the landy february 15

LANDYTHE

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ISSUE 12 FEBRUARY 2015

i like to dream up ideas and see if they can be achievedThis 110 isnt a 200Tdi anymore but it went from being 100% Land Rover to about 1000% interesting

FREE EVERY MONTH FROM YOUR LAND ROVER SPECIALIST

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When is it time to ditch your old Landy and start again? Never, if this Disco is anything to go by Full story: Page 26

SERIES III WITH A HIDDEN HISTORY

This 88 Series III is one of the last leaf-sprung vehicles Land Rover built. And its only ever covered about 60,000 miles.

But thats not the only thing about it thats remarkable.

Because this is a Land Rover with a hidden past. For the first 17 years of its life, it served in one of the most secretive corners of the entire Ministry of DefenceFull story: Page 16

How best to round off a seasons trialling? The Essex LRC do it by going trialling after dark Full story: Page 42

Freelander, Series I or trick 90? Five experts debate the best Land Rover to have as a daily driverFull story: Page 20

3Issue 12: February 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242Discovery Sport puts on 5-star crash test show The newest addition to the Land Rover stable, the Discovery Sport, has achieved a maximum five-star score following a EuroNCAP crash test.

The new baby Disco, which you can expect to see starting to appear on UK roads within weeks, is home to a number of advanced safety features including a pedestrian airbag that deploys within 60 milliseconds of impact to diminish the risk of serious injury. The airbag, which deploys from the upper-rear of the bonnet, is a first for the small-SUV sector.

The Disco Sport also benefits from the introduction of Land Rovers Autonomous Emergency Braking system. This is designed to assess the road ahead for objects or potential hazards, using a digital stereo camera located by the rear view mirror.

If a threat is found, the driver is alerted by visual and audible warnings. Should he or she fail to respond and a collision is imminent, the brakes are applied automatically.

The vehicles much-vaunted new 5+2 seating format has been thoroughly assessed to take into account all ages and even the third row features retractor pre-tensioners.

Murray Dietsch, Director of Land Rover Programmes, said: The vehicle safety team worked tirelessly to ensure that the Discovery Sport delivered levels of safety never before seen in

the small SUV segment. We have introduced some cutting-edge safety technologies such as the all-new pedestrian airbag and an innovative Autonomous Emergency Braking system, in addition to our tried-and-tested Land Rover safety systems.

All of our products are tested to stringent in-house safety standards

that go significantly beyond the legal and consumer testing standards. As a family vehicle, safety was really a key motivator when designing this car. We are proud to have made no compromises on this.

In addition to its many high-tech safety features, the Discovery Sport protects its occupants by the even

better established technique of being very strong. Its high-strength steel and boron body shell can bear more than 4.5 times the vehicles own weight on its roof and inside this ultra-modern safety cell, driver and passengers alike are protected by a full range of airbags.

Thats in addition to familiar systems like ABS, DSC and traction control as

well as less common safety aids like Reverse Traffic Detection, Emergency Brake Lights and Lane Departure Warning. Most of all, though, the Disco Sport gives you a superior view of the road around you which is the single biggest reason why Land Rovers vehicles are always among the safest in the business.

Seen here in yet-to-be-crash-tested form, the Discovery Sport bristles with the safety kit that guaranteed it a 5-star showing in the EuroNCAP test. Its also made from the strongest steel around and gives drivers the high-command seating position thats at the heart of every Land Rovers built-in safety standards

4 Issue 12: February 2015www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNews

THE GREAT BRITISH LAND ROVER SHOW is a major new indoor event for 2015. Held at Donington Park on 26 April, its going to be a massive one-day supermarket of all things Land Rover with great deals on offer from a wide range of well known Landy specialists.

And thats not the only attraction in this springtime festival of Landies. We all like to stick our noses into other peoples vehicles and whether your preference in Land Rovers is for old or new, classic or modified, the shows going to feature an exhibition of great trucks belonging to genuine owners people just like you!

So if youre the owner of a Land Rover to be proud of, heres your chance to enter it into the Donington display. All you need to do is fill in the form on these pages and send it in

we do have a limit on the numbers, but well fit in as many good Landies as we possibly can!

Whats in it for you? Well, youll get a free all-day pass into the show and having your truck in the display is the ONLY way to get in without paying before 12 noon. Were offering free passes for the afternoon to people who pre-register, but entering your Landy into the display is your key to getting in free when the doors open at 10am meaning youll be one of the first to get your hands on the bargains!

With stand space already well on the way to selling out and an ever-growing clamour for tickets, both free and paid-for, the show is going to be a busy one. All the better for showing off your Land Rover so take your chance to make it the star attraction!

the show where your landy Is the star!All-new Great British Land Rover Show 26 April 2015, Donington Park FREE ENTRY after 12 midday Special displays of classic and modified Land Rovers

5Issue 12: February 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242the show where your landy Is the star!All-new Great British Land Rover Show 26 April 2015, Donington Park FREE ENTRY after 12 midday Special displays of classic and modified Land Rovers

To register your Land Rover online, or for more information, visit www.greatbritishlrshow.com

Name:Address:Phone:Email:

Vehicle:

Description of vehicle (info, history , mods etc):

I attach a photograph of my vehicle I have emailed a photograph of my vehicle to [email protected] emailing pictures, please include your name and phone number in the message

If you prefer to email your whole application, please include all the information requested above, along with a photo of the vehicle, to [email protected]

Closing date for applications: 23 March 2015Successful applicants will be notified by 3 April 2015

6 Issue 12: February 2015www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsWelsh lanes set for brighter future as peace breaks out in Powys

In a welcome move away from the increasingly hostile tone of the rights of way debate in the UK, Powys County Council has joined forces with motor vehicle user groups, represented by the Green Lane Association (GLASS) and Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF), to form a new working group. The agreement brings to an end an expensive legal battle over the management of rights of way in the county, and will see the reconvention of the Powys Byway Users Group (PBUG).

The PBUG will bring together representatives of the main user interests as well as GLASS and the TRF, it will include the Ramblers

Association and British Horse Society as well as others representing land managers and the county council itself. The group will regularly review and try to reach agreement on working arrangements for byway management in the county.

Councillor Harris, Powys County Councils Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Countryside Services, commented: The formation and functioning of this new group is an important step forward in managing byways in the county, and its work will be very important in planning and supporting the maintenance of these routes in the future.

It is also hoped that the joint work of this group will provide the basis for working relations across the range of interests and views that this subject brings.

A GLASS spokesman said: This achievement facilitates a significant improvement in the conservation of green roads. It provides a useful

framework for the constructive management of the green road network, which will benefit all interested parties.

The agreement comes at a time when anti-vehicle campaigners efforts to achieve a total ban on all green laning have prompted a series of controversial bids to hijack the governments

Deregulation Bill as it passes through parliament. No-one expects any fanatics to be appeased by the prospect of peace breaking out in Powys but the local authoritys willingness to pursue best practice provides a promising template for intelligent green lane management for the rest of the country.

