note CC-BY-SA, the image is made available under that Creative Commons licence.

Details are available at www. creativecommons.org The Landy is published by Assignment Media Ltd, Repton House, Bretby Business Park, Ashby Road, Bretby DE15 0YZ

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Issue 18: August 2015

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Issue 18: August 2015

EXMOOR TRIM’S already enormous range of Land Rover seats has just expanded still further, thanks to a new range of sports seats. These are designed to make your Defender a racier place to be – while also giving you all the usual Exmoor luxury.

The E-Sports seat, as it’s called, will be in stock from 16 July. It will come supplied with runners – including a popular riser option which provides three-way adjustability.

Your choice of finishes will consist of Black Leather Match Vinyl with White Stitch, Black Leather Match Vinyl with Black Stitch, XS Black Rack Half Leather and Diamond XS. We’re

struggling to picture what all these look like too, don’t worry. Anyway, the seats are part of Exmoor’s signature range, meaning bespoke finishes can be ordered by request.

As these seats are a direct replacement part for the original, all you need to do is remove the old front seats, whatever model Defender you have, and bolt in your new one using the existing points. Your swish new seats, which come as a pair, will recline (assuming there’s not a bulkhead in the way) and have a built-in seat heater system to keep your behind warm.

The seats have been approved by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)

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and successfully Mark 1 Impact Tested at Millbrook Testing Ground. You needn’t expect them to be cheap, then, and at about £1026 they’re not, but few things could be a wiser investment if you spend a lot of time on board your Landy. www.exmoortrim.co.uk

Britpart’s range of replacement seals for the Range Rover Classic continues to grow at a steady pace.

If you’re rebuilding one, or just trying to prevent an old timer from turning into something so porous it makes the Swindon Town back four look watertight, the options now on offer include: • Rear quarter panel fixing plate • Rear side window channel • Front wing seal • Side window gasket • Anti-rattle pads • Rear lamp gaskets • Rear quarter window seals • Lock and handle gasket • Check strap seal • Bonnet lamp rubber Prices range from a few quid to a few hundred, depending on what it is you’re after, but in general they’re pretty affordable – meaning you and your Range Rover needn’t suffer for the want of something as fundamental as decent seals. www.britpart.com

To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk Modern Land Rovers have excellent cabin space and a huge range of seat adjustment. Defenders are not modern Land Rovers, on the other hand, and they don’t.

The actual seat position gives you an unbeatable view of the road ahead, and the seats themselves are way better than the average know-nothing would assume, but that doesn’t mean you’re immune from backache and stiff knees after a stint behind the wheel. Which is a shame, because who among us can honestly say that behind the wheel of a Defender isn’t their favourite place in the whole world?

Well, 4x4 Overlander and Nakatanenga have rattled their brains together to do something about this.

And the result is here, in the shape of these new Premium Seat Risers.

Suitable for all 90/110/130 models from 1985 onwards (except for military vehicles and those fitted with retro-fit sports seats) these seat rail extensions and raiser blocks give you a better chance of finding a comfortable position from which to enjoy your Defender. The rails, which are also compatible with original Land Rover Recaro seats, offer three separate positions: 30/40mm (f/r) higher,

30/40mm higher and 25mm further back and 30/40mm higher and 50mm further back.

Using the original seat box threads and holes in the seat frame, the rails are constructed from stainless steel with a black powder-coated finish. If you prefer a more natural look, as seen in these photos, that’s available too to special order.

Either way, sitting down at the wheel of your Defender will never have pleased your rear end more. Prices start at £75 including VAT per seat, which is pleasing enough in its own way too. www.4x4overlander.com

If you run a 200 or 300Tdi Defender, Discovery or Range Rover, it’s probably occurred to you at some point that a heavy-duty clutch wouldn’t go amiss. Our own editor is prone to some very dark mutterings when this subject comes up.

This three-piece OEM kit, made by Valeo and now available through Britpart dealers, should do the trick. Including the plate, cover and bearing, it’s also suitable for earlier petrol and diesel Defenders as well as Range Rovers with the VM Turbo D engine. Shop around and you’ll find one for about a hundred quid. www.britpart.com WE ALL KNOW ABOUT EGR valves – annoying items to be removed and disposed of. Standing for Exhaust Gas Recirculation, this little gadget aims to reduce NOx emissions by recirculating some of your truck’s exhaust gases back into its engine. It works, but it strangles your engine in the process and that’s why so many of them end up in the bin.

Simply removing the valve and blanking it off is considered enough on the TD5, but on the 300Tdi it can be better to swap it for a new one. That’s because carbon deposits can build up within the EGR valve over time, and eventually this will start to affect its performance. Fitting a new valve is like blowing your nose when you have a cold – the engine will instantly be able to breathe better.

Bearmach is now offering a replacement valve for your 300Tdi at the suggested retail price of £69. That’s a lot for a box of tissues, but not much for a Landy that runs properly again. www.ringautomotive.co.uk

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IT MIGHT SOUND OBVIOUS, but being able to shed proper light on a dark situation can mean the difference between life and death.

For example, while you may not die from this (hopefully), stubbing your toe while trying to navigate your way through a darkened room in the middle of the night will at least alert the neighbours to what’s happening, via the medium of shouting and swearing.

The equivalent in the workshop could be a lot less funny. We all know what dangerous places these can be, with plenty of hard, sharp, abrasive, poisonous and otherwise antisocial items and substances waiting to nail the unwary. No place for not being able to see what you’re doing.

Hence the new TruckMaster 8 LED Oval Work Lamp from Ring Automotive. It has 8 x 3W LED bulbs, housed within an oval, die-cast aluminium frame, which provide a hefty 2000-Lumens output. In front of them, a clear polycarbonate lens shapes the LEDs’ beams into a medium flood of light.

The bulbs are long-life jobs and the lamp’s body is sealed to IP67, which is as good as most of the expensive LED lights you see being used on challenge vehicles. With an M8 x 25mm mount and pan-directional bracket, we could see these lights being pressed into service on the front of Land Rovers as well as in the traditional position at the back.

A three-year warranty should do nothing to put you off the idea of doing this, and nor should a price in the region of £66. www.ringautomotive.co.uk

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Issue 18: August 2015

SOME PEOPLE SEEM to have sold their soul to the devil when it comes to reversing on to a trailer. But most of us

mere mortals need guidance – which, if there’s no-one else around, can make things more than a little tedious.

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Obviously, it’s easier if you happen to be Superman and possess the ability to see through the layers of sheet metal between yourself and your towing hitch. But as this is rather an unlikely contingency, Demon Tweeks has just started selling this here nifty gizmo from Swifthitch.

The One-Man Trailer Hitch Camera System (it’s a descriptive name, you’ve got to give them that) consists of a camera (obviously) and a wireless, hand-held display. Images from the camera are displayed on a 2.5” LCD colour screen, allowing you to keep a watchful eye on exactly what’s kicking off back there.

The camera has a magnetic mount, so it’s not going to stick to your Land Rover’s aluminium bodywork, but we’ve no doubt at all that you’ll be able to lash something up that keeps it in place. Rather impressively, it features

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a night vision mode, so you can use it just as effectively after dark – no small matter, especially when you consider what time the sun sets in the middle of winter.

The camera and hand-held screen are battery powered and will operate for a maximum of four hours and to a distance of up to 300 feet. As far as we’re aware, no-one has yet made a Land Rover with a wheelbase that long, so you ought to be just fine – and if it takes you four hours to get hitched up, whether you’ve got a camera on your side or not, then what are you doing trying to tow a trailer behind your truck in the first place?

The kit comes complete with a 12v charger and Y-cable, allowing both elements to be charged simultaneously, and costs an affordable £211.60 including the VAT. www.demon-tweeks.co.uk defenders are famous for many things, but the quality of their audio systems isn’t among them. There’s no reason why you can’t listen to music properly on board Solihull’s finest, though, and a good place to start is by fitting a set of speakers that won’t be frightened off by the ever-present shaking and tinny din from the body.

This often means needing a larger hole for your new speakers to live in, and Mud UK’s new Rear Speaker Panel gives you that extra room without the hassle. The panels allocate space for 130mm speakers, giving you far wider possibilities for your sound system.

Though they look like factory items, the panels are thicker and easy to fit using the screws provided. Presently they only fit Hard-Top models, but there’s a version on the way for those that have rear corner window trims.

The panels won’t fit on post-2007 Station Wagon and Utility Wagon models, either – although a small amount of trimming to the factoryfitted panel would allow for bigger speakers here anyway. Anyway, Mud’s panels are priced at £47 per pair including VAT. www.mudstuff.co.uk

To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk BLING IS THE THING in Defender modding right now – giving an unexpected new twist to a world most of us thought would never be touched by the fickle hand of fashion.

And few things say ‘bling’ with more certainty than a nice set of alloys – yes, even on a 90. There are everyday designs which have passed into Landy folklore, and there are lavishly flamboyant efforts which frankly look a bit misplaced on anything with the aerodynamics of a Defender, however nicely it’s painted, but these new designs from Hawke Styling fall nicely between the two.

Available in Gloss Black, Black and Polished and Matt Gunmetal finishes, these are definitely wheels for a style wagon rather than anything designed to go off-road.

The sizes on offer back this up, too – you can have them in 18x8.5 with an ET20 offset, or 18x9.0 at ET25.

Lots of choices, then, so if a cool look is what you’re going for there’s sure to be something here to suit whatever that look might be. The same may not be quite so easy to say about budgets, though with prices starting at £229 including VAT per wheel these are by no means the most expensive option on the market. www.hawkestyling.com

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Good things come to those who wait...

Words and pictures Mike Trott

When you’re pulled over by the police and told to park up your favourite vehicle for what turns out to be a three-year wait, you know you’re going to want to make up for lost time. Shaun Carlin did when he refreshed this 90 to make it look like new – but giving the vehicle the internals you’d really want in the process

N

o one likes waiting for anything, do they? Consider internet shopping, for example.

You buy something off Amazon, or some other vast jumble sale of a website, and then spend every next waking moment sat by the front door, listening intently like a small yappy terrier, preparing to rip the limbs from some poor, unsuspecting postman who really didn’t expect to have a six-foot human latched on to his arm that morning.

Needless to say, my household has been blacklisted by UPS, Royal Mail, Parcel Force and the rest.

It’s the same when you order a new phone; or a car – no one likes waiting.

At one point or another we’ve all been in a queue at a coffee house, counting to ten as the world’s biggest imbecile umms and aahs over which ridiculously-named beverage they’d like to choke on (hopefully), and have felt like running head-first into the nearest wall.

Can you imagine, then, having your favourite Land Rover parked up on your drive for three years and not being able to drive it anywhere?

They say good things come to those who wait (at least that’s what the guy on the Guinness adverts used to tell me).

No alcohol-fuelled beverage was going to satisfy Shaun Carlin’s thirst for his Land Rover, though, after he was told by police to park it up, not to touch it or drive it, but just wait for an inspection that, for a long time, looked like it would never come.

‘This Land Rover was built in 1988, but started life as a truck cab,’ begins Shaun. ‘It spent most of its life at Buckland Manor, being used around the estate. When I bought it, the truck had bullets still inside from when they would have gone shooting.

‘I purchased it with the intention of converting it into a soft-top version

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Left: The engine bay formerly housed a 2.5-litre TD 19J engine, which produces as much power as a blender. For a real vehicle you need a real engine, and that’s what Shaun went and bought. A 200Tdi sits pretty underneath the bonnet – and we mean pretty!

The engine was stripped and rebuilt by Brian Tonks at Tonks4x4 and now gives Shaun the boost in performance that every man deserves. For fear of sounding like a viagra commercial, though, it’s worth continuing to say that Shaun went for a 200 rather than a 300 because of the points system now applied within the DVLA tests

Below: A galvanised chassis AND bulkhead lurk under this Landy – the former being painted black to prevent those who lurk themselves from thinking this is indeed galvanised, and therefore likely to conclude that this is just another rust-attracting Land Rover

with a nod in the SVX direction; even bought everything to do the job with, but eventually sold all the stuff because I just thought to myself I was never going to have time to do it all.’

That said, Shaun used his 90 everyday – and it never let him down – from when he bought it in 1999 till about six years later when those blue lights came up behind him.

‘I got pulled over by the police with them telling me that the chassis numbers weren’t in line and that the numbers didn’t look level,’ recalls Shaun. ‘The officer told me to await an inspection and not to drive it anywhere – but the inspection never came.’

Three long years passed and after deciding enough was enough, Shaun dusted down the 90, taxed, insured and MOT’d it and headed back out on the road. No point in wasting such a great vehicle, after all.

Only when Shaun had done all this must the vehicle have flagged up on the DVLA’s system, because shortly afterwards, three policeman appeared on the doorstep of his house.

‘They’d finally come to do the inspection and they had a poke round, but couldn’t see anything wrong. The guy carrying out the inspection said he was used to looking at Land Rovers all the time and the original police officer must not have realised that a lot of 90s don’t have machine-stamped numbers.’

So all was well and Shaun was able to drive his 90 again like nobody’s business – except you’re probably looking at these pictures, thinking ‘that’s no truck cab.’ You’d be right.

Remember Shaun mentioned his admiration for the SVX Defenders? He test drove a couple and was considering buying one a few years back, but as pleasant as they may have looked, Shaun knew that there was no galvanised chassis or bulkhead underneath and he’d soon be paying out to fix the same old problems that most old Landies have.

