Land Rover Defender 90

[Stigomery]

Now you're just teasing me Fenlander!

[Fenlander]

>>>My wife already hates them (although she's never been in one) so that is not being factored into the equation

Same here and that was factored into finally swapping to a Discovery which restored harmony!

Talking of the LR age/type that ticks personal boxes... here's mine. A petrol IIA SWB that I bought from a local estate and light restored... complete with Radiomobile radio and fug heater. We actually covered a lot of miles in that including a Cambridgeshire-Wales-Cambridgeshire day trip towing a Rice trailer to collect a horse. In truth that epic trip stretched my attachment to that LR a little but I so enjoyed driving it locally.

[Stigomery]

Now that is Landy porn... I've had my heart set on Series II for a long time but I know that I will want it to be semi practical and able to cover quite a few miles hence aiming for a slightly more refined 90 without heading towards a non-Defender...

[Fenlander]

Yes there is something special about the old ones but you have to be super keen to offset their basic nature. Finally a warning... get any LR on the drive and soon this sort of thing will be happening...

That's an early 60s Series II needing a little tidying!

[Max...]

Originally Posted by Stigomery

...hence aiming for a slightly more refined 90...

When you say 'slightly' you're not kidding...!

Agreed though nothing comes close to a SII or SIII in the appeal but for anything other than local pootles they are not so much fun.

Our first one:

[Stigomery]

OK - you're going to have to stop it now... this is torturing me...

So by June I reckon I'm going to have a budget of about £5-6k which i'm hoping will secure me an okay late 90s 300TDi...

[Max...]

Yep and two weeks later it will be in Romania...

[willk]

Originally Posted by Max...

Your wife needs to love them too!

[RIBnet Traffic warden mode]Your missus isn't wearing her ear protection![/RIBnet Traffic warden mode]

[Max...]

If you are going to get a 90 then consider going ex-Mod - mine below owned for 10 years, still trying to buy it back this past few months, nothing but nothing comes close to the fun you can have in a soft-top military 90. Even your wife might grow to love it and if you have kids they will love you forever. The canvas roof is so much more practical for carrying big stuff - very difficult indeed to get anything through the tiny rear door of a hard top Landy.

[Fenlander]

Ah well at least we had a colour match at one time Max. This is the last pic I have on the PC... our Series III SWB petrol. A genuine "high spec" Safari with correct double roof, fully lined interior, 7 seats, overdrive etc.

Another one bought locally from horse/farming folk and light restored.

Interesting thing this thread has prompted me to look at the DVLA vehicle check to find our Discovery was taken off the road 6yrs ago, the blue 90 3yrs ago but the '72 Safari below is still taxed/MOTd and the '68 green Series IIa is still MOTd but currently SORNd.

The less said about the early Series II DVLA status the better... sold as a chassis/bulkhead plus all parts to restore (what I'd planned to do) but now runs about as a tax exempt V8 with coil spring chassis and 90 bulkhead!

[Max...]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Ah well at least we had a colour match Max. This is the last pic I have on the PC... our Series III SWB petrol. A genuine "high spec" Safari with correct double roof, fully lined interior, 7 seats, overdrive etc.

Another one bought locally from horse/farming folk and light restored.

Interesting thing this thread has prompted me to look at the DVLA vehicle check to find our Discovery was taken off the road 6yrs ago, the blue 90 3yrs ago but the '72 Safari below is still taxed/MOTd and the '68 green Series IIa is still MOTd but currently SORNd.

And worth a lot now David - seems only a few years ago S111's were still £1200 - forget that now.

Agreed, Limestone was a great colour. White in comparison looks awful - bit like black on a Landy.

[Stigomery]

Originally Posted by Max...

Yep and two weeks later it will be in Romania...

I have friends in Romania, said to have links to the Romanian mafia... I'll take my chances and so can they...

Any anti-theft devices you can recommend?

[Fenlander]

>>> worth a lot now David

Do you know ever since we gave up the LR life I've never been prompted to look at values but (and yes I know it's just a trader asking price) £10k for something not as nice as our Safari... wow.

Land Rover Series Iii 4 CYL 2.3 3dr

[Max...]

Originally Posted by Stigomery

I have friends in Romania, said to have links to the Romanian mafia... I'll take my chances and so can they...

Any anti-theft devices you can recommend?

Seriously Stig, it's no joke - I thought I had enough security on our 110 CSW but when a man/woman team could not get it running and they are prepared to work together in a busy little Lidl car park mid-morning the week before Christmas in full view of tills and customers coming and going and tow out a 12 seater 110 backwards with an Astravan you know they are unbelievably brazen, will stop at nothing and simply have no fear of getting caught. The 110 was towed away like this not 500 yds from the local cop shop never to be seen again. No CCTV, no ANPR sighting, no patrols saw anything once it left Lidl.

Basically security is all about layers - but if they want it they will have it - many are simply lifted onto low loaders.

You need ALL these;

A decent tracker, a hidden DIY fuel solenoid switch, a decent pro fit immobiliser, an externally locked bonnet, a Disklok steering wheel cover and a FULL pedal box locking cover.

That will cut down the risk but cause you a load of hassle as you need to use them ALL EVERY time you leave it out of sight.

Google 'land rover security' and sit back for a few evening's reading...

[mick]

Without sounding rude 5 to 6 k won't get much at the mo the way the prices are going
A customer had his 90 nicked a few month back think it was a 300 tdi it eventually turned up recently it had been used in ram raids so was quite damaged and the insurance wanted 7 k for him to buy it back

[Stigomery]

Yeh, I know Max, it's a really sorry state of affairs and a shit that you got yours nicked. I find your story quite unbelievable (read the thread before although had not picked up that they towed it - that's insane!)...

If any consolation I will be aiming for a utility type look, steel wheels, bashed panels, in the vain hope that it looks shit and unattractive rather than a blinged up, alloy wheeled, pristine looking vehicle... Plus all the security features I can install

[Stigomery]

This sounds pretty neat:

http://www.fwi.co.uk/machinery/rat-t...d-to-pinch.htm

[Max...]

Originally Posted by Stigomery

This sounds pretty neat:

Rat Trap makes Land Rovers harder to pinch - Farmers Weekly

Not sure but I have a feeling that (with the diff lock out a Landy become a one wheel drive) - remove one wheel and tow it away will defeat that. Or remove prop in 5 mins or less. It's like all the gizmos with solenoids in the clutch or brake lines - thieves just cut the pipes and drive off without using the clutch. Not trying to be negative but I looked into all the stuff out there so much. The ones I listed are the accepted layers that most go for once they have had one nicked so do it all before it goes!

[John Kennett]

I used to carry a 4m SIB and a 25hp outboard in the back of a series III SWB pickup. It was a very long time ago so I can't remember exactly how I fitted it in. I've got a feeling it overhung the edges a bit

[willk]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

It was a very long time ago so I can't remember exactly how I fitted in. I've got a feeling I overhung the edges a bit

FTFY Boss.