Jaguar Land Rover has opened a new Education Business Partnership Centre (EBPC) at its Castle Bromwich plant. The advanced facility, subject to a recent 250,000 investment by JLR, was opened by Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Dr Vince Cable MP.

The Castle Bromwich EBPC, one of five around the country, will partner Birmingham Metropolitan College in a bid to encourage the next generation of students into engineering. More than 85,000 people have visited since the first education centre opened here in 199.

Inside, interactive iPad stations help students complete modules after touring the facility. A host of cutting-edge miniature robots can be manipulated with control technology to demonstrate how production lines work.

The automotive sector is incredibly competitive and needs more engineers, said JLRs Mike Wright, which offers an excellent opportunity to young people. It is critical that Jaguar Land Rover attracts the next generation of engineers and innovators to help our business achieve its ambitious plans for growth.

The new high tech Castle Bromwich EBPC demonstrates our commitment to education and will play an important role engaging and nurturing future talent from local schools. The courses on offer help youngsters develop key employability skills and world of work awareness which will prepare them for a rewarding career on Jaguar Land Rovers industry-leading apprenticeship programme.

Powys Byway Users Group reconvenes after local authority and motor vehicle user groups agree to end legal battle and join forces on better rights of way management countywide

7Issue 12: February 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242

There are many serious questions mankind has to ask itself as our stewardship of the planet puts us ever more awkwardly at odds with ourselves. But none is more pressing than the need to put the brakes on our willingness to destroy every other species on the surface of the earth.

Does that sound OTT? Its not. The human race has proved that well happily wipe out any other living thing if theres something in it for us. Poaching, over-fishing, hunting for vermin, habitat loss anything that gets in our way gets trashed.

Thats why its great to see Land Rover recognising the work done by the worlds conservationists. The company has long been associated with animal welfare on a grand scale, and its support of the Tusk Awards reinforces the notion that its vehicles can be used to do a world of good.

There couldnt be a more natural fit than the sight of a Defender at work in the hands of a wildlife vet or conservation worker. Many will remember Land Rovers association with Born Free, and see its vehicles as a symbol of humans respect for wildlife in Africa.

But conservation is becoming more and more of a battle increasingly, a political one. Those who care about animals are increasingly at odds with powerful interests whose influence spreads far and wide and standing up to them doesnt necessarily add up to good business, however well suited it is to your product.

I very much hope that Land Rover wont be cowed by the governments and criminal gangs (theres some crossover there) who threaten the wildlife of Africa and beyond. It might cost the company favour in some of its most lucrative markets, but I believe its credibility is more important than that.

So too is the whole point behind conservation. Land Rover is an icon because its vehicles are the perfect way to see the world but if we dont put more into looking after it, therell be nothing left to see.

Alan Kidd, Editor

Comment


Throughout its history, Land Rover has been famous for putting its vehicles through rigorous testing in every

continent and climate the world has to offer yet its research and development facilities have always been located back home in the UK. But thats just changed, with the opening of Jaguar

Land Rovers new Open Software Technology Center.

Center? Yes, Center. Because this 2m high-tech research and development laboratory is based not in Blighty but in Portland, Oregon. Inside the 15,000 sq.ft building work approximately thirty employees specialising in infotainment of whom 16 are veterans of the software engineering industry.

The facility is fully equipped for software development, testing and innovation and, lest we forget that this is a car manufacturer were talking about here, it also features a six-bay vehicle workshop.

Our new Open Software Technology Center will create many more opportunities for Jaguar Land Rover to collaborate with some of the most innovative and ground-breaking technology companies in the world,

commented Director of Research and Technology Dr Wolfgang Epple. Not only will the Portland team augment the skills of our 240-strong team of infotainment engineers in the United Kingdom, but they will develop and lead research projects with

large and small technology companies up and down the West Coast. We want to help guide the technological direction these innovators are taking as they help us develop exciting new in-car experiences for our customers in the future.

Mike Trott

Portland Open Software Tech Centre is LRs first overseas R&D facility

The latest example of the kind of software products the Portland facility will be working on is justDrive, an app designed to enhance connectivity while reducing the danger of becoming distracted while driving. Developed by CloudCar, this allows drivers to plug their smartphone into the vehicle and take control of its apps via and mixture of touchscreen control and verbal commands.

The apps are enhanced for in-car use, explains JLRs Dr Wolfgang Epple, so it is exactly like having your smartphone installed in your dashboard. The launch of justDrive moves the driver from task-oriented, app-specific touch-based use of individual apps to full control of all chosen content through plain natural speech or touch interface.

The boffins behind justDrive say the new voice recognition system is among the best in the world, allowing the driver to use more natural dialogue than the traditional radio... on!

You can ask justDrive to play a particular song or dictate an SMS or tweet and have it checked before sending. If you need directions, you can just ask for, say, the nearest service station and the app will do the hard work for you.

While our aim is to significantly enhance the driving experience through unprecedented levels of connectivity, we also want to reduce driver distraction, continued Dr Epple. Using speech as a key enabler, together with justDrives simple and clean user interface, means we only show essential information to help create a safe, non-distracting driving environment.

9Issue 12: February 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242In London, the Duke of Cambridge presents the Tusk Awards as Land Rover honours leading lights of the African conservation world

Land Rover, along with conservation charity Tusk and HRH the Duke of Cambridge, have recognised the next generation of game-changing conservationists at a major annual awards ceremony in London.

Stars turned out to show their support for the wildlife charity singer Katherine Jenkins, adventurer Charley Boorman and England rugby captain Chris Robshaw were but a few with the Duke delivering the two awards.

This years winner, Madagascars Herizo Adrianandrasana, was presented with the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa. Sponsored by Land Rover, this recognised the remarkable dedication he has shown to his work on the island. Focusing much of his attention on getting local communities to participate in conservation management, Herizos programmes cover seven different forest and wetland sites with a total combined surface area of 3500 square kilometres.

He was also awarded with a 15,000 grant which will help provide further resources as he continues his work as an up-and-coming conservationist.

Jaguar Land Rovers Mark Cameron said: Were humbled to join the Duke of Cambridge and Tusk in giving these remarkable emerging conservationists the recognition they deserve, and financial support to continue and develop the incredible work they are already doing in Africa. With shocking

new statistics about the loss of our wildlife being released every day, its more important than ever that we all support the efforts of charities such as Tusk and were proud to be able to do so.

Land Rovers relationship with the Tusk Awards stretches back over 15 years, when it first supported the Lewa Marathon in Kenya. Solihulls vehicles have supported the Trusts conservation work since then, and Land Rover ambassadors including Bear Grylls and Charley

Boorman showed their appreciation prior to the awards by wearing bracelets made by the Mamas of the Enkiito Village in Kenya.

10 Issue 12: February 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNews

Land Rover has placed itself in the forefront of the push towards driverless cars, following a 10m government award to a consortium in which it plays a leading part.