Continued overleaf

‘They had a poke round, but couldn’t see anything wrong’

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Above: This 90 is as fresh inside as it is on the outside. For an interior that was first made in 1988, you would expect a few changes over the years: the plusher seats; a cubby box for extra storage and even brushed metal knobs to fit over your gear levers Below: As well as the panoramic window job on the rear, Shaun has got a NAS rear bumper and LED loghts too. The exhaust is also a straight-through affair with the rear section taken from a Td5

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The answer, however, was already parked on his drive. That old truckcab 90 Shaun bought back in 1999 for £3000 would become the project it was always destined to be. Shaun got his galvanised chassis and bulkhead, with the chassis painted black to make any snooping eyes see nothing but a normal, rust-prone Land Rover. A 200Tdi also sits upfront instead of the old 2.5 TD (19J) which was sold to a guy in the US. ‘It’s been through a complete nut and bolt restoration,’ says Shaun, ‘Every part is as-new, if not new. I went for the 200Tdi for the better power and the little more refinement it gives you – plus it was better than the 300Tdi on the points system, which you have to be wary of these days.’

You may recall the epic 130 fire truck that graced the front cover of our March issue earlier this year. That belonged to Brian Tonks, the man behind Tonks4x4 and the person largely responsible for why Shaun’s 90 is such a head-turner today.

‘Brian had never carried out a restoration to this standard before,’ chuckles Shaun. ‘In the end, he said

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I was the pickiest customer he’d ever come across!’

Shaun can’t have been too bad to often, though, because he and Brian are now good friends. He also went up to the workshop when time permitted, to help out in whichever way he could over the course of the six to eight month long project.

As Shaun says, not one bolt nor screw was left untouched, with every part galvanised or replaced with stainless steel where applicable. The engine was stripped down and rebuilt

by Brian; the gearbox was reconditioned and the axles have been refurbished, so that this Landy looks like a brand new Defender – yet it’s actually running on all the parts an enthusiast would want.

At the back you’ll notice the panoramic windows, fitted by the company formerly known as Landyglass. Shaun spotted their product at Peterborough and felt this was something he needed to have.

‘This is my fifth Land Rover,’ states Shaun. ‘My first was a soft-top Series III 2.25-litre petrol which I really enjoyed.

The second... not so much. It was a

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12-seater, 2.25-litre diesel with a 0-60 time of eventually,’ laughs Shaun.

‘I think growing up, looking at Land Rovers, they were something I aspired to own – although if I’d had that 12-seater Land Rover first, I’m not sure I’d still have one today!’

Shaun’s dad and uncle were always fiddling with cars and now even his daughter, Kim, fancies being the proud owner of a Land Rover.

‘My daughter’s always liked them,’ says Shaun, ‘So I figured I might give her this one when she turns 21. I’ve changed my mind, though, she’s not having this one now,’ he smiles. ‘I’ve made it too nice!’

Well, when you’ve waited so long for the perfect vehicle, why let someone else have all the fun? You wouldn’t hand over your prized Amazon purchase or frothy coffee to someone else after all that time, would you?

For Shaun, he now has the SVX-inspired vehicle he always wanted. And while it may have taken longer to get to this stage in the first place, this is a Landy that has already served its time in a workshop – and you can be sure it won’t be going back anytime soon.

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Issue 18: August 2015

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‘The early eighties were something of a honeymoon period’

Bernard Tomkins has owned his 109” Hi-Cap since 1982. He bought it with less than 1000 miles on the clock, and it’s been a faithful friend ever since. Now it’s time to say goodbye, though – but it’s going to be a very fond farewell

Words and pictures Mike Trott

To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k

Y

Issue 18: August 2015

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ou should choose you friends wisely, they say. While they’re at it, they’ll tell you that ‘a man is known by the company he keeps.’ Certainly, good friends are hard to come by.

If these adages hold any truth, surely the same theory can be applied to the vehicles we choose to drive. Needless to say, to own a Land Rover you must have pretty impeccable taste in the first place – but then to be seen in a new Range Rover says you mix with the incrowd, whereas a scary 90 on 35” Ferret Frighteners suggests you like to run with a rougher set.

Much more than it is the case with normal cars, the relationships we

have with our Land Rovers are similar to those we have with other human beings. Some are dependable and trustworthy, full of character and packed with quirks you get to know and love.

Others will come and go in a flash, taking with them whatever brief memories they may have given you.

But there are some Land Rovers that just stick with you through thick and thin, becoming part of your life and a member of your family.

If you were to judge Bernard Tomkins on his Series III 109” Hi-Cap, you’d have to assume he looks after those who are closest to him. On the other hand, you’d have to say Bernard has been lucky to find himself such a

great friend, because as of the start of 2015 this is one of only 17 Hi-Caps left on the road in the country.

What’s more, Bernard has been the owner of this rare Land Rover for the last 33 years – almost from when it was first put together by the toughened hands of the Solihull workforce.

‘I’ve had this since 1982,’ says Bernard. ‘I was the second owner, actually.

The first was a farmer from Hampshire.

He’d bought the truck from an auction as at the time they were all being replaced by the 110s, so they were selling them off.

‘It had less than 1000 miles on the clock when I bought it, and still had the manufacturer’s warranty on it too.’

The early Eighties were something of a honeymoon period between the pair, with the 109” living on Bernard’s farm in Buckinghamshire from late 1982 onwards. The Land Rover has always been royally looked after, always kept under cover – and this workhorse of a Landy has repaid Bernard over the years during a relationship spanning more than three decades.

Of course, in any friendship there is the occasional moment of friction, and there may come a time when you need to be there to support those you care about with whatever issues they may be dealing with.

After Bernard and the Hi-Cap had known each other for around a decade, for example, it started to develop a bit of chassis rot and failed an MOT. ‘Over several years, we patched her up here and there to prevent it from getting any worse,’ he recalls. ‘But eventually we decided to bite the bullet and have a galvanised chassis fitted instead.’

Now, that’s not just the equivalent of buying your friend a sympathetic beer.

It’s more like lending him your wife.

It hasn’t been all take, take, take in this relationship, though. Bernard has certainly called upon the Series III to do him a favour or two as well.

Still, this rare piece of Solihull history hasn’t just been treated to a chassis upgrade then burdened with the duty of transporting grubby young children to and from different adventure grounds.

There’s been a lot of work carried out to keep this 33-year-old looking as good as it does now, as Bernard reveals.

This includes new springs, while the 2.25-litre petrol engine and gearbox are replacement components. That engine is also aided by a new carburettor and ignition coil.

‘There’s a new battery and fresh tyres, the hood is new – as are the hoops – and the original seats have been recovered,’ continues Bernard. ‘It’s been properly prepared and painted in the classic Pastel Green colour.’

This surely must be one of the bestkept Series III 109” Hi-Caps around… not that there’s much around in the way of competition, obviously.

‘It’s always been used as general farm transport,’ he says, ‘carrying animal feed and towing trailers, that sort of thing. I was also the local scout leader for many years. The truck has done a lot of miles taking scouts to summer camps and on various excursions.’

Continued overleaf

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There is, however, something that has been playing on Bernard’s mind for the last few years. And it means that soon, these best buddies will be going their separate ways.

Bernard is rapidly approaching his 80th birthday, you see. And sadly he admits that the poor Landy has done next to no miles over the last few years.

Besides, he says, if he’s being truly honest (as you should be with your best mates) he quite likes the luxury of power steering now!

‘I’ve had several Land Rovers over the years, including a 1949 Series I 80”, a 1950 80” and a long-wheelbase 1960 Series II,’ Bernard remarks. ‘I also ran an 88” Series III Truck Cab, which is when I visited the Bucks County Show and saw one of the Hi-Cap versions on the Land Rover stand. I said that if we have another, we should get one with a bigger body.’

And that’s precisely what happened.

Bernard was a tender 28 years of age when he bought his first Land Rover,

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each of them coming and going until he found one that he could trust to be a friend for life.

He used to run three different shooting syndicates and has been a keen marksman for many years. Owning the Hi-Cap gave him something tough and ready for cross-country action.

‘It’s been a good work tool and great off-road. There was very little competition back then. There wasn’t all these Jeeps and Japanese stuff being made. It was a time when Land Rover had the market to themselves,’ he smiles.

Things do change over the years and when you look back, even just at Land Rover, the company and its vehicles were much simpler back then. To be fair, everything was.

As with all things, however, you need to take the memories from the years gone by. And when Bernard finally sees his old friend disappear down the driveway for the last time, it will be those good times that come floating back.

Bernard’s pride and joy is now up for sale. He told me that he’d like the Series III Hi-Cap to go to an enthusiast and someone who will appreciate the rarity of the vehicle, and hopefully get another 33 years of enjoyment from this wonderful old Land Rover. If you think it’s for you, you can contact him direct on 01494 837549.

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A Happy Medium

‘the sva is hard work, but it musT be a positive thing’

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eople used to build hybrids because they wanted a 90 but couldn’t afford one. Nowadays, if you’re willing to put that much work into a project you’ll buy an actual 90 instead and do a complete rebuild on it – but there’s still one very good reason for building a hybrid.

This is, of course, that Land Rover never made a 100” Defender. Well it did, but only ever as a prototype.

Which is strange, because with the 90 being too small to be practical for many people and the 110 being too long for comfort off-road, you’re never far from someone whose ideal wheelbase would be bang in the middle.

Words Gary Noskill Pictures Steve Taylor Land Rover made plenty of 100” vehicles, of course – to wit, every Range Rover and Discovery over the course of many, many years. And a lot of them ended up as chassis donors during the golden age of hybrid building.

That age was over by 2003, when Jonathan Fearn built his 100” Land Rover. You’d started being able to get 90s and 110s at sensible money by then, and something else had come along too – the hated SVA test.

This threw a huge spanner in the works for hybrid builders by forcing them to meet a vast list of requirements when designing their vehicles. The basic idea is that every car on the road

should meet certain standards for safety reasons, but of course this is the world of bureaucracy and you won’t struggle to find people who’ve come away from the experience muttering about rules for rules’ sake.

Jonathan isn’t one of them. Working as a tree surgeon, he needed a Landy that would get him into orchards all year round and give him the space he needed for his tools, without carrying any unnecessary bulk. It’s never good to knock your clients’ apple trees down while manoeuvring.

The 100” wheelbase was therefore perfect for him, so building his own vehicle seemed like the obvious route.

Hybrid building went out of fashion a long time ago. But if you want a 100” Defender, it’s still the only way – and as it has turned out for those who’ve dared to brave the SVA test, not even the man from the ministry can change that…

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Above: A Fearn among ferns… yes, okay, we know where the door is…

And while the SVA test wasn’t going to make life any easier, he wasn’t grumbling about it. ‘It is hard work but I reckon it must be a positive thing. After all, it gives a sure-fire way of ensuring that your vehicle doesn’t pose a threat to you or other road users.’

That’s a verdict you hear from most people who’ve been through the SVA process and come out the other side: don’t rush, don’t panic, just read what the rule book says and if you follow it you’ll be fine. And, of course, you’ll have a better vehicle for your efforts.

Jonathan’s efforts started with what was to become his truck’s chassis. As we said above, most hybrids (whether 100” or shorter) were built on Range Rover or Discovery frames, but despite one of these being exactly the right length for him he instead opted to shorten one from a 110 – which of course created a lot of extra work.

Not that he’d agree – or at least, he’d say he was getting the hard work done first. ‘I actually think it’s as difficult to fit a Defender body to a Range Rover as it is to shorten a 110,’ he says. ‘The bodywork outriggers on the Range Rover are in the wrong place, so you’d need to weld regardless. Besides, I’ve probably got a stronger chassis as a result!’

Of course, one thing about putting a Defender body on a Range Rover chassis is that you have to cut off the back section and finish it off with a new rear crossmember. Using a 110 chassis meant that Jonathan… had to do this anyway, because he wanted to trim the departure angle by six inches. That was in addition to the 10” he took from the wheelbase, cutting it in the middle then sleeving it with box section inside and out. Adopting a belt-and-braces approach that’s evident throughout, he then punched holes through this part of the chassis and spot-welded them to make the repair stronger than ever.

All of this was completed in a barn near his home, although most of the work on the vehicle took place on his Continued overleaf

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Above: ‘I regard it as a much stronger engine than the 300Tdi or 2.5-litre turbo diesel.’ The words from Jonathan that suggest he’s a man who’s happy with his choice of engine. This 200Tdi was taken from a Discovery, a decision that is still popular today – but then you do need to do a little more work to slot it in, as the turbo and manifold are positioned the other way round on a Defender front drive. Inevitably, the chassis mods represented the biggest job of the entire build and, once completed, work on the hybrid continued at a rapid pace.

The truck’s body panels are made from shortened 110 parts. Jonathan decided to paint them in NATO green to match the chassis, because it makes for the easiest possible touch-ups.

‘Given the environment in which the car makes its living, panel damage is inevitable,’ he observes. By choosing a colour that is naturally quite dull, he was able to hand-paint the vehicle once a year and not be over-burdened with

guilt every time a tree branch reached out to get him.

If you’re building your own Land Rover, you have a free choice of engines. Well, you do within reason, at any rate, and Jonathan’s choice was very reasoned: a 200Tdi. ‘I regard it as a much stronger engine than the 300Tdi or 2.5-litre turbo diesel,’ he told us.

‘And I couldn’t contemplate the expense of running a petrol.’

Some would say the 200Tdi is less refined than the 300, but when you’re easing your way around an orchard that’s not exactly a big deal. The hybrid

does cover its fair share of road miles, though – in fact, when we met Jonathan he reckoned his average mileage was about 25,000, and that’s a lot by anybody’s standards.

You need something reliable for that, and as comfortable as possible on the road. The 200Tdi unit is perfectly refined for Jonathan’s tastes, and he is a big fan of its performance off-road – no small matter, because that’s a hobby to him and as well as being a tool of his trade this truck is also a toy.