The group, UK Autodrive, combines many of the UKs most forward-thinking local authorities, academic establishments and high-tech and automotive businesses including, of course, JLR. The 10m was the prize on offer to the winner of a competition named Introducing Driverless Cars with Land Rover and its colleagues delivering the winning tender.

For a country to introduce autonomous vehicles requires a major overhaul of its traditional transport infrastructure, and the technology will be put in place on roads around Coventry and Milton Keynes to allow real-world testing of driverless cars and self-driving pods. These cities are part of the UK Autodrive team, whose members matched the governments funding award to invest a total of 19.2m behind what will be a three-year scheme.

Feasibility studies produced by UK Autodrive will consider the implications and challenges of introducing driverless cars in terms of their social and economic impact as well as the technical hurdles they face. The groups findings are likely to provide insights for other vehicle manufacturers, cities, commercial operators, legislators and insurers.

Tim Armitage, UK Autodrive Project Director, commented: The UK Autodrive consortium brings together world-class expertise that will help the UK position itself as a leader in the development and adoption of autonomous driving technologies.

As well as developing and testing the in-car, car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure technologies that will be required to drive cars autonomously on our roads in the future, the project will also place great emphasis on the role and perceptions of drivers, pedestrians and other road users. The Low-Speed Autonomous Transport System (L-SATS) will provide the first commercial scale demonstration of a solution for last-mile urban mobility which will have global significance.

Our plan with the practical demonstration phases is to start testing with single vehicles on closed roads and to build up to a point where all road users, as well as legislators, the police and insurance companies, are confident about how driverless pods and fully and partially autonomous cars can operate safely on UK roads.

The main focus of JLRs input will be in two key areas. Firstly, the development and testing of Advanced Driver Assistance technologies using a semi-autonomous Range Rover as the guinea pig and the two aforementioned cities as its wheel. Full autonomy is not the aim, but for a vehicle to be capable of autonomous operation for a period of time.

JLRs second focus will revolve around the Human Machine Interface (HMI) strategy and development of lightweight self-driving pods. To successfully introduce driverless cars, explained technology boss Dr Wolfgang Epple, we actually need to focus on the driver, as well as pedestrians and other road users. So we are researching the Human Machine Interface to ensure all road users understand, accept

and support these new and exciting technologies. We need to give everyone the confidence that a car or pod driving around with little or no human input is a safe, viable and rewarding experience.

The new advanced driver assistance technologies we are working on will ensure the excitement and enjoyment

of driving will not be taken away. While the car will be able to drive itself if the driver chooses, our aim is to assist and enhance the driver and ultimately offer levels of autonomy to suit the drivers mood or needs on and off-road. Our vision is to offer a seamless choice of an engaged or autonomous drive.

Mike Trott

Land Rover leads the way on driverless cars

We dont have a picture of the driverless Range Rover in action, as the system hasnt been put in place yet. But if it looks anything like this early experiment in autonomous vehicle technology, the government is going to want its ten million quid back

Jaguar Land Rover is the most trustworthy original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in the motor industry. That was the conclusion of a study carried out by global information and analytics provider IHS Automotive based on ratings from suppliers across the automotive sector.

Using the SuRe index, which assesses profit potential, organisation, outlook, pursuit of excellence and trust, HIS dials into the opinions of senior and middle managers from automotive suppliers working directly with the worlds car makers. Jaguar Land Rover came top in two of these trustworthiness and profit potential with the company also noted for its treatment of its supplier and its response towards supplier technology.

Overall, Jaguar Land Rover clocked a total score of 602 on the index for 2014 the companys best ever result, representing an improvement of 11.7% year on year. That score is also 98 above the average mark awarded in the SuRe index this year.

It has been well documented recently that JLR is continuing its prosperous trend under parent company Tata, and now supports more than 190,000 jobs in the UK supply chain.

Jaguar Land Rover has ambitious plans for growth, commented purchasing Director Ian Harnett, which will see the introduction of new and refreshed product lines. Our ability to deliver these products to market lies with the ability of

our suppliers to deliver quality components in volume. The suppliers view is testament to the responsive manner in which we work, and we are proud to have achieved the highest ratings ever in the history of the OEM study on suppliers view of Jaguar Land Rovers long-term outlook.

JLR reached out further to its supply chain recently with a special event designed to help them understand how best to hone skills and recruit for their businesses. With the Royal Academy of Engineers predicting a shortfall of 200,000 skilled engineers by 2020, quality staff will be in serious demand not just for Land Rover itself but for the companies that build the parts and systems it uses.

The likes of Jaguar Land Rovers successful Inspiring Tomorrows Workforce traineeship programme were highlighted to suppliers, demonstrating how training and work experience at the companys factories have helped 16-24 year olds build the foundations for their future careers. This course, run in partnership with Birmingham Metropolitan College, is now also open for JLRs suppliers as they look to further the prospects of the younger generation.

Suppliers also learned more about Jaguar Land Rovers apprentice programme, which currently sees 620 young people working in its six sites around the UK.

JLRs Ian Harnett commented: Jaguar Land Rover has ambitious

plans for global growth which will see our vehicle volumes increasing over the next few years, providing many opportunities to our supply chain. By sharing our best practices in training and developing future talent, we hope to give them a crucial insight into how Jaguar Land Rover addresses these challenges which will help them strengthen their capability and support their business growth.

Kudos for Land Rover as automotive supply chain bigwigs vote JLR their most trusted customer


Editor Alan KiddAssistant Editor Mike Trott

Admin and Editorial AssistantGemma PaskArt Editor Samantha DSouza

Contributors Dan Fenn, Olly Sack, Gary Noskill, Paul Looe, Vince Pratt

Photographers Steve Taylor, Harry Hamm, Anthony Singer

Advertising Sales Manager Ian Argent Tel: 01283 553242Advertising Production Tel: 01283 553242Publisher Sarah Kidd Email: [email protected] 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

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

The Landy is distributed by Britpart. Details of your

nearest Britpart dealer can be found at www.britpart.comWhere 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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NEXT MONTH

PLUS A nicely sorted 90 that turns out to be on leaf springs and a 130 thatll make you

change your views on which Land Rover is the coolest of them all!

NEXT MONTHS LANDY IS PUBLISHED ON 26 JANUARYYou can pick up your copy of our March 2015 issue from newsagents or Britpart dealers or read it online at www.thelandy.co.uk

A RARE CLASSIC Running a rarity is just a dream for many of us; but having a bona fide Range Rover Carawagon as your daily drive is more like a fantasy

Paul Walton and Andy Scarr had a little sideline in buying tatty Land Rovers, sorting them out and punting them on for a few quid more. But then they took on a tired old Lightweight and as fate would have it, the ideal customers turned out to be none other than themselves


Alu-Cab is one of those companies that started with one product and has grown into associated areas. That one product was aluminium canopies, so it stands to reason that they know what theyre doing in this area and the latest addition to the range imported to the UK by XS4x4 is designed to fit pick-up and double-cab versions of the Defender 110 and 130.

They may not look as flush as their fibreglass competitors, says the company with a laudable level

of honesty. But that is where the comparison ends. In every other aspect, aluminium canopies win hands down.

Thats quite a boast. But the company says its products will last longer than GRP, with no weathering or cracking, while providing major weight savings against steel. Its strong, too: One of our customers has an aluminium canopy that has been involved in no less than three road accidents all roll overs, says Alu-Cab. Yet to date, its still in use and as strong as ever.

With full-length side doors providing a unique degree of access to every part of the load bed, and canopy designs allowing you to bolt on everything from storage cupboards and kitchen units to gas bottle and jerry can holders as and when you need them, these canopies score high marks in terms of practicality. Theyre strong up top, too, with roof crossmembers allowing you to load items directly on to it that even goes for roof tents, too, which can simply be bolted into place.

If you run 4x4s as part of a business and youve been given environmental targets to achieve, its also worth noting that being made from pure aluminium, these hard-tops are 100% recyclable. Not that theres much evidence to suggest that this will be happening any time soon people who buy Defenders

plan to keep them, and for that reason alone these canopies seem very well suited to Land Rovers biggest and best.

Alu-Cabs canopies tend to cost more than the plastic equivalent, but they look like a classic example of getting what you pay for. xs4x4.parts

Castor-correction has become a very well known issue since people started lifting Land Rovers and realising their steering now had all the control of a drunk newborn foal on ice. Most people address this by fitting off-the-shelf radius arms or getting in there with the gas axe and welder, but the latter in particular is a very involved job requiring no small amount of know-how. Anyway, Britpart has just come up with an alternative solution.

New to the market, these new Castor Corrected Swivel Balls are a direct replacement for Land Rover vehicles which use the FRC7065 swivel housing. Supplied as a handed pair, they have their mounting holes repositioned to give three degrees of additional castor.

The swivel housings are from an OEM supplier, says Britpart, and then machined to our specification. They come in a kit with all the bearings, seals, plates, shims, washers and uppers youll need to fit them, as well as a couple of sachets of grease, and a bit of shopping around should get them on their way to you for about 300 including the VAT.www.britpart.com

Also new from Alu-Cab, this time in its range of storage drawers, is this exceptionally tidy installation for the Discovery 3. The company makes its drawers from, you guessed it, aluminium, and this means theyre light in weight as well as being strong, tough and durable.

Being designed in South Africa with heavy-duty off-highway use in mind, the drawers and in particular their runners are built to withstand the sort of dust and water that gets everywhere after a while - as well as the sort of water that hopefully wont but you never know. All this while carrying their maximum load, which, given what expedition driving is, wont exactly be on the featherweight side.

The tops are made from 12mm waterproof ply and lined with a heavy-duty nylon carpet that wont turn out to have worn through first time you unclip the ratchets on the tool box you strapped into place on top of them. The drawers themselves, meanwhile, are secured by lockable self-latching stainless steel catches, and can be removed altogether for cleaning or use away from the vehicle.

Alu-Cab offers drawer systems in short (750mm), medium (1230mm) and long (1420mm) sizes, and as you can see from these pictures of the Discovery installation you can put them together in various sizes to create whatever storage set-up you require. xs4x4.parts

13Issue 12: February 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242There are lots of reasons to love the Land Rover Defender. But there are lots of reasons to hate it, too, and one of them is the scissor-style bonnet stay thats left so many owners swearing loudly.

The guys from Megasquirt know that very well, because theyve been victims themselves. Countless times, they say. Theyre not fans of the later TD5-style prop, either.

The solution? Use a pair of gas struts to hold the bonnet open. Easy. And now the solutions even easier than ever, because Megasquirt has started offering it as a kit.

This is suitable for Defenders, and pre-Defender 90s, 110s and 130s. You can use them on right or left-hand drive vehicles, and as well as the rams themselves the kits come with all the mounting spacers, fittings, bolts, washers and so forth that you need to install them.

Thats if youve got a vehicle with standard wings, at least, in which case the job will only take about 20 minutes. If youve got challenge-style wings, its a little more involved as youll have to weld a set of mounts in place, but the kit doesnt any more so its still a good-value way of protecting yourself.

All the brackets in the kits are passivated for rust protection and looks, and the rams have quick release fittings to allow for bonnet removal. They can be fine-turned for bonnet height, too.

The kits cost 39.95 all in, which is a trifle to pay for the luxury of still having your head on. www.megasquirt-v8.co.uk

Repositioning the ECU on an old V8 is a very common mod when youre prepping the vehicle its in for off-roading. Britpart is now supplying an OEM-branded Ignition Module Kit, which allows you to do the same thing for the ignition by moving it away from the distributor to make it less prone to being knocked out by water. Its suitable for the Disco 1 and Range Rover Classic, and ought to cost in the region of 50 once the VATs added in.www.britpart.com

You dont need to have a dog for a dog guard to earn its corn. All you have to do is be that guy who just chucks his high-lift and ground anchor in the back of his truck and goes off-roading without lashing them down, and youll constantly be within one wrong move of depending on the mesh barrier behind your head to save your life.

Britparts latest unit is for the Defender 110 SW and Ute Wagon, and it bolts in securely to leave precious little room for loose objects to get you whether theyre of the canine variety or not. It costs about 150 with the VAT, which is more than a bungy net but less than a new head.www.britpart.com

14 Issue 12: February 2015www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNews4x4 Tyres sounds like a company that sells 4x4 tyres, and it is. But where theres a tyre theres a wheel, and where theres a cool truck theres every chance therell be a set of even cooler alloys from one of 4x4 Tyres latest ranges bolted on to its hubs.

First, theres the Challenger Alloy. This is a shinier sibling to the Challenger Steel, which 4x4 Tyres launched a couple of years ago, and its well set to repeat that wheels success. It comes in a 16x7 size, with an et10 offset perfect for the Defender, Disco 1

and Range Rover Classic, says 4x4 Tyres, which of course means itll also bolt up perfectly to any coiler, resto or indeed Suzuki thats been rebuilt using the axles from one of these models.

The Challenger Alloy comes in a choice of Gloss Black, Anthracite or Silver, and at 115 a piece including VAT and delivery we can see them flying off the shelves.

The same can be said of 4x4 Tyres other newcomer, the Sawtooth Alloy, even though this is more expensive at 150 a corner. Its modelled on the

wheel of the same name thats become synonymous with the contemporary Defender at its most stylish, and again it comes in a 16 size. This time, offset is et20, and you can only get it in Gloss Black and Anthracite, but once again itll bolt straight on to a Defender, Disco 1 or Mk1 Rangey

Cool wheels for sure, and the good news is that 4x4 Tyres will be able to sell you the rubber to wrap around them too. But then, youd guessed that anyway, hadnt you? www.4x4tyres.co.uk

Some of the interior treatments you see people inflicting on Defenders have to be seen to be believed. Sometimes this is just because of how clever, stylish and beautifully finished they are, but normally youre more likely to just find yourself wondering why in Gods name anyone would do something so unutterably tasteless to an innocent truck.