Installing the engine was less straightforward than it might have

Left: Fairey by name, but not fairy by nature. This might be an old-fashioned winch, however, it will call it a day long after you’ve already gone to bed. This PTO-driven, front-mounted winch is just what Jonathan needs for when he’s out in the forests. Item can also be used for off-roading…

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Above: It’s a hybrid and, to Jonathan at least, 100-inches of pure perfection: a 110 chassis shortened to produce the holy grail of wheelbases. Throw in a 200Tdi, but keep all the charm of your 90 and pretty soon the horror of the SVA, soon goes away

‘I know how it all fits, which makes it easier to identify faults’

been, seeing as it came from a Discovery and needed all the usual prep work doing. Actually, back then it wasn’t ‘usual’ at all, it was just prep work, but even by that point in time Jonathan had noticed patterns in Tdi values which went on to become firmly entrenched.

‘There are a lot of early 1990s Discoverys around that are completely rotten,’ he remarked at the time, ‘but their engines are sweet as the day they left the factory. Defenders of that era, on the other hand, are more often than not still going strong.’ Obviously this latter fact has changed a bit, but it does very much remain the case that if you’ve got a 200Tdi from a Defender it’ll be worth plenty more than the same lump from a Discovery.

The engine is married to a standard five-speed LT77 manual, behind which Jonathan chose the transfer case from a 110 on account of its lower ratios.

He uses the truck a lot for towing, often in tough off-road conditions, so deeper gearing is an asset.

So too is the PTO-driven Fairey winch mounted on the front bumper.

This is slow but extremely strong and can be used all day without any danger of overheating – perfect for heavy-duty forestry work. Beneath the winch mount is a steering guard that was purchased from eBay: ‘I bought three

Turning the front wheels is the PAS set-up that came with the Tdi engine.

Jonathan reckons this is actually another bonus gained from deciding not to base the hybrid on a Range Rover chassis, as he thinks the turning circle on his truck is tighter as a result.

Also nice and tight is the closed-cell foam padding sandwiched beneath aluminium chequer plate in the cab, which provides ample soundproofing while still being easy to hose down. Jonathan made a box to house his stereo and CB, as well as various switches, and fitted a turbo gauge and a rev counter.

The great beauty of this vehicle from Jonathan’s point of view is that because he built it himself, he’s well placed to repair. ‘I know how it all fits together,’ he said, ‘which makes it a lot easier to identify faults.’

Building a hybrid is not easy, and doing it with the SVA on your case is enough to put many people off forever.

But Jonathan’s become living proof that you can create a unique work truck that follows the rules but still stands out.

Why would you do it these days?

The answer, of course, is that you wouldn’t. Not unless you were after something out of the ordinary, at least – and that, however much it hides its light under a bushel, is exactly what this Land Rover is.

of them,’ laughs Jonathan, ‘and sold the other two to fund mine!’

Covering so many road miles, anything more aggressive than a typical mud-terrain would be worn away to nothing in the blink of an eye (as well as being a loud, skittish handful at speed), but anything less would be useless at the business end of the journey.

Hence the 235x85R16 Colways you see in these pictures – that’s a brand which ages the story a bit, but there’s an interesting bit of thinking behind the use of remoulds here. Basically, Jonathan told us that on his many road miles, any mud-terrain is going to wear quickly – so, since he’s going to be replacing them frequently come what may, he might as well fit ronnies to keep the cost down.

Keeping the tyres pressed to the ground, on went a set of heavy-duty Bearmach +1.5” springs. These are fitted at the back using spacers to keep the ride level. In fact, the extended springs were chosen not to give the vehicle a lift, but simply to compensate for the weight of the winch. That’s one reason why they were fitted next to standard shocks – another being that Jonathan likes to renew these regularly, so going with everyday parts was cheaper than fitting anything trick. The whole suspension is polybushed, which keeps it nice and tight.

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Copper’s Delight Issue 18: August 2015

We all have our dreams – especially when it comes to which Land Rover we’d like in our garage.

That’s why Steve Jones didn’t need to think twice when he spotted his dream on eBay

Words and Pictures: Mike Trott

B

ack when I was a whippersnapper and still had something called ‘playtime,’ I would often spend my days pretending to stage motorsport events by using my bedroom floor as some sort of stadium or track.

It was jolly good fun and I can recall some of the best and favourite car models I had. Needless to say, they were the best until a new one magically rocked up, courtesy of Mummy and Daddy, when the now ancient model would be cast aside like one of my soiled nappies.

While I may have been playing the role of Bernie Ecclestone in what seemed a grand event at the time, I always knew that driving one of these models for real would be on another level to what I was involved in at the time – that being lobbing a Hot Wheel across the floor before sauntering off to find the next toy to preoccupy me for a further five minutes.

You’d think most people would lose that ‘buzz’ as they get older – not for Hot Wheels but for the love of fourwheeled glory – but I certainly haven’t.

That probably has something to do with the reason I’m sitting here typing these very words.

bought your Land Rover or why you never thought to get rid of it.

Some people will have their ideal Land Rover, too. Others can’t make up their mind… like me – I’ll take one of each please! It’s all in the daydreaming really, just like when I was a kid.

‘I remember when this edition of the P38 was first launched and thinking to myself, “I will never be able to afford one of those”,’ says Steve, with a slight grin playing across his face.

There is a very good reason why Steve, and probably the majority of the

Yep this is No. 6 of 100. A rare car this... The Duke of Edinburgh has No. 1, don’t you know You can’t have lost the ‘buzz’ either, I mean I still get the ‘buzz’ from the smell of petrol every time I fill up… that’s just me, right? The point is that you’re here because you love Land Rovers; something about them draws you in and it might be the reason you

Happily, though, when it comes to police officers you have a breed who spend a bit of time with their heads in the clouds as well. Or at least, that can be said about what Steve Jones did when he first laid eyes upon the Range Rover P38 50th Anniversary Edition.

UK’s population, felt that they would never own what was the last vehicle ever developed by Land Rover before the company was taken over by ze BMW boffins in Germany.

From launch, this Range Rover P38A 50th Anniversary ‘Vogue 50’ Limited

Edition model cost £71,000 – the most expensive Land Rover ever made, at the time.

Back when Steve was still a copper, he probably imagined he’d have to catch someone off the ‘Most Wanted’ list or to resort to bank robbery himself in order to gather enough funds to buy one of these things.

Happily, there is something called depreciation and P38s have plummeted in price like real estate in Greece. In fact, these days you can pick up any sort of P38 for a couple of grand – though there’s an obvious reason why you wouldn’t. Even so, special edition models are not much more…

‘This was another one of those classic eBay buys; I bought the Range Rover around four years ago, back in March 2011,’ states Steve. ‘I like owning different vehicles,’ he continues, nodding to a Proton lying in the driveway.

‘I hate them in one way; years ago, if your car didn’t run it would be because of one of two things – either the spark plugs were dodgy, or the fuel was dodgy.

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‘On my first run back after collecting this P38, I got in and went to move the seat and the fuse blew! And it wouldn’t engage gear from ‘Park’,’ exclaims Steve.

Trouble-free motoring is not what you should expect when the three symbols P, 3 and 8 are involved. Steve tells us that the air suspension can take ten minutes to settle properly before he can actually begin his journey.

You’d think with all the grief from this Rangey and the fact he’s had three more P38s previously that Steve would be sick to the back teeth of this model of Land Rover, never mind smiling.

Well, while he admits he probably won’t be replacing this with another one, Steve is quick to reaffirm that he‘s never regretted owning this one of only 100 50th Anniversary models made.

‘Owning a P38 is always going to be a bit hit and miss – I’ll admit this one has been the most troublesome.

It was my daily runner up until about six months ago,’ Steve explains. ‘My missus would refuse to drive it, purely because she was never sure if it would get her home!’

In the midst of all the Rangey’s gloomy tantrums and Steve cursing the thing to hell in return, there have been moments when the two have been in harmony and those rain clouds have soon melted away.

‘The feeling of owning it and driving it is fantastic. I remember the first time I drove it and the feeling was just how I imagined it would be when I first saw it all those years ago,’ enthuses Steve. ‘It’s like living out one of those boyhood dreams!’

The attraction to this particular P38 – model #6 out of the 100 produced (HRH Prince Philip owns #1) – was the LPG conversion that came already installed – keeping the wonderful 4.6-litre V8 soundtrack, but allowing Steve to travel around on 45p-a-litre of juice.

‘People will comment on it, especially people with Land Rovers. They say, “Oh that’s nice”,’ repeats Steve. ‘If you drive round in a Land Rover it normally means you’re into your marque – except for if it’s the newer stuff.

I’m sure when Steve set eyes on the Atlantis Blue paintwork four years ago, he wouldn’t have cared that the Range Rover was now 13 years old. And that’s often the reason we dig our vehicles.

It doesn’t matter how old they are or how many years have passed since we first fell for them: if you yearned for a vehicle earlier in life, it will still draw you in today.

‘It’s an oxymoron, this car: the most problematic Range Rover I’ve had, but the best by far,’ adds Steve. ‘I had a Land Cruiser before and although that was a better vehicle – more power and better at towing – it just wasn’t as good.

It didn’t feel as special.’

Steve has driven and now owns what he would have perceived to be the most luxurious car he’d ever witnessed back in 1998. He doesn’t dream anymore – he’s done it.

And if you ever get a chance to live out a childhood fantasy too, do the right thing and capture it… that is, of course, unless you own it already. In which case I, for one, envy you.

Right: Cream leather with blue piping, a wooden steering wheel and electronics that still don’t work – would you pay £71,000 today?

‘The feeling was just how I imagined it would be’

Above: Ahh, the scene of Steve’s first problem with this P38. A blown fuse moments after he collected it...

Issue 18: August 2015

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It may have taken 13 years to get to the point where Steve could actually sit and drive his dream machine – and yes the leather has probably seen better days. But when he found this Range Rover on eBay, his heart will have skipped a beat and his wallet come out of his pocket faster than you can say, er, ‘air suspension’…

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Getting the right tan Words and beauty tips: Mike Trott Pictures and make-up: Russell Stevens

There is nothing wrong with admiring a good tan. And when Russell Stevens showed us the brilliant brown hue of his 110” County Station Wagon, we cooed over this Landy like no other

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rown is one of those unusual colours that can – in the right shade – look completely fantastic. On the other hand, get that tone of brown wrong and the only thing people will comment on is how it resembles the colour of skid marks… and not the rubber kind.

I think it would be unwise to progress any further without giving some necessary examples. Of different tones, I mean, not (ahem) skid marks.

Jennifer Lopez possesses a rather admirable complexion (among other things) and I’d be surprised if anyone

would debate that this good use of the colour brown. Chocolate: that’s another one we can put a big desirable tick next to, along with conkers and the grizzly bear of North America, even.

Although, if you had to choose whether you’d like the grizzly around for dinner, or J Lo, it would be the quickest decision made in the history of the world. I digress.

It’s not always a pleasant colour, however. In terms of cars especially, it can be a cesspit (there’s another brown thing) of catastrophes. Consider some of the vinyl interiors from a few of

British Leyland’s more disastrous creations, for instance.

Even Land Rover had a dodgy tan moment or two a few years back; the Land Rover 110 County Station Wagon came in an array of colour schemes, but who could forget the Arizona Tan option that would allow any owner to blend in with the stuff on the bottom of their shoe?

Now, I must confess, I’ve never really fancied that colour and have indeed associated it with pig muck more than the glow of J Lo. However, I’m open-minded and as such I can gladly say I have

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Issue 18: August 2015

We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk been converted, mainly thanks to a man called Russell Stevens.

He owns this 1983 110 County Station Wagon with the 3.5-litre V8 engine. And it’s the reason I now want a brown Land Rover… just look at it!

‘The Land Rover has only been in my possession since the start of this year,’ says Russell. ‘I was looking specifically for a V8 Station Wagon and came across this one by chance. The owner’s son was advertising another Land Rover which I missed out on. He sent me a photo of this one, which his father, a well renowned vehicle restorer, had lovingly carried out a nut and bolt rebuild on over a ten-year period.’

Lovingly is one word for it. The paintwork looks like it’s had the finest cocoa mass in the world carefully smeared over every crevasse.

‘Although it was off the road when I bought it, the truck has only covered about 100 miles since the restoration was completed and had been undercover since 2009,’ continues Russell.

He’s carried out a few bits of work himself to get this chocolatey goddess back to its very best. All the oils and fluids have been changed and Russell has seen to a noisy pinion in the front diff by replacing it with a new one. One MOT ticket later, and this Landy is brownie heaven.

‘All is now excellent and the V8 sounds amazing with the tubular manifolds and stainless steel exhaust,’ beams Russell.

‘This was a labour of love by a real professional, classic car restorer who

had done a lot of work on vehicles for collectors, including Rolls-Royce.’

There’s a touch of Rolls-Royce about this Landy, too. You’ll find it’s not actually one of Land Rover’s own colour codes on this truck – no, the Arizona Tan has given way to Rolls-Royce Nutmeg Brown instead. Not that I’ve been trying to deceive you or anything.

This 110 did start life out of the factory in Arizona Tan, a colour politely described by Russell as ‘somewhat dull.’

To be fair, most of these murky brown Land Rovers you see from the Eighties have been left in a field to fester and the paint looks about as fresh and youthful as the crowd at a Rolling Stones gig.

But when someone comes along and actually gives the poor thing a bit of moisturiser and sends it for a day out at the spa – aka a proper body shop, not the kind that sells lavender and ylang ylang shampoo – you can have yourself quite the head turner.

The beauty is more than just skindeep, too.

‘A Richard’s galvanised chassis has been fitted and all the suspension and drivetrain has been replaced or restored,’ declares Russell. ‘The new Rover V8 engine was provided by Dunsfold Land Rover and upgraded with Edelbrock carbs, Mallory ignition, tubular manifolds, an SS stainless exhaust, high-torque starter motor and twin Kenlowe fans,’ he adds. Admit it, you’re jealous.