Premiership footballers aside, most of us would sooner not drive around in something that feels like a floating brothel, so Bespoke Cars interior for the Defender comes as a welcome relief. Its not what youd call understated, but it does manage to be at least a bit restrained and comes over a lot classier as a result.

Bespokes interior packages give you the option of having various parts, from door cards to dashboards, retrimmed in high-quality leather. You get to choose the spec and colour scheme, and just which parts of the cabin get the treatment.

And while were talking of leather, Bespokes Custom Sports Seats are trimmed in just that to whatever spec, colour, trim, stitching pattern and so on you want.

So thats unique, unique and unique. What price do you put on individuality? Bespoke puts 1595 on it in the case of the seats, while leather bits for around the cabin start at 395.www.bespokecars.co.uk


Thunderpoles latest CB radio, the T-800, is designed with easy operation in mind whether youre off-roading with your mates or using it as a work tool out on the road. This compact radio includes AM and FM channels, multiple bands in the UK and eight for Europe, an LED display and signal meter. The microphone is multi-functional and you can switch between auto and manual squelch.

The T-800 has a 12V input and 4 Watt RF output, and with dimensions of 115 x 38 x 150mm itll sit quietly in a corner until you belly out and your mates start getting all over the airwaves at you for it, of course.

At 54.99, anyway, even a compact unit is a lot of CB for your money, and when it comes from Thunderpole its got a leading name behind it. www.thunderpole.co.uk

Anti-theft bonnet hinges are, sadly, something that every Defender owner needs to think about. Mud UKs new units arent the first, but they do the job and they cost a fraction of what youd have to shell out on making things right if a pond-life got away with yours.

Suitable for any 90, 110 or 130, these Bonnet Security Hinges are made from stainless steel and finished in a satin black powder coat. They connect with anti-tamper fasteners, using anti-tamper shear nuts and bolts to keep thieves at bay.

New bushes are supplied for within the bulkhead curl hinge, too, and the hinges come with a full installation kit including instructions. At 85 including VAT, youre looking at a sound if slightly depressing investment.www.mudstuff.co.uk

A series vehicle should be kept stAndArd. its the best wAy

This Series III is unusual for many reasons. As well as dating from the tail end of leaf-sprung production

and only having done 60,000 miles, its had a

load of money spent on turning it back into a truck to be

proud of. But what really makes it stand out is its

first ever job in the secretive world of

the MoDs chemical weapons establishment at Porton Down

Chemistry. It was one of those subjects at school that just was. I would never look forward to it, but nor would I groan with dread as I would for, say, textiles. Yes, I was made to sew.

That said, chemistry is probably one subject people will always remem-ber because of the surroundings in which you were taught it the lab. A laboratory is a lot more interesting than a classroom, after all. It feels unique and mysterious, full up with weird and wonderful devices and substances.

Theres the hydrochloric acid, for example, thats capable of making you look like a zombies breakfast. Copper sulphate so blue it looks like the stuff Walt and Jesse have been making for the last few years in Breaking Bad. And everyone always enjoyed taking a splint to a Bunsen burner, like a caveman whos just about to have a warm meal for the first time in his life.

The point is, my expertise never went very far in this field. Stating the obvious, I hear you say and yes, youre right. There are far more people out

there whove been exposed to the world of chemicals (in every sense of the word, innocent and otherwise). And, while were at it, thats the case in the world of vehicles, too.

What a coincidence that we have one just here.

This is a particularly rare Series III, having only been registered in 1984. Its interesting, however, not just because its one of the last Series IIIs ever made but because, for the majority of its life, this Landy resided at the Ministry of Defences Porton Down


words and pictures Mike trott

CHEMICALBROTHER

At a glance, this is a Land Rover whose front end comes on like that of a 90. Seen from side on, however, aside from the extended wheelarches, all the visual cues point to its Series heritage and when you look harder, the split windscreen confirms this


chemical weapons research establish-ment near Salisbury.

Having been constructed during the First World War, when chemicals were first introduced into battle, Porton Down became one of the most impor-tant locations for military research over the following decades. Military person-nel would participate in experiments often nerve-agent trials and the focus would shift from defence to attack depending on the state of global affairs at the time. When this 88 was built, the Cold War was still in full deep-freeze and the USA and USSR were still

flexing their muscles and rattling their sabres at every opportunity.

Imagine the type of duties this Series III would have had, then, once the MOD got hold of it in 84. If youre old enough, you may have seen it trundling through the Wiltshire countryside with authorised personnel carrying out who knows what sort of operations.

The Cold War has long since thawed out (hopefully never to return), though the Land Rover remained in service un-til 2001. Since then, it has been through the hands of three private owners and had some operations of its own.

A lot of money has been spent on this over the last few years, says Jonathan Churchill, the current owner of both the vehicle and a company, Churchill 4x4, which many people turn to if spending money on bringing old Landies back to their best (and better) is on their agenda. Around 25,000 has been spent on it in fact. It now has a new galvanised chassis, along with an engine swap from the original 2.25-litre petrol to a fully reconditioned 2.5-litre naturally aspirated diesel.

This retired scientist has also been fitted with a reconditioned gearbox, and even its grey complexion is shining from a respray. Its got a couple of other nice features too, like a deluxe bonnet that curves over the top of a smart-looking grille.

For a vehicle that is now 30 years old, its still only clocked up 60,000 miles. Obviously, the new diesel engine has done still less only a few thousand since being fitted, in fact.

This has made it a little noisier inside the cabin, something Jonathan and I both agreed on. Or we would have, if wed been able to hear each other.

I like the Series III, continues Jonathan. If its a petrol especially, it can be a nice, usable Land Rover. It was never as sought after as the Series II/IIA

Continued overleaf

Above: The Landy dates from half a decade after the Stage 1 V8 came into existence, and almost 20 years since Land Rover North America became the first to put that engine into an 88, but when it left Solihull it was powered by the good old 2.25 petrol. The original engine stayed in place until just a couple of years ago, when one of the vehicles three civvy owners replaced it with a 2.5 naturally-aspirated diesel. Less thirsty? Yes, a little. Noisier? Yes, a lot. Worth it? Hard to see how on a Landy thats still, even now, only done 60,000 miles in its whole lifeBelow: Heres one, as they say. Take a look at the larger document here and youll see reference to a Chris Perfect Components power steering conversion. Did the Ministry fit such a thing to this Land Rover, only for it to be taken back off again when the diesel engine went in? (In which case, theres another reason why the 2.25 should have stayed put.) Or could it be that some Army clerk needed to scribble down a set of contact details and this was the nearest thing to a piece of scrap paper he had to hand? Yet another mystery from the secretive world of Porton Down

and by 1984 the 90 and 110 had come along, so they were just getting rid of the last of them.

Theyve spent about 7000 on this diesel engine with the aim of getting a bit better fuel economy. Im not sure it was really worth it though, to be honest, seeing as it hasnt done many miles since.

A Series Land Rover should be kept standard, in my opinion. Its the best way.

Some elements have remained just that, though. The interior hasnt been refurbished the way some of the truck has and remains a used, but well looked after environment. Rather stereotypically, I can envisage the truck carrying a bunch of scientists, all dressed in white lab coats, obviously, across the windswept reaches of Porton Down itself.

As with all military vehicles, of course, the paperwork was kept to the highest standard and every little detail was recorded. In its 17-year career, this is a truck which collected a fair bit of baggage.

The original purchase invoice can be found within those ancient looking folders, as can the Vehicle Record Book, maintenance records and mile-age log, all of them kept by the MoD. Full service history? How quaint.

The Cold War may be long gone, and good riddance. But despite the changes that have been made to it, here is a Land Rover which can take you right back to those eerie days of military need and itchy trigger fingers.

Its a vehicle youd be proud to be seen in whether youre running about your daily doings or exploring its old stamping ground on the green lanes of Wiltshire. And Im pleased to confirm that its free from any zombies left over from a nuclear experiment gone wrong. Thats what comes from sending all those years on the inside of a big chemistry lab, see


It may have seen 17 years in the service of the MoD and another 13 owned by three different people on civvy street, but youd never think it to look at the 88s interior. Its not concours, and not is it trying to be anything its not, but its condition is startlingly presentable for an old un. Lots of lavish attention has done no harm there, resulting in a new coat of paint to go with the tell-tale silver of a galvanised chassis

Despite having been through three pairs of hands since leaving the MoD, the Series III is in the enviable position of still having a complete set of paperwork to go with it. Not all of this is particularly meaningful from a used car point of view,

but as a record of an individual Land Rovers journey through life its priceless

Most of the vehicles Land Rover builds these days are intended just to be everyday cars. But everything the company has ever built, however focused it might be on off-roading, has been used that way at some point. So, which is the best Land Rover to use as a daily driver? And what if it had to be the only Land Rover you ever owned? We asked five experts from around the scene for their views

Most Land Rover enthusiasts have it in them to appre-ciate at least something about every kind of vehicle Solihull has turned out over the years. Each appeals in its own way, of course the performance and ride quality of a modern Range Rover are unlikely to be threatened by those of a 109, for instance, while the charm of a Series I is untouchable by, well, anything but it tends to be that if Landies are your thing, youve got a thing for Landies.

The very fact that youre reading this means youve probably got a Land Rover of some description in your life. Actually, theres a pretty strong chance that youve got several.

The modern breed of Land Rover owner might be a wealthy familyman whos spent fifty grand on a Discovery or Range Rover Sport he uses as a daily drive, and lots of traditionalists fail completely to identify with that. But are we really so different? Plenty of dyed-in-the-wool Landy owners have spent at least that much on their trucks its just that theyve done it over meany years, most of it has gone on parts rather than vehicles and instead of one gleaming Disco weve got two, three, four or more examples of Solihulls best work parked up around the place.

Most importantly, the dyed-in-the-wool traditionalist uses a Land Rover as his daily drive too. Its just that on any

given day, the Land Rover in question is whichever one from his collection actually happens to be working.

What if, though? Two words which lead in to so many great questions. In this case, were asking a couple. First, what if you could have any Land Rover you wanted as your daily drive? And second (and this is the naughty one), what if you could only have one Land Rover: would it still be the same one?

We asked the great and the good of the Land Rover world, and the breadth of different answers we got was more than a little surprising. Almost as great as the breadth of tempting vehicles Land Rover has built, in fact. Which goes to show that we might all share the

same taste in vehicles, but its different for all of us too.

THE LANERWe start with an authoritative voice in the form of Dale Wyatt. Dale is the Green Lane Associations Wiltshire area rep and one of the most active individuals in the fight to save Britains rights of way and hes been through a number of Land Rovers in his time.

His daily hack is a Freelander 2. One of the most economical Landies available, its comfier than a Defend-er and less of a Chelsea cruiser than something like a Range Rover Sport or Evoque though of course its not a patch on a proper Landy off-road.


Words Mike TrottPictures Steve Taylor, Mike Trott and Land Rover

For a daily driver, its got to be a Landy

21Issue 12: February 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242It does all I want and is much more

refined than the Freelander 1, Dale says. So yes, its probably best suited to the task not that Ive experimented too much with alternatives.

As youd expect from a GLASS rep, though, this isnt his only Landy. Its what the others are that might startle you. One is a 1957 Series I and the other is a 1984 Bowler Tomcat 100 with the 4.2-litre V8 from the Range Rover LSE.

And while his Freelander might tick the right box as a daily driver, thats not what Dale would keep if he could only have one Landy.

If I was only allowed one Land Rov-er, he says, Id have to keep the Bowler if thats Land Rover enough! Totally impractical, of course, but Id always have a smile on my face (even if it was frozen there) and an empty wallet! For-tunately I have the three, so its okay!

THE compETITorSomeone else who spends plenty of time in impractical vehicles is Jim Marsden. The reigning King of the Glens has consistently been Britains most successful international off-road competitor over the last decade or so, and his race truck has been through a process of evolution thats turned it into one of Europes best.

You want to know what I drive everyday? exclaims Jim. A Smart car. Jim is also one of Britains best off-road-ers for comedy value, however seriously he takes his motorsport.

Honestly? I drive my Defender 90 SV 200Tdi. Though if Im driving anywhere more than twenty minutes away and I dont want my teeth rattling out, I take my Discovery 3. Its just the sensible option as soon as youre doing any kind of mileage.

I love my 90 to bits. Ive had it for many years and it is my favourite to

Tireless GLASS rep Dale Wyatt drives a Freelander 2 and rates it as high as they come for daily drive duties. But if he was only allowed to keep one of his Land Rovers, hed trade in the comfort and practicality for the raw thrills of his Bowler Wildcat 100

Ultra4 Europe superstar Jim Marsden would pick up the keys to his Discovery 3 for a journey of any real length. But what he really loves driving is the Defender 90 SV he rebuilt a couple of years ago after hammering it through years of winch action though his ideal Defender would have a 6.2 V8 engine and auto gearbox!

drive. They dont make them, but my ideal vehicle would be a Defender 90 County Station Wagon with a 6.2-litre V8 and six-speed auto box.

THE salEsmanThe ultimate daily drive? Now theres a question! exlaims Mark Griffiths, Sales Manager at the world-famous Land Rover Centre in Huddersfield the company which recently sold the first

ever Range Rover in production after owning it for a quarter of a century.

For me personally, my daily drive is a Discovery 2 TD5. I do about 30,000 miles a year delivering Land Rovers around the country and for me it is the perfect vehicle.

Its comfortable and reliable (its a TD5 auto with cruise control) and, more important, it has a 3.5-tonne towing capacity. So its well on top of

the job of towing a trailer as well as long-distance work.