‘All the brakes, hubs, hoses and the wiring loom have all been replaced. The original seat cover material was tracked down and the original head lining is still in place.

‘I have receipts for around £20,000 for the restoration and that doesn’t include the hundreds of hours of dedicated labour!

‘I also own a Defender 110 that is not yet a year old and the factory panel-fit and finish is nowhere near as good as on this County.’

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Above: Another tone that is equally satisfying to see is the silvery shimmer of a galvanised chassis – in this case from Richards Chassis. It’s not just the chassis that has received a new look either, with the suspension and drivetrain being completely replaced or refreshed, to make this 32-year-old vehicle feel like it’s back in the Eighties There’s no doubt someone felt this 110 was very special; at least special enough to warrant such time and effort on making it more wonderful than ever.

The quality of its tan isn’t the only special thing about it either. Being built in 1983 means this County Station Wagon was one of the first 110s to emerge from the production line. However, the story could go even further than that…

‘The seat box-mounted transfer box lever and the sliding windows indicate that this might possibly be a pre-production model,’ notes Russell.

‘Although it can’t be confirmed, its early ownership history is thought to have been with a landowner in Scotland. It then came south and found a number of previous owners in Middlesex before passing to the restorer and finally, to me.

Continued overleaf

Above: That’s not a style of interior design you tend to see anymore! And often for good reason too – though when it’s in this good condition, would you really care? It would be warmer than leather in winter anyhow and keep you cooler in the summer, because you won’t have leather seats that have been heated up to the same temperature as the surface of the sun…

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Issue 18:August 2015

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Above: You could be forgiven for thinking this is a peek under the bonnet of some rip-roaring V8-powered American muscle car, but you’ll find it’s actually the best of British – or it was anyway. The Rover 3.5-litre V8 has been given Edelbrock carbs, tubular manifolds and a Mallory ignition system, a high-torque starter motor, twin Kenlowe fans and an SS stainless exhaust. Sweet ‘This is a truly extraordinary vehicle in a condition that would make it very hard to be used off-road. Land Rovers should be used for what they were intended of course, but in this case, highly capable as it might be, I just don’t think that is an option. That beautiful Nutmeg Brown finish just does not lend itself to green laning.’

The man knows what’s good for the skin of his 110. Ladies, perhaps Russell may even have a few cosmetic tips for you, too… not running your face along a holly bush would probably be a helpful one.

On a more serious note, I wish this Land Rover were in my garage at home.

If it was, then I could spend my days

sitting on a chair nearby, gawping at the brown splendour, then take a break by looking at that magnificent engine bay.

A tip from me though: while staring for hours at your Land Rover could result in you being called eccentric, don’t do it to celebrity women. Or else you will be called something entirely different… and you don’t want that.

Even though Russell has only had this vehicle since the start of the year, he’s already getting swallowed up in other projects, and as such, he’s looking for someone to give this brown beauty another home. If you appreciate a fine body... step this way, and call Russell on 07788 148504

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Posh Way Rou Issue 18: August 2015

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Overlanding is all about prepping a 110 and roughing it around the world, right? Maybe, in the classic image of a basic Land Rover with a tent on the roof. But instead of that, Jen and Noam Ben Tsion hit the road in a completely standard Discovery 3 – and enjoyed a world-class adventure in style

Words Mike Trott Pictures Jen and Noam Ben Tsiom

A

sk any overlander, and they’ll tell you that the simplest vehicles are the best. There’s less to go wrong in the first place – and if the worst should happen, the simpler the vehicle is the closer you’ll be to someone who can make it right.

That’s why overlanders choose Defenders to trust with their lives. Every so often, you’ll see someone doing it in an early Disco or Range Rover. But a Discovery 3? That’s just asking for trouble, right?

Well, Jen and Noam Ben Tsion are both very keen travellers. They wanted to set off in a Land Rover and go where they pleased, not where bus tours and trek leaders wanted to take them. And in April 2011, they left their jobs, left home and set out to do just that.

‘My main concerns were getting arrested, being locked up somewhere truly awful and, worse, not being able to find vegetarian food for Jen!’ says Noam. Nothing about needing universal-jointed wrists to change a timing belt, then.

Fortunately, they planned to go further than France, so vegetarianism wasn’t a problem. The pair also escaped the wrath of the Australian desert (just) and the wildernesses of Mongolia, Russia and many other places along the way.

And yes, they did it all in an actual Discovery 3. Boudicca, as she was named. Not only was she a Discovery 3, she was a 2006 Discovery 3 – so, one from early on in the production run. And you know what they say about those.

‘We wanted it to be a nice experience,’ explains Jen. ’So why not have the heated seats for Siberia and the air-con for Australia? We also wanted the added security of being able to sleep in the vehicle if necessary, so the middle row of seats were removed and we created a sleeping platform – we got ourselves an IKEA mattress and fashioned some curtains with Velcro drawbacks. It was homely!’

The pair were even able to fit a small kitchen in the back of their Discovery, too. Their own kitchen at home, meanwhile, had become like a scene from an FBI thriller, with pins dotted all over a world map. It was, as Jen put it, like a game of dot-to-dot, trying to formulate some sort of route by connecting them up.

Speaking of routes, Jen and Noam’s time in Europe was as much about adventure as it was a test run for the more remote regions they would encounter next. Let’s run you through: UK, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Russia and Kazakhstan.

You want more? Onwards they went to Siberia and Mongolia before turning south through China and working their way through Laos, Cambodia and Thailand, then finishing off their expedition in Australia. What you’re feeling right now, that’s called envy.

‘The time we spent in Europe did allow us to test all the gear out,’ continues Jen, who did most of the driving. ‘Once you get east of Italy, going through the likes of Albania and Turkey, it changes very quickly.

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Issue 18: August 2015 South Cape Bay - Tasm ania

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Mmm… me hungry!

The Outback Way in Oz ‘We didn’t really encounter any problems. Boudicca was no trouble at all; we had the odd flat tyre, but not much else.’

While the pair did stick to mainly existing routes on their travels, as we all know there are plenty of places in the world where that still means you’re off-tarmac. Not that even that was enough to keep Jen happy. ‘Laos was particularly nice, and good for a bit of off-roading,’ she says. ‘There was lots of red mud to go and play in!’

Another overland rule flouted, there – seasoned travellers will tell you that you should never subject your truck to unnecessary hardship. But what do they know anyway? Enough to tell you not to drive a Discovery 3, obviously.

With so many exotic lands on the itinerary, it must be hard to pick a fa-

vourite. For Noam, though, the North of Mongolia was the perfect area for an outdoor enthusiast.

‘People in Siberia were always happy to help if you needed it,’ adds Jen. ‘We found Russia quite isolated at times, but then you’d come across a truly amazing oasis out of nowhere.’

At night, Jen and Noam were able to camp next to deserted lakesides, barren landscapes or at the foot of vast mountain ranges. That tailgate certainly came in useful anyway, not least for cooking on or, if the weather wasn’t matching the backdrop, they could use it to plan the following legs of the journey.

Going back to the Discovery 3 once more, the truck may have been embarking on a goliath pilgrimage but there was nothing goliath about

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Issue 18:August 2015

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Ayutthaya

Farming in Dali

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its modifications. In fact, there weren’t any. At last, conventional wisdom is being followed. Boudicca managed the whole trip on standard road tyres and even helped out a couple of other Landies along the way.

‘We had to use the Terrain Response system and Hill Descent Control at different points, and the car coped very well,’ recalls Jen. There was a 110 with us at one stage of the trip and Boudicca did everything that it did.’

Whether it was terrain they were taking on or cultures they were taking in, Boudicca’s occupants came away with memories from so many different settings. Even here in Europe, people can forget how diverse cultures can be – even between places as close together as the UK and France, never mind Albania and Montenegro. So on a proper long-haul journey like this, you really are going to experience places that are a world apart in every sense.

Here’s a snippet from their journey that you probably wouldn’t hear from someone visiting the UK, for example.

While searching for a route in Georgia, Jen and Noam, were stopped – quite literally – for a tea party.

They’d stumbled across a village called Kalicaya, a place they will remember for its hospitality like no other.

‘Locals, mostly old men, were sitting outside around wooden tables, playing cards and sipping tea,’ says Noam. ‘We were passing slowly when one of them spotted us, walked into the road and signalled us to pull over. When we did, he started to fire orders to his friends and immediately our table was ready with chairs, tea, sugar and cookies.’

Every overlander has stories like these. And everyone who has never overlanded doesn’t. Reasons to go overlanding, part 47b…

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Issue 18: August 2015

We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk China was a rather different experience. Here, Jen and Noam were met at the border and ‘guided’ through – you’re never alone in China. That’s not to say they didn’t get to enjoy it, though – there are always surprises with trips like these, some good and some bad, but hopefully the latter is outweighed by the former.

Tuva, for example, has a bad name.

Before Jen and Noam went there, they were warned they could be knifed or even stoned by drunken locals. One of the most southerly regions of Siberia, it’s considered particularly dangerous.

‘This place is famous for throat singing; they’re really big on their music,’ says Jen. ‘People in Kyzyl, the capital, warned us to stay in compounds for safety. We met a nomad, though, who invited us to his family camp, and there we spent some time learning about their culture, riding their horses and eating their foods. Ignore the warnings – to not go would be missing out. It is simply beautiful.’

As Jen and Noam drifted from place to place, they kept postcards along the way, pinning them up on the ceiling of the Discovery so that at night they could look back at the journey so far.

‘I think if we went again, we’d try to factor in places like Afghanistan and Pakistan,’ says Jen. ‘I wish we could have done those, but they’re not the easiest to get visas for.’

Crossing border can be a bit of a jaunt, but breaching the best before date on your tomatoes can give you different problems. Jen and Noam’s Disco may have had most things, but it didn’t have a fridge. No, overland experts of the world, not even that. ‘Next time, we’ll take one with us and I’d recommend it. Stuff just keeps that bit longer between stocking up.’

There was another problem towards the end of the trip, which provided the sort of memory you look back on and shudder. Picture this: you’re travelling along one of the Outback’s many endless dusty tracks, when all of a sudden your Land Rover decides to shed one of its four wheels. This then rolls off into the distance in a bid for freedom, like a prisoner from The Great Escape.

‘It was a clenching moment for sure,’ remembers Jen. They had to fix up Boudicca after grinding to a halt in the red road, which meant handing over more than a few Australian dollars.

Unfortunately, the parts had to be shipped over, so while the Disco was being repaired, the couple carried on towards their next port of call. They managed to fit in Victoria and Tasmania too, but that’s as far as their most recent chapter goes.

‘We’d like to do the Pan-American Highway at some point,’ says Jen with a bit of a twinkle in her eye. ‘I think that

Tuva

Georgia Tzetzerlag-Bayankhangu

r at 4,000m

Laos

will be next. When you’re out there you really do feel free. Obviously you do have to think about some things – like where you’re going to get your next load of water from, or diesel!’

After Jen and Noam finished their expedition, Boudicca was passed on to Gary, their mechanic. And there she stays. ‘He knows where she’s been and

has given her a good home,’ says Jen. But they’re looking to the future now – and while Boudicca won’t be returning to the Outback, they’ll certainly be back on the open road one day.

What will they be driving this time?

Time will tell. But you can be sure they won’t listen to convention any more than they did last time.

Angkor

Jen and Noam covered three continents and tens of thousands of miles during their adventure, and Noam has written a book about their journey, called Overlanding: A Drive to the Other Side of the World. It’s available on Kindle, with all proceeds being donated to Mountain Rescue, England and Wales. If you’re into travelling, it’s well worth a read – and their website, www.landroveroverland.co.uk, is well worth a visit too.

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38 LAND ROVERS AND PARTS FOR SALE w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k

Issue 18: August 2015

Series I

Possibily ex-Civil Defence. Good, non-transferable number plate.

No tax or MOT needed. Has been dry-stored for several years but is now outside and in need of a new home. £4750. Beccles, Suffolk, 07544 147066 06/15

Series I double-cab (1955).

Not for Landy purists (who I have the greatest respect for), this truck is fitted with a 200Tdi engine and PAS. This makes it easy to drive, and it has seat belts fitted throughout. I am selling in order to buy a one-owner, original, 1948 Series I – no other reason. £12,995. Rye, Kent.

Email tor@assignment-media.co.uk, quoting box number L07/15/001 07/15

88” Series I hard-top (1957).

For Restoration and Repair. SWB hard-top with windows. 2.0-litre petrol – engine is partly dismantled and not running. Chassis and bulkhead rusted. Original logbook and V5. In present ownership for more than 20 years.

Series II

Series II 109” (1963). MOT May 2016, tax exempt. Unique long-bonnet conversion, with bulkhead moved back the length of the front doors and rear doors from a station wagon fitted with the tops removed. Chassis and bulkhead stripped down and welded where required then prepped for rebuild. Bonnet fabricated using 2 bonnets and some extra aluminium, front wings elongated to match. The steering drag link was manufactured by a local engineering firm to cater for the extra length required. Rover P5B high-compression V8 and LT95 gearbox, with new clutch pressure and friction plates and release bearing. Points removed and electronic ignition system fitted, with a new Distributor Doctor coil and electric fuel pump. Fully Polybushed suspension. Axles

from a 6-cylinder 109” with new brake shoes and wheel cylinders, and new flexi hoses and copper pipes throughout. Steering wheel refurbished, wheels shot-blasted and sprayed black, fitted with 4 very good General Grabber tyres and a different spare. All new lights, including halogen headlights. New bikini hood.

Body painted with synthetic black which has been flatted back lightly to give a matt finish.

Speedo and one wiper motor not working and need attention.

There’s more that could be done, or you could just use it the way it is. £5000. Ilminster, Somerset, 07977 556967

Classic Series II 109” pick-up (1964). 97,500 miles. Tax-free, with MOT. Perkins engine in excellent condition. Comprehensive restoration with chassis repairs, new brakes, wheel cylinders, brake and clutch master cylinders, rad, recon injectors and pump, new battery, lights all round, new starter motor, top-quality seats.

FWH and draw bar. £6000. Stanton Harcourt, Oxon, 01865 883208 or 07769 824913 07/15

GUMTREE 4x4 SpecialiStS in land rover, range rover, diScovery, freelander and all 4x4s servicing, repairs, conversions, rebuilds & chassis replacements. performance and off road modifications. established in 1981, located in mid-sussex

tel: 01444 241457 info@gumtree4x4.co.uk

to sale price, two aluminium door tops. £4950 ono. Southampton, daryl@agcl.com

Series II 88” (1961). Perkins 4.203 diesel with overdrive. MOT May 2016, tax exempt. Bought three years ago, fortune spent since then on giving it sound underpinnings. New radiator, starter motor, battery, electric fan, injectors, fabricated manifold, front bumper, prop shaft, front springs, dampers, steering swivels, brakes and halfshafts, plus fully reconditioned Fairey overdrive, Discovery diffs and reconditioned gearbox plus new clutch. Drives really well, starts first time every time in the summer and has hot (flame) start in the winter. Does 60mph on the motorway, also has freewheeling front hubs. The body has dents, paintwork needs attention and door frames have rusted out – this was next on my list but I don’t have the time to finish the vehicle or enjoy it fully.

The Land Rover also comes with a radiator muff, spare wheel, new rear mudflaps with the logo (not fitted), a tailor-made canvas divider to help keep the front of the cabin warm in winter (the heater does work, but struggles to warm the whole interior) and, subject

Series IIA 88” (1962). 30,500 miles. Fairey overdrive and safari roof. Tax exempt. I don’t have any history, but it’s apparent that the vehicle has had a body-off renovation, with the chassis and bulkhead restored to a high standard. The Fairey overdrive is fitted and working, and the gearbox parts to remove it are also present. The engine is a 5-bearing 2.5, but fitted with the original carburettor. I think it’s ex-military, as it has oversize drum brakes and a servo. The brakes really work well. It starts well, with a push-button starter (ie no solenoid), dynamo, good battery and all 5 tyres. This is a very good IIA restoration with some subtle upgrades which make it very functional as something for actual use. I’ve only owned it for a month, and am only selling because with 3 other Landies there’s no room on

the drive! Photos of the chassis etc available on request. £5500.

Bridgwater, Somerset, 07768 057585

88” Series II (1959). 51,000 genuine miles. Very early Series II using the 2.0-litre diesel engine.

Recently sympathetic restoration to original working standard, cost more than £5000. Solid chassis, sealed underside. Newly painted.

Engine restored to a perfect standard, runs beautifully with no smoke. Fitted with an overdrive, which kicks in well and runs very smoothly. New canvas roof and upholstered seats. MOT and tax exempt. A rare and beautiful Land Rover. £10,000. Rolvenden, Kent, 07743 709095 06/15

Series III

109” Series III (1974).

Ex-military 3.5 V8 project – nearly finished, comes with 100s

of spares. Heavy-duty chassis, overdrive, wing reinforcements, longer seat legroom. No tax or MOT, on SORN since August last year (last MOT passed with no advisories!) Chassis is original, fully undersealed and in excellent solid condition for age. Front and rear crossmembers in superb condition. Bodywork very good condition. Rock solid Defender bulkhead, modified to accommodate V8 engine and Series III brakes, throttle, windscreen hinges etc. Gearbox, overdrive and axles all in good condition.

FWH. New clutch, including 9.5” pressure plate and both cylinders. Good brakes and tyres, recently sealed canvas in average condition for age. Engine makes good oil pressure but appears to need new head gaskets and could do with a tune up. New aluminium radiator and Steve Parker exhaust. Spares include low-mileage gearbox and axles, springs, bonnet, propshafts, hood sticks, bulkhead, panels and more. Loom for brake and rear indicator lights needs replacing.

Very little work required for MOT. NB the amount of spares means you will need two trips or a very large trailer! Very reluctant sale due to lack of time and a house move. £2499. Alderley Edge, Cheshire, 07902 078430 06/15

88” Series III (1974). 200Tdi with PAS. 106,049 miles. Tax exempt. MOT Feb 2016 (no advisories). Engine starts, runs and pulls really well. Excellent bulkhead and chassis with recent new rear crossmember. Fully undersealed.

New Parabolic springs and ProComp shocks. Fully polybushed.

Front and rear 13,000lb winches, twin batteries with T-Max splitcharging system. Front winch bumper and rock sliders. Rear roll bar with work lights. Disco diffs and FWH. Rebel steering guard.

Front prop spacer. 265/75R16 Insa Turbo Special Tracks. Wheel spacers. New adjustable height towbar with electrics. Defender seats (good condition). Heater works fine! £3895. Hull, 07973 849078 06/15

Series III 88” pick-up 2.25 petrol (1977). Extremely good vehicle, but engine seized so for sale as a project. Was in use as a daily driver, 60 miles a day 5 days a week, until a top end bearing went on the previous engine and the cheap one I bought to

replace it turned out to be a dud.

I no longer have time to spend on it, however the vehicle would be ideal for a turbo-diesel conversion as everything else on it is perfect, much better than most Land Rovers you see. I would swap for another interesting vehicle so don’t hesitate to ask.

The Land Rover is still taxed, insured and MOT’d, and has 4 brand new tyres with inner tubes which have done less than 200 miles. £3500. Stroud, Gloucs, 07742 918994 07/15

Series III 109” 24V FFR (1983).

Winterised ex-military 2.25 petrol. 24,000 miles. Fully rebuilt and first registered in January this year – only done 205 miles since then. Demobbed 17 years ago and sat unregistered in a farmer’s field ever since until I bought it to restore. I’ve fitted full new fuel, brake and clutch systems (every last component in each is new).

Repainted, full engine service, new wiper arms and blades.

Engine now runs nicely and never fails to start. Being a winterised model, this Landy has a massive heater between the seats which keeps it really warm. I have its Forces service history along with a letter proving the date of build, which in turn helped me get it registered. So this really is a 1983 Land Rover with one owner in the logbook! I can’t justify keeping it sat on the driveway as an ornamant (plus if I am honest I rather enjoy the rebuilding, so when this one is sold I will be buying another project). This is a 33 year old Series Land Rover so will need regular maintenance, but as any Landy owner knows that is the norm! £3000. Nottingham, 07969 724374

Lightweight

Series III Lightweight FFR 24v (1984). 34,000 miles. 11 months’ MOT (no advisories). First issued to 40 Royal Marine Commando and stayed until decommissioned in 1999 (I have paperwork to prove this). This Lightweight has been upgraded by the military as it was issued to special forces, with Wolf wheels and bigger front brake shoes. It also has an overdrive gearbox. It drives great, all nice and tight on the road. The camo baskets on the bonnet were only put on special forces forward operating vehicles. The engine is fitted with waterproof HT leads,

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Issue 18: August 2015

We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk distributor cap etc. Paint has flaked with jet washing, showing original colours below including desert paint, and the vehicle is also fitted with a Land Rover desert sun visor. It comes with canvas, jerry cans, water can, hoops, union flag as issued by the Ministry of Defence. £3195.

Wirral, Merseyside, 07598 689135 07/15

Series III Lightweight (1980).

Galvanised chassis in 2010, LPG with certificate, just had full respray and body renovation.

Reconditioned engine 6000 miles ago. Overdrive, Parabolic springs, Rocky Mountain shocks, FWH, Arctic heater, brake servo, La Salle headlining with speakers and stereo, rear seats and belts, Exmoor Trim front seats and full matting set (sound deadening covering seat box, tunnel and floors).

4 new tyres, new door tops, twin fuel tanks. Big bundle of receipts. £6995. Guisborough, Cleveland, 01287 654333

Lightweight hybrid (1969 / 1980). This is a V8 off-roading beast! Road-legal and MOT’d.

Range Rover engine and auto box. Grizzly-Claw tyres (with the usual off-roading cuts and cracks). I’ve had so much fun with this Landy, but work commitments means it’s time to go (sadly). It has been an offroad toy for me so please don’t expect it to be clean, polished and dent free! This is a fantastic off-roader – a great bit of cheap fun. Some will use and abuse as it as is, others will want to iron out its wrinkles. £3250. Stafford, 07880 715028

90

Defender 90 off-roader. MOT Dec. Converted from a 110 in 1993. Discovery 200Tdi engine, just had full cam belt kit including tensioner, water pump and radiator, and good second-hand turbo fitted. Good chassis, bulkhead looks mint. External cage mounted to body. Tubular front end. LED headlights, sidelights, indicators and tail lights. Raptor dash, Puma bonnet, cubby box, Scooby seats (3 seats in back as removed 4th for tools etc). 285/75R16 Insa Turbo Special Tracks. 30mm wheel spacers. New +2” lift springs 3

months ago. Shock relocation kit with 11” travel shocks and dislocation cones all round. Twin snorkels (one for heater, which needs finishing). Diff guards, steering guards, bush cables, rock sliders, brand new tank guard.

Winch bumper (no winch). Swing away wheel carrier. Tow bar with electrics. Spare A-frame ball joint supplied as it will need one soon. £POA. Doncaster, 07429 145045 06/15

Defender 90 2.4 TDCi County Hard-Top Overland Edition 1 (2011). 30,150 miles. Santorini Black. Huge Spec includes Style Pack, Convenience Pack, Exterior Pack and Roof Appointment Pack.

Full Overland Edition 1 conversion comprising 160bhp performance upgrade, Black LR Overland badges, KBX Premium Grille in bright silver, 18” BFGoodrich tyres on gloss black Boost Sport alloys, front and rear RDX white light kit, halogen crystal headlights with HID bi-xenon bulbs, privacy glass, Twisted Performance alloy steering guard, chequer plate kit, NAS rear step with towbar and electrics, Goodwinch front winch on heavy-duty bumper, Momo Evo 350mm steering wheel, sound deadening in rear hub, panelled and carpeted load area, Alpine audio with Bluetooth phone prep, rear seat conversion with Genuine Span Modus cloth seats and belts. Serviced by Land Rover. £19,000 (£15,833 plus VAT). Bradford, 07770 995017

Defender 90 TD5 County (2003). Challenge vehicle with massive spec. 68,000 miles, full MOT. Very straight and tidy, just had full respray. Comes with factory-fitted electric windows, full remote central locking and immobiliser. Stage 2 engine remap (off-road/torque map).

Professionally fitted challenge front end, HD winch bumper, Warn winch with synthetic rope.

TDCi Puma bonnet. Terrafirma +2” springs and +5” shocks in -2” turrets. Qt 6-degree cranked arms, Terrafirma double-cranked rear arms. 2” lift blocks. Sumo bars, steering guard and Terrafirma damper. Good quality snorkel and hardmade side-exit exhaust (sounds unreal!) Small steering wheel. 35x12.50R16 Maxxis Mudzillas on modulars with 2” spacers. Both axles upgraded to TDCi hi-capacity 4-pin diffs and HD 110 rear halfshafts. Body sliders and rock sliders. Many recent parts including new rad, alternator, starter motor, wheel bearings, EGR removal kit, clutch, recon steering box and Bosch HD battery, all within last

18 months. Recorded Cat C as stolen recovered. No rust at all, anywhere. I have more than £15k in this and am only selling due to lack of time. £8999. Holmfirth, West Yorks, 07703 383492 (no calls after 9pm) 06/15

Defender 90 300Tdi Winch Challenge Truck. MOT Dec 2015. Manual. Full cage and challenge wings. Front Warn 8274 Winch with GP uprated motor and mainshaft, brake rebuild kit just fitted, bigger drum with winch rope and air freespool.

Rear TDS 9.5c winch with rope and air freespool. Winch controls inside and out. ARB Air-Lockers front and rear, 4.1:1 diff ratios, 5x 37” Maxxis Trepadors, hardened halfshafts, CVs and drive flanges, HD steering arms and uprated damper, tree sliders, X-Eng disc handbrake with new pads, LED lights in cab and rear, quick-release QT bucket seats. New cam belt kit and timing cover fitted, new alternator, just had front diff rebuilt and new short front shaft

by Ashcroft. Comes with waffles and ground anchor. Some battle scars. Poss part-ex for Freelander 2, Discovery 3, cool road car, race car, WHY? £6300. Herts, 07905 112836

Defender 90 300Tdi (1994).

155,000 miles. Superb condition, with full service and lots of new parts. Professionally restored with 12 months’ MOT. New carpet, one-piece tinted glass, chequer plate, bumper (with DRLs), fuel tank and filler neck, rear shocks, discs and pads all round, brake lines, lift pump, doors, outriggers, 1/3 rear crossmember, steering and diff guards, tailgate and NAS LED tail lights. Full respray inside and out, load bed fully lined, chassis fully welded to high standard. Genuine Wolf wheels with Michelin XZLs. Retrimmed dash with matching gear gaiter. New aluminium gear and diff knobs.

Still leaks a little oil, but it is 20 years old! Good strong engine pulls well with no gearbox issues and all. This is a nice solid 90 with all the work done and ready to go. £6400. Leek, Staffs, craigwormald@me.com 06/15

Defender 90 300Tdi (1988).

211,000 miles. Repainted in 2011. Redesigned rear lights.

Custom winch bumper, front

diff guard and steering guard.

Terrafirma springs. Heavy-duty steering bars. Terrafirma polybushes. Insa Turbo Special Track tyres. Twin batteries and alternators. K&N performance air filter. Sparco steering wheel.

Raptor dashboard. Cobra Monaco seats with 4-point belts. £5500.

Hatfield, 07525 147663 06/15

Defender 90 300Tdi. 12 months’ MOT. In Heritage green.