So job done, the Discovery wins for Mark, yes? No. A Disco just doesnt hold enough pedigree. Mark tells us that if he had to choose a proper Land Rover for every day it would have to be a late-model Defender. He is of course an admirer of the classics too.

I love the Series Land Rovers, but I think you have to use them in context.

If I had room for more vehicles at home, my ultimate Series would be a late IIA pastel green pick-up.

THE EnginEErAndrew Poulson, proprietor of Spinney Engineering, doesnt like anything from after 1998. Any vehicle with more electronics in it than his wristwatch is not worth mentioning, he thinks. But he also reckons he knows what most people would choose as an ultimate daily drive.

Id say most enthusiasts first choice would be an off-road prepared 90, with the seven seats, lift kit, snorkel and a winch or two, says Andrew. It certainly does sound like a great option but, if anything, that just throws another cat among the pigeons.

Andrew himself would take a long-wheelbase option for his choice. Mine would be a 110 Hi-Cap pick-up in Keswick Green, with big wheels and tyres. If you could only have one Land Rover, well, that wouldnt be a bad choice either, would it?

THE TEacHErDavid Mitchell, the proprietor of Landcraft 4x4, has owned an example of virtually every Land Rover ever made. Hes also the most senior expert on this panel of ours, with more than forty years of off-road driver instruc-tion under his belt, and since buying his first Series I as a 17-year-old in 1966 Land Rover is the only make of car hes ever owned.

I thought about this last night, says David reflectively. And my personal choice would be the Range Rover Sport for everyday use, like the one I had at Land Rover Experience a few years back. Hmmm, what was that we were saying about the difference between modern owners and traditionalists? But wait, theres more

My most fun Land Rover is the Series I 80 I own, continues David. I can use it in special rallies or events in the summer, and if the weather is nice, I can take the top off. Ive been lucky enough to use it around the Landcraft site on our adventure days as well.

But then for off-roading Id take the 90. And if I had to choose just one vehicle, Id take the Range Rover Classic 300Tdi manual I used to have. It was one of the last Mk1s ever made and it could do everything its the best all-rounder.

So, then, thats two questions, five Land Rover experts and ten different answers. A bit like going into a pub just before closing time and asking a group of sloshed lags for directions to the bus station the obvious difference being that this mish-mash of opinions is the result of sober reflection rather than drunken guesswork.

What patterns do we see emerging from all these different choices? Well, theres not an L322 or L405 Range Rover in sight (nor a P38, remarkably). In fact, the most modern examples of

22 issue 12: February 2015www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNews

Dealing in some of the very best classic Land Rovers means Mark Griffiths knows what hes looking at when it comes to old uns. He also knows what it takes to get them from A to B on the back of a trailer, though, and thats why he runs a Discovery 2 TD5 as his everyday car. Its automatic box and cruise control are must-haves, and each is a reason for not running a Defender; if he did have to go with a proper Land Rover, he says, it would be a late-letter one

Spinney Engineerings Andrew Poulson would choose a 110 Hi-Cap as his one and only Land Rover. But he reckons most enthusiasts would opt for a 90 Station Wagon with lifted suspension, a snorkel, at least one winch and all the other kit that goes into prepping for off-road fun these days


Land Rovers output are conspicuous by their absence; Jims Disco 3, Dales Freelander 2 and Davids old-shape Range Rover Sport are all prime exam-ples of the new breed, but none are as cutting-edge as the current models that replaced them.

Its also clear to see that while most of our Land Rover experts would choose to do their daily running around in the sort of vehicle Solihull built to excel on the road, if you push the point and

force them to decide on one single vehicle they move back towards the visceral seat-of-the-pants appeal which is what makes Landies so addictive in the first place.

The conclusion to that? Its fine to let your head rule your heart in this world of dull care, but spirit triumphs over sense at the end of the day. Being a Land Rover fan is all about the emo-tional appeal of a vehicle thats truly special comfort and practicality are

all very well, but passion is one thing you can never turn your back on.

To cut to the chase, when you leave your house in the morning you can walk past that classic or modified Landy on your driveway and climb aboard the comfy modern one instead. But if you had to choose one to let go forever, you wouldnt be able to bring yourself to let go. Owning a Land Rover is for every day but being possessed by one? Thats for life.

Landcrafts David Mitchell bought his first Series I in 1966 and hasnt owned anything else but Land Rovers ever since. Having used a Range Rover Sport for a spell when he held a Driving Experience franchise, he rates it as the vehicle hed choose above all others as his daily drive. But his nomination for the Landy hed go with if he could only have one? A late-productin Classic with the 300Tdi engine and auto gearbox. Bet you didnt see that one coming


*When did you last read an article about the Mk1 Discovery that didnt at some stage go on about how their bodies rust out? Well, this is not going to be that article.

It is, however, the story of how the rot that seems to curse every old Discovery sooner or later can be seen as an opportunity rather than a problem. You have to look pretty hard, but thats what Jack Peters did way back at the start of what was to become a long-standing project.

His Disco was a family car for a while after he bought it for 4000 at around its tenth birthday. But then its sills rotted out. Rather than putting ordinary sills on it, I used 100x60mm box-section, a couple of millimetres thick. So its like the original size sill with a rock slider built on to it.

That started the ball rolling, got me going doing bits and pieces. You could say I started with the rotten bits and built it up from there. Ive always mucked about off-road, but this was the first one where weve gone out and bought tyres and so on.

Tyres? Hardly the stuff of an epic project, at least not on their own. But 265/75R16s are a pretty big leap in size on a truck that left the factory on 205R16s and he made it with a suspension lift of just 2.

Everyone told me it wouldnt fit, remembers Jack. But the only thing it needed was a little off the back of the arches on the front wing, and with the original bump-stops it just tickles the arch at the back. I dont know if I should have done it, but Ive never had any problems!

As it was, he only lifted it by accident, having fitted a set of heavy-duty springs and DeCarbon shocks to help it carry heavy equipment for his work. The result was that when unladen, it sat just high enough to accommodate the taller rubber.

The tyres were turned by a standard 200Tdi engine which, in its first four years as Jacks property, went through two head gaskets, needed a head skim and lunched its timing belt. All the pushrods were bent into an S-shape, he recalls. So I straightened them with a concrete block and a hammer, and theyve been in there ever since two and a half years, no problems whatsoever. The block actually moulds itself into the shape of the rods!

The only modification to the engine, a snorkel, was made from a bit of

There are times in a project when its better to just scrap it and start again. But when people told Jack Peters hed be better off doing that to his old Disco, he wasnt having any of it. Then again, he was already used to proving them wrong

ive been told id be better off getting a new one. but im hanging on to it because its a damn good old car

IF IT AINT BROKE

words gary noskillPictures anthony singer


leftover plastic pipe Jack found on a building site. The LT77 gearbox was as trouble-free as they normally are, though it came out when the clutch disintegrated at which point he took the chance to split off the transfer case and renew all the oil seals.