2” lift kit, freshly Waxoyled.

Chassis has had some patches over the years. Boost alloy wheels (wheels and seats could do with a refurb). This car drives really, really well and is very powerful. it needs to be driven to be appreciated. Has also got Safari snorkel etc. £4250. Halifax, 07896 595192 06/15

Defender 90, 200Tdi pick-up (1992). 12 months’ MOT. One owner from new. 129,000 miles.

New clutch and cover, new handbrake shoes and heavy-duty adjustable tow bar. Chassis very

clean and sound. Good reliable vehicle. £4200. Denbighshire, 07776 210775 06/15

Defender 90 200Tdi (1987).

On/off-road. 150,000 miles.

Recently painted in Kawasaki Green. Interior is decent but could do with a slight upgrade.

Comes under very cheap classic car insurance. Jacked up on big springs and shockers, wide wheels, Momo racing

steering wheel (comes with disk lock), stainless steel sideexit exhaust, guards all round, Terrafirma steering damper, dislocation cones. Very solid all-round chassis and bulkhead. £3995. Mirfield, West Yorks, 07563 234944 06/15

Defender 90 TD5 XS Hard-Top (2000). No VAT. 92,809 miles.

MOT Nov 2015. Full service history. Minimal off-road use.

Well maintained and in very good condition for age, immaculate

Advertising your Landy for sale is FREE for private sellers.

Just call Gemma Pask on 01283 553242

39

interior with grey cloth seats (seat covers fitted since new).

Air conditioning, BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain tyres (all in good condition, with brand new spare), 16” Boost alloys with locking wheel nuts, hub spacers, front diff and steering guard, Scorpion Racing front bumper, chequer plate wing tops and side protection, rear roof rack ladder, rear step bumper with tow pack, rear light protection, Sony CD and MP3 stereo , fully lined rear load area, sunroof, lockable cubby box. Sale will also include the original front bumper, front light guards, dog guard and two-bar roof rack. £8750.

Chichester, West Sussex, 07710 170868 06/15

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w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k

Issue 18: August 2015

STOCKIST DIRECTORY

South-East England

Importers, Exporters, Wholesale Distributors & Retailers of Winches & Accessories

TDS Goldfish Winches - The Best!

East Foldhay, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon, EX17 6DH Tel: 01363 82666 • Fax: 01363 82782 • www.goodwinch.com • sales@goodwinch.com

South Wales

Foundry 4x4 Ltd

Cast Iron Quality & Service The Old Bakery, Rear of Vale Terrace, Tredegar, Gwent, NP22 4HT

www.foundry4x4.co.uk

info@foundry4x4.co.uk • 01495 725544

Full replacement dashboard.

MOT November. A great fun vehicle in very good condition. £7999. Brockenhurst, 01590 620083 06/15

110 Land Rover 90 (1988). 2.5 TD (19J) engine. Rear bench seats with four auto lap belts.

2” lift kit fitted, with polybushes. Many new parts and recent full service. All drive, transfer and gears work. Large dual-terrain tyres (including spare). Has MOT but is on SORN. £2995. Edenbridge, Kent, 01732 868067 06/15

North West England Defender 90 TD5 (2004).

139,236 miles. Good, clean condition. Must sell as no longer required. £6500 plus VAT. Staffs, 07977 383598

East Midlands North East England

Gumtree 4x4 “Independent Specialists in Land Rover, Range Rover, Discovery and Freelander.”

Defender 90 200Tdi (1989).

145,000 miles. Galvanised chassis, new doors with Rocky Mountain tops, Mach 5 wheels, leather seats. Excellent condition. £8900. Galmpton, Devon, 07905 696626

Unit C17, Ditchling Common, West Sussex, BN6 8SG

www.gumtree4x4.co.uk admin@gumtree4x4.co.uk • 01444 241457

www.island-4x4.co.uk Online Land Rover Part Specialists Offering Worldwide Mail Order

West Midlands

* Free Mainland UK Delivery Over £50 * * Delivery France, Germany and Belgium £10 unlimited weight and parcels *

Defender 90 V8 (1986).

107,500 miles. MOT April 2016.

Manual. Includes extra set of wheels with road tyres and two front wings. New clutch, rear calipers and petrol tank. Fully armoured, plus roll cage. Fantastic off-roader. Part service history. £4200 ono, offers welcome.

07889 984084

sales@island-4x4.co.uk

South-West England

North East Scotland

Defender 90 200Tdi softtop (1994). 137,000 miles.

Southdown snorkel with Gwyn Lewis wading hoses and manifold. Terrafirma TF100 alloys with beadlocking rims and Kumho tyres (with less than 1500 miles on them). Toad alarm. Heated windscreen.

Raptor console. Terrafirma +11” Mega Sport Competition suspension and +2” springs with SuperPro bushes. Exmoor Trim bikini hood and rear black benches with lap belts.

Cobra bucket seats. CB. Black chequer plate throughout.

Defender 2.4 TDCi 110 XS (2007). Twisted Performance one-off. 80,000 miles. FLRSH, 11 months’ MOT. Possibly the highest specced one in the country – I challenge you to find a more bespoke example. Modified by Twisted in 2008 with remap, performance stainless exhaust, K&N air filter, de-limited, Gale Force air intake vents, stainless side indicator guards and full hand-stitched Italian leather interior includes seats, cubby box and steering wheel. Baton DVD head restraints in front and rear seats for all passengers to watch, hooked up to Alpine console with sat-nav, DVD, MP3 and iPod capability. This detaches so you can use it as a hand-held sat-nav.

Electric sunroof, heated front seats and heated windscreen.

Steering and front diff guards, full chequer plate option including rock sliders, privacy glass, towbar with permanent and switchable feeds. Maintained with no expense spared; has had all rear bushes replaced, brand new turbo and all gaskets fitted by and Rover and all brake lines replaced.

Still as capable as any Defender, but you can do it all in much more comfort. Five Range Rover wheels available at extra cost, complete with Continental tyres, hub adaptor spacers, locking wheel nuts and mirror-finish spare wheel cover. This is a very reluctant sale as I no longer use the vehicle enough to warrant it. £16,750.

Ripon, North Yorkshire, 07496 579542 07/15

Defender 110 Hi-Cap 300 Tdi (1998). Nice original unspoilt truck. Drives nicely. Usual scratches for age but this is a good honest Landy. Bed is in a really good solid condition for its age. £2650. Somerset, 07798 802102 07/15

Genuine G4 Challenge Defender 110 TD5 XS (2002).

74,000 miles. MOT Dec 2015. 3 owners. 5 seats. Used in the 2003 G4 Challenge, this is one of 30 built: less than 20 are thought to survive today. This 110 was used by the organisers as a

To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k

Issue 18: August 2015

We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk

41

Advertising your Land Rover or parts for sale is FREE for private sellers. Just call Gemma Pask on 01283 553242 communication vehicle on the Australian part of the Challenge.

It has been restored to full G4 spec – proper lights, the correct parts from Mantec, new roof rack and flooring as original with no expense spared. FSH and all receipts since release from Land Rover. Replacement gearbox professionally fitted around two years ago. £20,000. Vehicle located near Stafford. Email exelbys89@gmail.com 07/15

Range Rover

Classic Range Rover 3.5 Efi 4-door auto (1987). 78,000 miles with history to prove. MOT June 2015. This Car has had a lot of love, time and money spent on it. I bought it from a well known body restorer with a very good name, who styled it with a completely unique body kit of his own. The paintwork looks fantastic. The chassis and underneath are in very good order, together with all inner arches and sills. Interior is excellent with grey leather and perfect headlining.

Fantastic looking wheels with excellent tyres. Toolkit in its own compartment in the back.

It comes with a state of the art Alpine stereo system with DVD Player and screens set in the rear of the headrests, which sounds fantastic. Engine bay is nice and clean. It runs very nicely and goes through the gears very smoothly.

Throttle is responsive and, with a twin stainless exhaust system, sounds great. The Range Rover has had seven previous owners. It has just undergone a mechanical check and service, and had all gearbox levels checked and the engine tuned. £8995. Essex, 07771 896798 07/15

Range Rover Classic Vogue SE (1993). Nissan 350 FD Tdi engine conversion. 119,000 miles. MOT Jan 2016. Converted to coil springs. Nissan engine is more powerful than a Tdi and gives approx 35mpg. Grey cloth interior in tidy condition. Recent bills for £2000 covering new steering damper, clutch master and slave cylinders, ABS, anti-roll bar links, bushes, foglights and top-quality welding of front arch and inner rear door frame for the MOT.

Genuine Range Rover boot tray, working cassette player, all handbooks and manuals present. Electric glass sunroof which works and doesn’t leak.

Nearly new General Grabber tyres. Dual battery conversion.

Towbar with working electrics.

This is an excellent Range Rover, not a pristine show vehicle but a reliable, comfortable, economical workhorse or family SUV in very good mechanical condition with no expense spared on maintenance. Selling due to downsizing, so open to swap or part-ex for a car or smaller 4x4 with cash either way. £2950. Salisbury, Wilts, 07867 750152 07/15

Range Rover Classic 3.5 V8 (1987). Unfinished restoration project. 92,500 miles. Chassis has

been shotblasted and galvanised, along with shock turrets. Cranked front and rear suspension arms, Polybushes, Rimmer 30-40mm heavy-duty lift springs, 2” ProComp shocks. New 225/75R16 General Grabber All-Terrains on refurbished alloys. New brakes and body mounts, excellent refurbished fuel tank, heavy-duty steering arms. Major engine rebuild with reground crank, high-torque cam, honed bores, skimmed heads, new valves, pushrods and lifters, Edelbrock 4-barrel carb and manifold, stainless steel exhaust, RPI plenum, rebuilt distributor, NGK plugs, Magnecor leads, K&N filter, Facet fuel pump and Optima Red Top battery. New fibreglass headlining and aluminium upper tailgate. Waxoyled from new, including sills, crossmember and pillars. No Rust. Only welded parts are two 4” plates (usual rear seat belt mounts on arch), and two 1 x 6” repairs on footwell corners (wheelarch abrasion

area). There is a small hole inside the tailgate under the carpet left to repair, but the only big job left is a respray. Front inner wings, sills, footwells and rear inner wings have been sanded, treated, primed and coated in stonechip guard. Sold with various unused, never-fitted parts. Over £10k spent. This is a reluctant sale as poor health is slowing me up, and I may still keep it if it doesn’t sell. Viewing essential, call for further information. £6000.

Hornchurch, Essex, 07974 947285 06/15

Range Rover TD6 Vogue (2003). 101,000 miles. Full service history. This is the most comfortable car I have ever driven. It’s perfect and drives like a dream. Comprehensive

Warranty Direct Warranty, costs £700 per year and transferable for £50 (currently paid to July). £7450. Hastings, East Sussex, 07886 201398 07/15

Range Rover 4.0 HSE Auto LPG (2000). 209,000 miles. MOT May 2016 (no advisories). Very nice inside and out, drives superbly with no issues. All electrics work fine.

Recent new trabsfer box, ECU, oil cooler, front diff, air suspension compressor, ball joints, exhaust, heater and alternator. One owner for last 10 years, maintained regardless of cost. If you want a very nice example, this is the one!

Any inspection welcome – any mechanic will confirm that this is a nice example. £2000. Worksop, Notts, 0844 4827122

Discovery

Discovery 300 Tdi (1997). 10 months’ MOT. Full Land Rover service history up to 125,000 miles, then last two from local garage. +4” suspension lift, +2” body lift. Dislocation cones, front and back bumper bars. No advisories on last MOT. New boot floor with cream interior, electric heated leather seats in excellent condition, everything works as it should. Six roof bar lights (all working). Cylinder Head reconditioned last year, new clutch, pads and discs in Feb. Cat D, having suffered damage to the rear of driver’s-side back quarter. £2995.

07807 860007 06/15

Discovery XS 300 Tdi 7-seat (1996). Off-road monster. MOT December. Solid chassis and boot floor (never welded). Box-section sills and rock sliders (not fitted).

CB. LED rook bar. Five 285/75R16 Insa Turbos. Side-exit exhaust.

Lots more off-road equipment, all fitted new this year and only used twice. £2050. Sheffield, 07469 811159 06/15

Discovery TD5 ES 7-seat (2000). 113,000 miles. MOT March 16. Full beige leather

interior with heated and electrically adjustable front seats. New heated windscreen, recent clutch and fuel pump. Harmon Kardon speaker system with Sony Bluetooth head unit. Tow hitch with working electrics. Twin sunroofs have been sealed with silicone due to leakage. Usual age-related marks. Please no time wasters. £2700. Wadebridge, Cornwall, 07449 972737 06/15

Discovery TD5 (2004). 165,360 miles with FSH. Genuine Special Vehicles model with expedition prep. +3” Terrafirma lift with heavy-duty shocks. Terrafirma steering damper and braided brake lines. 50mm Bulldog wheel spacers and extended flexi arches.

42

19” RR Sport wheels with Koala A/T tyres. Terrafirma fuel tank guard, steering guard, winch bumper, Safari snorkel, breathers and removable tow bar. EGR removed. Full stainless 2” exhaust with de-cat and straight-through pipe. K&N filter. Drilled, grooved and vented performance brake discs. New Clutch and flywheel in 2012. New battery, starter motor, double-cardon propshaft, hubs and bearings and major service this year. Roof rack with spot lights (not wired) and spare wheel. Includes 3-in-1 Armadillo side canopy, awning and day room/tent. This is a real head turner and gets admirers everywhere it goes. I have owned and maintained it for over 4 years (only done 7000 miles in that time), and you won’t find one in better mechanical condition. Private plate not included. £4750.

Luton, 07833 413071 06/15

Discovery bobtail off-roader.

39,750 miles. Transformed over 5 years of ownership and just been through a complete rebuild and full repaint from body to springs!

Disco 1 body bobtailed 10” and roof cut back to C-pillar, all properly sealed and finished off with a 90 rear window. Spec includes fully serviced 80,000-mile 3.9 V8 with injection, ZF 4-speed auto box and LT230 transfer case; rear 24-spline Air-Locker; fully rebuilt front axle; X-Brake; Scorpion props; HD +3” suspension on 2” spacers; Scorpion castor-corrected front and rear arms, adjustable panhard rod, -2” shock droppers and dislocation cones front and rear; 34” Ziarelli Extreme tyres (brand new, used once) on Mach 5 rims; full ARC-spec cage plus custom wings; steering guard, rock sliders, and HD rear bumper; 42” LED light bar; Southdown snorkel; +2” wide arches; Warn XP 9.5 front and Superwinch rear winches with 11mm Plasma and internal controls; Optima Red-Top; Cobra buckets with cage-mounted harnesses; custom 48-litre alloy fuel tank with high-pressure pump. The vehicle has not been body-lifted, but has had the arches modified to accommodate the tyres. £5795.

Dunstable, Bedfordshire, 07718 303908 07/15

Discovery TD5 GS (1999).

219,000 miles. High mileage but uses no oil or water, runs well and can achieve over 30mpg even when towing a caravan! Bought in June 2013 and has been used as a family car, generally good but with usual age-related marks.

Interior in good condition apart from the driver’s seat being worn.

Good tyres all round. Reliable

w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k

Issue 18: August 2015 with coil spring conversion and ACE system deactivated. Land Rover rubber mats throughout.

Both sunroofs have been sealed with black tape as they were leaking. The harder outer case wasn’t re-sealed but this cured the problem. £2100. Cardiff, 07718 995375 07/15

Discovery TD5 XS auto expedition vehicle (2003). 118,000 miles. Built up last year with rip-stop Tuff Trek 6ft roof tent and awning, both with rooms; black powder-coated wrap-around roof rack; snorkel; bush cables; LED spots and bars; HID headlamps; light guards; 5 AT tyres (now on about 3000 miles); de-cat exhaust; rear power supply; carpeted MDF storage system. It was also well serviced at the time, and now has coils on the back with the air springs removed. Gearbox and engine are very strong, with no smoke or rattles, and it doesn’t use any water or oil. The chassis is solid, never welded and needs none, with just some light surface rust. This is an amazingly capable and comfortable vehicle, and I have a genuine reason for the sale – if I didn’t I really wouldn’t think about selling it. £7495.

Folkestone, Kent 07450 986710 07/15

Discovery 300Tdi (1995).

198,000 miles. 12 months’ MOT (no advisories). Modded with +3” springs and shocks, 265/75R16 AT tyres (only been on for 6 months, still have the moulding marks), wheelarch extensions, modified front end for more clearance, HD winch bumper (no winch), sump and diff guards, Safari snorkel, axle breathers, bucket seats, straight-through exhaust, dual 5T jate rings, light bar with 4x 50W floods, roof ladder, CB with 2m HAM antenna, Defender front light clusters. Newly fitted timing belt and back bearing, water pump, thermostat and temp sensor, 850cca battery, starter motor, Sony FM/CD stereo with aux, bias plate and bucket seats with fabricated subframes. The truck starts every time and the transfer lever works correctly with no wear on the linkage. It has a very distinctive look with its cut-down front bumper and Defender clusters, and turns plenty of heads.

A few dents in the wings, syncro a bit worn between 1 and 2 (you need to double declutch at high revs), rear sunroof sealed up and no longer leaks, only the driver’s electric window works. I bought the truck for laning but it’s mainly been used for radio expeditions, carrying kit and to weigh down antenna ground plates. It’s served me well but is for sale as I don’t

have time to lane it as much as I expected. £4000. Brecon, 07983 146665

Discovery 3.9 V8i auto (1996).

120,000 miles. MOT January.

Ex-Police, so well looked after all its life. Age-related body and interior – don’t expect a new car, but it runs very well and with a little TLC would be great. Would also be ideal to turn into a serious off-roader, but personally I think it’s too good. £1100. Denstone, Staffs, 07791 534444

Discovery 200Tdi ute (1992).

96,100 miles. MOT April 2016 (no advisories). A true one of a kind, but at a cost of thousands of pounds by professional fabricator.

Superb engine, pulls really well, doesn’t smoke unduly and doesn’t use a drop of oil or water. Fuel pump has been turned correctly just enough but not wound up completely so the engine hasn’t been harshly abused and never overheats. Uprated intercooler, K&N lifetime air filter and Safari Snorkel. Gearbox has no issues and no leaks. Good chassis and body, with no rot and no welding needed anywhere (had all its welding done when it was turned into a pick-up a few years ago, and sills were replaced with heavy-duty box). Has been undersealed correctly in the past as well. This is not a shiny new showroom stunner – has the odd mark, chip or dent, but it looks tidy enough and is useable for work or off-road without having to worry too badly about scratching it. Flat-bed body made from box-section with trailer wood boarding and could be modified to fit some sides.

Off-road accessories include +2” inch heavy-duty suspension, extended brake pipes, rear dislocation cones and heavy-duty cranked rear trailing arms, and it has a straight-through centre exhaust pipe that sounds great.

15” retro-style Wolfrace wheels with 31x10.50R15 BFGoodrich All-Terrain tyres. This is a 23 year old Land Rover and has its few quirks, but it is also a reliable vehicle that has never let me down!

Only for sale, reluctantly, as I have other Discoverys and need to cut down in numbers. £3250 ono, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, 07891 573087

Freelander

Freelander Td4 GS (2001).

136,534 miles. New flywheel, clutch, slave and master cylinder

and propshaft bearing in 2015.

New battery, rear brake shoes and glow plugs in 2014, and head removed and cleaned. All fluids and filters changed recently (including transmission oils and pollen, crank case and turbo filters). Tyres in good condition. £2000, amyowen114@ btinternet.com 07/15

is still painted everywhere and all bushes are tight. It has had a mild pump tweak to make it nicely useable but ensuring total reliability – you could go a lot further if you wanted. Comes with extras including a standard ARC-legal front bumper, halfshafts and CVs and 2 spare Special Tracks, and is ready to drive away. £8000. Guiseley, West Yorks, 07725 139888 07/15

Parts Freelander Td4 challenge/ comp safari off-roader.

117,000 miles. Owned 5 years with no trouble. Bought as a Cat C write-off, with water ingress ruining the interior (which I was going to strip out anyway) but no other damage. Spec includes Safety Devices MSA roll cage, 2” lift, Cobra bucket seats, 30mm wheel spacers, Allisport full-size intercooler, silicone hoses and stainless pipes, Mantec sump guard, modified intake system and induction kit, raised air intake (not plumbed due to modifying intake), strut brace, light pod, recon gearbox, Synergy 2 tuning chip and BMW Vortex crankcase breather, all new when fitted except the seats and box. Has been regularly serviced twice a year by a Freelander specialist, with anything even slightly suspect being replaced. Due to work I never comped it, the vehicle has been used off-road so there is the odd minor dent. Also, the front inner arches have been modified for oversized extreme mud-terrain tyres. £3800. Birmingham, 07468 904986, ianrbeale@ outlook.com 07/15

Specials

300 Tdi Tomcat 88” competition vehicle. 620 miles only! Spec includes Tomcat reinforced axles and radius arms, ARB Air-Lockers and tyre inflator, HD steering arms, 12” remote-reservoir Fox shocks, Allisport intercooler, Zeus timing gears, X-Brake, wide-angle props, Superwinch EPi9.0 front and X9 rear winches, both with Plasma, stainless fuel tank, bucket seats with 4-point harnesses, heated windscreen, race steering wheel, Tomcat captive engine and gearbox mounts, Tomcat gearbox crossmember, Brantz trip computer, 235/85R16 Special Tracks, Exxide dry-cell battery.

I’ve owned it about 18 months and only done one CCV – it’s just too good for me to bash round quarries! Based on a Discovery, professionally built. Drives spoton, soaking up all the bumps, and went straight through its MOT with no advisories. Chassis

Discovery. The radiator was sold to me as fully functioning, I have not tested it but see no reason why it should not work. £35.

Llandeilo, 07884 333680 06/15

Discovery 300 Tdi dash switches. Eight in total. £15.

Wirral, Merseyside, 07598 689135 07/15 Matching set of 5 tyres.

235/85R16C. Road-going pattern, reasonably chunky but nice and quiet. Removed when I fitted off-road tyres. As new. £275.

Chichester, 01243 788811

Discovery 300 Tdi R380 gearbox. In working condition. £145.

Wirral, Merseyside, 07598 689135 07/15

Genuine Tomcat panels and doors. £POA. Montgomery, Powys. 07772 867989 06/15

Defender Salisbury front axle.

The diffs in these are pretty much unbreakable! Removed from my 200Tdi Defender 90, which was used on-road and off – other than replacing the bearings and seal, I didn’t have a problem with it. Diff has had new bearings.

Good chrome balls, one swivel weeps slightly. No noise from CV joints. Good drive flanges, good discs and pads (surface rust on discs due to storage). Comes with calipers and EBC Green Stuff pads, a heavy-duty track rod and ARB armoured diff cover (if I get full asking price). Please note this is for collection only, from GL54 2EY. £900. Lower Slaughter, Gloucs, 07814 071771

Series I roll bar. Was fitted to an 86” Series I but has now been removed. Has what seems to be a high-lift jack carrier. The bar is pitted in places and needs a good paint but seems very solid and strong! £40. Exeter, 07722 104796 07/15

Land Rover front and rear axles. Complete with bars, diffs and calipers. Need a clean but in good solid condition. I can deliver – please ask for a quote. £210.

Sheffield, 07974 657030 07/15

Defender fuel sender. Taken off a 90. £20. Wirral, Merseyside, 07598 689135 07/15 Series II offside front wing.

Very rare. Very good condition for age, no rot where it bolts on apart from where the mud shield bolts on. No dints or creases, no lights been cut into it. £110. Buxton, 07779 782394 06/15

Rover 3.5-litre V8 EFi aluminium cylinder heads. Freshly removed from block. A bit dusty on top, but the bottom has been kept sealed to the block. £60.

Devon, 07961 832046 06/15

Discovery 200/300Tdi 3-part clutch. Bought six months ago and never used. Still in box. £30. Reading, Berks, 07831 262829 06/15

Discovery 300 Tdi rear window mechanisms. Left and right available. £15 each.

Wirral, Merseyside, 07598 689135 07/15

200 Tdi radiator with oil cooler. To fit Defender or

Nissan Patrol Y60 axles. One Pair, 3.9:1 ratio, with vacuum rear locker. These axles will easily take 38”-plus tyres and plenty of abuse. Ideal for conversion on to a hardcore off-road Land Rover.

Axles removed from a vehicle only recently taken off the road.

All internals fine, may need brake parts or bearings but nothing serious. Can deliver to most of UK for around £100-120. £600 for the pair. Forres, Moray. 07780 980373 Discovery 2 (1999) rolling chassis. Complete with TD5 engine and automatic box, axles, propshafts, fuel tank, ACE and air suspension, five 18” alloys with tyres (two as new, two very good). Chassis rusty at the rear. Complete with V5 logbook. £900 ono. 07788 535957, Essex 06/15

Unimog 404 axles. Taken from a 404 model and therefore have locking diffs. One is complete, the other has been partially stripped in preparation for a disc-brake conversion. £1000, offers invited. 07968 960619 Set of 4 Land Rover Tornado alloys. 16” wheels, Defender fit.

All are in a good, clean condition. £80. Stafford, 07913 021857

Set of 4 BFGoodrich KM2 Mud-Terrains. 265/75R16 109Q. All in very good condition, no repairs of any kind, no cuts etc.

All have 11mm of tread across their width. Two have slight wear to outer edge. Excellent tyres, couldn’t fault them. Selling as I have now got All-Terrains due to covering more miles. £425.

Telford, Shropshire, 07882 379602 07/15

Defender rear Salisbury axle with ARB Air-Locker. Removed from my 200Tdi 90 after the pinion bearings collapsied due to a bad rebuild (pinion nut wasn’t done up!) Locker is in good working order and has had a new air ring and pipe so it seals well and locks when required. The axle does need a rebuild; included in the sale is another part-stripped axle to make one good one.

However the ARB armoured cover in the picture is not included in the sale as I need it for my 110.

Please note this is for collection only, from GL54 2EY. £400. Lower Slaughter, Gloucestershire, 07814 071771

Wanted Series I roof. Hard-top roof for an 86” Series I, overall length approx 84”. It has been lined with carpet to reduce noise, I think, but this could be removed.

Please note that the ‘cat flap’ door is missing and not included with the roof. It is ONLY the main roof panel and the sides (including widows) that are for sale. It has been taken apart for easy transport – I moved it on a roof rack. £75. Exeter, Devon, 07722 104796 07/15

Seeking my old Defender 90, M146 HPL. I’m looking for information on what happened to my old 90. It was originally a red hard-top with a Safety Devices cage, and used to be a project vehicle in Land Rover World magazine. I sold it to a French guy in the Rickmansworth area in 2000; DVLA info suggests it’s still registered, but I can’t track it down – any information that would help me find it would be greatly appreciated! Email idiotinakilt@hotmail.com or call 07968 960619 07/15

Advertising is FREE for private sellers. Just call Gemma Pask on 01283 553242

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Calendar

Off-Road Playdays 19 July Explore Off Road

Silverdale, Stoke-on-Trent

Muddy Bottom

Minstead, Hampshire

Mud Monsters

East Grinstead, West Sussex

North Yorks Off Road Centre Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorks

Parkwood 4x4 Tong, Bradford Dates are apt to change, so always check with the site before travelling

27 June Kirton Off Road Centre

Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

28 June Cowm Leisure

Whitworth, Lancashire

Devil’s Pit

Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire

Frickley 4x4

Frickley, South Yorkshire

Future 4x4

Avon Dassett, Warwickshire

Hill ‘n’ Ditch 4x4

Mouldsworth, Cheshire

Kirton Off Road Centre

Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

North Yorks Off Road Centre

Whaddon 4x4

Milton Keynes, Bucks

Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorks

25 July

Picadilly Wood

Kirton Off Road Centre

Thames Valley 4x4

26 July

Bolney, West Sussex Avon Dassett, Warwickshire

Whaddon 4x4

Milton Keynes, Bucks

11 July Burnham Off-Roaders Tring, Hertfordshire

12 July 4x4 Wthout a Club

Harbour Hill, Aldermaston

Boxgrove

Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

Cowm Leisure

Whitworth, Lancashire

Devil’s Pit

Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire

Frickley 4x4

Frickley, South Yorkshire

Hill ‘n’ Ditch 4x4

Mouldsworth, Cheshire

Kirton Off Road Centre

Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

Slindon Safari

Fontwell, West Sussex

Chichester, West Sussex

2 August

Burnham Off-Roaders

Bala 4x4

Dundry Off-Road

Bala 4x4

Essex, Rochford and District 4x4 Club

Dundry Off-Road

Frickley 4x4

Muddy Bottom

Hill ‘n’ Ditch 4x4

Slindon Safari

Fontwell, West Sussex

5 July Bala, Gwynedd Dundry, Bristol

Minstead, Hampshire

Tring, Hertfordshire

Rayleigh, Essex

Frickley, South Yorkshire Mouldsworth, Cheshire

Green Lane Convoy Events

Bala, Gwynedd Dundry, Bristol

Muddy Bottom

Minstead, Hampshire

North Yorks Off Road Centre Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorks

Picadilly Wood

Bolney, West Sussex

27-28 June

4-5 July

13-14 July

Onelife Adventure

Waypoint Tours

4x4 Treks Galloway

28 June

5 July

15 July

Wales

Wiltshire

Forrest Estate, Galloway

Landcraft

UK Landrover Events

UK Landrover Events

3-6 July

11 July

15-16 July

4x4 Treks Galloway

UK Landrover Events

4x4 Treks Galloway

4 July

11-12 July

18-19 July

Onelife Adventure

Atlas Overland

Snowdonia (Adventure Plus Day)

Galloway (Laggan Challenge)

Lost World Adventures Wiltshire/Dorset

Peak District

Lincoln and Belvoir

Yorkshire

Northumberland

Galloway Forest

Wessex

Issue 18: August 2015

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Issue 18: August 2015

News

Products

Vehicles

Adventure

Workshop

Clubs

SLROC at the Suffolk Show

Words Andy Jeff Pictures Cathy Jeff and Town 102 FM Every month is a busy month with the Suffolk Land Rover Owners Club, but the spring bank holiday brings our busiest week of the year.

Every year, with input from members, SLROC chooses a main charity to support. Then, throughout the year, we set up shop at various county shows and offer off-road rides to the public to raise funds.

Most of the shows we attend are more social events. Some of the members get together, put up our

marquee, wait for the paying public to come along and in the meantime have a good old chin wag. The Suffolk County Show, however, is altogether a different beast!

Planning starts almost a year in advance and SLROC work very closely with the Show team to ensure the off-road course is in top condition – because it’s going to take some punishment during the two days that the show runs for.

Sponsorship, advertising, PR and

media coverage, camping facilities, show helpers, drivers, marshals and a maintenance team all need organising well in advance to ensure things go as smoothly as possible.

And it needs to go very smoothly indeed. The Suffolk Show attracts more than 80,000 people, and with a limit to the amount of vehicles allowed on the off-road course at any one time plus a constant flow of people wanting to have a ride, it takes a well rehearsed team to give everybody a

fun experience with safety being an absolute priority!

The sun shone (mostly) and the people came in their thousands, from Suffolk and afar, to enjoy the thrills of an off-road ride in a Land Rover.

Over hills and humps, tipping on what seems like incredible side slopes, over a see-saw and through a huge pit – and people love it! Some have done it before and come to get their annual fix, while many others have never done it before and enjoy the first-time

thrill… which often involves screams and shrieks!

Over the two days of the show, we gave rides to almost 3500 people and raised just a few quid short of £10,000.

That’s an amazing set of numbers, and testament to all the club members who helped by donating not only their time but their vehicles and their fuel too (no-one takes any expenses from the bottom line).

The numbers are one thing, but the people are something else. The public has a good time, but the club members have a GREAT time. It’s a fantastic two days that we’re already thinking about for next year!

So who will benefit from all of this effort? This year SLROC are supporting SARS – the Suffolk Accident Rescue Service – as our main charity. SARS provides specially trained doctors and paramedics to assist the East of England Ambulance Service at the scenes of serious incidents, whether they be accidents or medical illnesses.

For more than 43 years, SARS has provided advanced pre-hospital medical care to local communities throughout Suffolk. SARS doctors and paramedics are all unpaid volunteers who provide their services without any cost to the patient, ambulance service or taxpayer. Since 1972, they have attended thousands of incidents and helped save hundreds of lives – true heroes, and a very worthy recipient of the funds raised by a club that’s proud to have done its bit to help.

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CLRC get lost and found in Derbyshire

Words and Pictures Noel Watson Saturday morning, bright and fairly early, saw three Defenders and one Lightweight exit the Red Lion car park at 8:30am on the dot. The destination was Buxton, via the scenic route and avoiding the M6 – with the unexpected addition of a couple of laps of Macclesfield due to leader Mark following his sat-nav instead of his nose! Despite the electronic aids, we all arrived at the Cat and Fiddle Inn on schedule to add members Baz and Chris’ two Defender 110s to the party.

The weather was holding well – sunshine with some cloud and a light wind. It was something of a contrast to our previous visit in February en route to Worksop, when it was snowing with high winds and double digit minus temperatures with the wind chill!

Off down the Old Coach Road into Buxton, at least this time we could actually distinguish the track from the surrounding moorland. Picking up the A6, we headed east and tackled the second lane near Millers Dale and then continued straight into the third lane through to Monsal Head. Thankfully there was little traffic about, despite it being the end of half term week.

Pressing on through Little and Great Longstone to the fourth lane, a closure notice in place for High Rake forced us to make a detour through Calver

and Froggatt heading north, crossing the Yorkshire border, and picking up our sixth lane across Houndkirk Moor. Hunger pangs overcame all the crews at this point, so we decided to ‘hove to’ at the panoramic picnic spot which presented itself at just the right moment.

A wonderful view meant that we were able to admire all seven of the hills upon which the City of Sheffield is claimed to be built. The lines of similarity with the seven hills of Rome become slightly blurred as Sheffield can actually lay claim to seven rivers and eight hills… how’s that for Yorkshire one-upmanship! It made for one great lunch stop, during which Colin’s attempts to record everyone’s butty box selection from his quadprop drone were thwarted by the gusty wind – probably just as well!

Adequately refreshed, we looped south and headed back towards the Peak District, following the River Derwent through the Hope Valley.

Hathersage was notable for the rush hour traffic that appeared, causing a major rift in the team arrangements at a junction when Colin and Noel’s Defenders, acting as Sweepers/Tail End Charlies, became separated from the main ‘peloton’ – the area turned out to be a black spot for CB radios,

Monsters in the mud Words Becky Large Pictures Muddy Media Our playday on 14 June saw a great mixture of new and old faces. It was a warm yet cloudy day and the rain held off, which meant everyone could focus on just having fun in their vehicles for the whole day.

As always at Mud Monsters, the mud was the star of the day and by lunch time people were emerging from their cars with mud up to their chests, full of stories of how they got this way.

We all know everyone secretly loves an excuse to get covered in mud!

Not a single inch of the site was left unexplored, with everyone looking for new sections they’d yet to challenge themselves on.

The day ended with smiles all round and people looking forward to returning to on 18-19 July for our annual charity Family Fun Weekend.

See you there!

as well as offering mobile phone reception which varied between zero and zippo!

Despite Ray standing guard at the intended turn-off from the B-road to direct the stragglers, they flashed past. Apart from the obvious difficulty in flashing anywhere in a Defender, rumour has it that both Ray and his 110 were cunningly hidden in the bushes. Whilst the peloton took a tea break, the two Defenders toured the surrounding countryside accompanied

by CB appeals for ‘anyone receiving – anyone receiving?’ Eventually a broken communication established that a couple of miles and a few hills separated the team; thanks to having a proper OS map on board, everyone was soon reunited.

The seventh lane of the day took us towards Great Hucklow, followed by four mainly narrow lanes between high walls, twisting between the fields, no doubt following ancient boundaries, leading back to Millers Dale, Buxton and onwards to home – using known direct routes!

In all, it was a great day out in attractive countryside with the sun shining on us. Thanks to Mark and Fiona (plus kids and dogs) for leading us and providing a thoroughly interesting route.

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Issue 18: August 2015

News

Products

Vehicles

Adventure

Workshop

Clubs

SORC keeping busy Words Graham Somerville Pictures Christine Judd The Scottish Off Road Club have had a busy few months since Christmas, when The Landy told you about our Santa and Turkey Hunt.

January entailed an on-road navigational exercise which saw us driving around some of the most magnificent snow-filled roads in the Borders, with a lunch break at a quaint pub in the middle of nowhere.

Following this, we arrived to a log fire and went over the quiz which the passengers were completing on the way round.

A Trials event and annual Snow Hunt with AGM followed in February and March respectively.

April saw us start off the first round of our new Trials Championship. This is something we’ve kept away from over the past few years – but due to rising numbers, we’ve been able to bring something new and exciting to the field.

Due to holidays, sickness and someone not remembering to get out of bed, eight of us turned out to a sleet blizzard at 9am. However, by the time everyone had signed on and had the driver’s briefing, it was blissfully sunny, and a great day was had with

even the free-range pigs trying to nestle in on some sections.

Most recently, in May, we had the first round of our Punch Hunt Championship (another new event), held at a site we’ve only just started re-using. Cattle had been on the ground two weeks previously and there had been unusually warm weather, but downpours on the night before meant that it was going to turn into a mudbath.

Fortunately, though, it wasn’t as bad as we feared, and everybody got at

least some of the punches. There were a few surprises for those who turned up in Td5 Discos on standard road tyres – and managed to get through even some of the trickiest parts.

As well as our usual events, we are also one of the three organising clubs for the Scottish Cross Country Championship, with some fierce competition and excitingly fast and expensive machines hammering their way around the courses. We provide Radio Marshals for various rallies throughout the country, too.

Drivers all warmed to the site, admiring its flexibility for trialling and the potential for a punch hunt in the low-lying gullies. Obviously, the Land Rovers all took to the site too, but that’s like a duck taking to water.

Most clubs are forever on the lookout for new places to go off-

road, so it was a red letter day for the Muddy Millers to make this first visit to Treystan. The club was very grateful for the opportunity to find out what it was all about – and after a successful event, members are looking forward to having another bash at the border terrain soon.

Trialling Trelystan Words Mike Trott Pictures Leanne Davies The Muddy Millers have been busy trying out a new site. Trelystan sounds a bit like a mysterious nation that used to be part of the USSR, but in fact it’s a small parish on the border of England and Wales. And on 7 June, the Muddy Millers 4x4 Club descended upon it for a trial trial, so to speak – with a view to it becoming a regular fixture in their calendar.

Eight drivers started the event, but there was only half a dozen by the time the last section was completed.

The weather provided a scorching reception – before the engine bays of the competitors soon followed suit.

The terrain was baked hard on higher points, while the ditches remained wet and gooey – so there was plenty of fun to be had all around the site.

Marshals set up a good mixture of sections, taking in woodland areas, but also the steep, hard-ridged hillsides and steps for a bit of added pizzazz.

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Issue 18: August 2015

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90 still king in Leicestershire

Words Mike Trott Pictures Tony Birch The Leicestershire and Rutland Land Rover Club were out and about on the first May bank holiday weekend, serving up their usual diet of trials.

In this case, though, it was as part of the club’s ever-popular Chairman’s Challenge weekend.

This meant a busier weekend than normal and a great way to kick off the month, with an RTV on Saturday and a CCV on Sunday. There was even a kids’ bike trial thrown in!

In the everyman RTV, a total of 15 drivers enjoyed the lack of rain as they got to grips with the Eaton Lodge site. This is a firm favourite with the LRLRC, who visit on more than one occasion throughout the year.

It’s one of the bigger sites in the area, but the club has been using it for more than 25 years. So setting out new sections becomes more and more challenging with each outing.

But that didn’t stop the organisers putting together another cracking ten runs for drivers to sink their teeth into. Indeed, the day presented a wide range of scores – with Martin Wynne able to sleep peacefully that night having cleared every single section.

At the other end of the scale, Warren Griffiths had one of those days and ended up on 62 points in his Disco 2. Kev Liquorish, also in a Disco, had probably the ‘brownest’ moment of the weekend when he was easing it backwards only for a front wheel to leave the ground in dramatic style, but everyone came home alive.

The RTV was very much a display of which Land Rover still remains king when it comes to off-roading – the top three all driving their way to the rostrum in a 90 of some description. Behind the all-clear Martin Wynne were Christopher Birch, on 2 points, and Pete Measures on a similarly minimal 6.

That said it’s not a Defender 90 sitting at the top of the championship

table, as Steve Limb leads with 15 points in his Disco 1. In the standard 90 class, Martin Wynne and Christopher Birch are joint leaders, not far behind Steve on 17 points.

Andrew Birch is the name currently at the top of the standard leaf-sprung class, leading with 18 points, while Mick Wing, who is also on 18 points, represents the best of the modified.

With more than half the season still to go, though, it’s all still to play for.

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