Further everyday maintenance jobs have included the handbrake (new shoes, adjust it again its never-ending) as well as new swivels and a new steering box. The axles remained standard, though: Its been more of a fun car than spending megabucks.

Then theres the stuff hes made himself, which in addition to the sills include a steering guard he measured out and templated in cardboard before getting the sections cut out in 5mm steel plate. Im not one for believing that itll weigh the front of the car down, he says. Theres more significance in it being protected than in being weighed down with a wee bit of steel. The fellow Discovery owners in his manor whove since asked him to make copies for them would no doubt agree.

This is the sort of imagination and willingness to get your hands dirty that marks out a good budget builder. An element of luck helps too, and here someone was definitely smiling on Jack

when he arrived home with his new wheels and tyres in place.

My next-door neighbour was admiring the tyres, and I said my next purchase was going to be a winch. And he looked at me and said a winch? And then he said come with me, and there sitting on his doorstep was a winch which he gave me for free!

This might make you grind your teeth, but it wasnt just any old winch, either: it was a Warn 8274. Needless to say I had to strip it down and clean it out. A lot of people have commented that it sits a long way back on the Discovery, but basically it just bolted up and sat well in out of the way. The cage its in is welded on to the chassis at different points. At the front crossmember, theres an L-bracket that was bolted up to the army Land Rover it came off, and it fitted up pretty well a few modifications, and it was welded straight up to the chassis.

Jack trimmed the front bumper with a Stilsaw so that it would fit around the winch, which sits just in front of the radiator. Ive tried to keep it looking like a standard Discovery, rather than giving it a big winch bumper. I was quite chuffed that everybody thought it was good, because I just stuck the winch in a hole!

It says something that he managed to make a Disco look so close to standard with such a big winch up front, but thats this truck for you. Its nothing too showy, not trying to be a world-beater just quietly getting on with the

business of proving people wrong when they say you cant do it that way.

Not that that ever put anyone off, and even by the time the Disco had got to this stage Jack still had people tutting at him for it. People have told me Id

be better off getting a new one, that I should swap my bits and go at it again. But Im hanging on to it, because its a damn good old car. I know what Ive got, and I know what its capable of. I think I must be a Land Rover freak!

The 200Tdi is a wonderful thing, but in the first four years after Jack had bought the Disco its engine had needed two head gaskets and a skim, as well as turning its timing belt into a bag of scrap. That can mean curtains for the engine itself, too, but Jack just bashed the pushrods straight with a hammer and chucked them back in and three years later it was still going strong!


When a vehicle from decades past sticks in the public conscience, its normally because it was either stupendously good or woefully bad. The original Mini, for example: and the Austin Allegro.

Names play a part, too. Take the Nissan Sunny a contradiction by

name and a contradiction by nature. The Skoda Superb actually IS superb, but that doesnt make the name sound any less ridiculous. And the less said about the Ford Probe, the better.

The Americans have a decent track record when it comes to naming cars get aboard something called a Charger,

Viper or Thunderbird and you can be pretty sure something exciting is about to happen. The word Hummer sounds like an adjective for a bad attack of wind after ten pints of bitter and a dirty curry, but even if thats not a pretty image its plenty appropriate as an analogy for that vehicle

Which brings us to iconic 4x4s. Defender turned out to be a great name for the thing that used to just be called a Land Rover, for starters. But when they needed a name for the super-duper, bottom-kicking and world-conquering version of the Defender the Army asked them to

build, they needed something with a bit more panache. Invader might have helped with export sales to a few countries, but probably wouldnt have carried the right message.

Theres a lovely rumour which says that during a meeting somewhere in Solihull, an engineer on the project

Its a long time since the Wolf started to become an A1 choice among used Land Rovers. They cost big money to buy but, with so much about them thatll save you grief later, a good one is a top investment

i like taking them out on a test drive theyre so much lighter and really fly along. i think theyre amazing

Left: One of the defining differences between the Wolf and earlier military Defenders was under the bonnet where, instead of the old naturally aspirated 2.5 diesel, you find a 300Tdi. The MOD had the option of using the Td5 (and some Wolf-spec trucks bought by the German government in 2003 did have this engine), but took the view that its increased reliance on electronics would make it a liability to maintain in the field

Right: One attraction of this particular Wolf against most others is that the pioneer tools mounted on its bonnet have managed to survive the demob process without disappearing

Words mike trottPictures graham Blakeley


warned that they needed to handle the project with care lest it come back to bite them. Maybe we should call it the Wolf, then, someone quipped. True? Who cares.

Back when the Wolf was developed, the Armys Land Rover fleet was getting distinctly past its sell-by date. The 2.5 nat-asp engine is strong and dependable, but a bit on the ancient side, and these 90s and 110s werent built to be any more squaddy-proof than the ones being sold to farmers.

The Wolf brought Army Landies into the Tdi era (leapfrogging the 200 and going straight to the 300) and put Our Boys aboard a fleet of trucks that had been strengthened in all the right places. It was much, much more appropriate to its purpose at the time but time never slows, and since then the need for greater protection against roadside bombs and the like has seen it replaced by newer, purpose-built military creations.

As a result, over the past decade or so these hardened combatants have been relieved of their military duties and told to go and find a life away from danger. To help them along the way, companies such as Agri-Plant SV (Special Vehicles) act as a sort of occupational therapist a middle man, if you will, between the realms of the MOD and civilians.

Agri-Plants Graham Blakeley is one of these middle men, and he recently introduced us to one of his latest patients, this Wolf 90.

We gets loads of surplus MOD equipment, including a lot of Land Rovers, says Graham. This being a

Continued overleaf


Wolf, though, is better than standard. I think theyre amazing. I like taking them out on a test drive theyre so much lighter and really fly along.

If I had one of my own, Id probably change the colour to nighthawk black. I like the history behind them, but they are particularly sought after and consequently cost a fair bit.

Graham and his colleagues took delivery of this Wolf last March, straight from the MOD, and had

it checked over and prepared by a specialist before giving it their own final inspection. We steam cleaned the vehicle and Waxoyled the undercarriage so it is in the best possible condition for the new owner. It is as yet still unregistered, and as such the new keeper will be its first registered owner.

You could look at is as a passing-out parade for military vehicles carefully dressed up and readied for their next

adventure. Agri-Plant moves on other vehicles too, including tippers, dumpers and dozers, excavators, cargo trucks and even tanks. But with Landies like this around, youll struggle to notice any of that.

Lest we forget, the Wolf is by no means just a standard 90 with a chic name. A strengthened chassis and stronger axles make it well worth the premium, and when you combine 300Tdi power with the kerb weight of

something like a Mercedes C-Class youve got a truck that can go places in every sense. Reaching the magic ton figure isnt unheard of; in an old 2.5 nat-asp, that only happens if youve driven off a cliff.

Back in the mid-90s, when the original MOD order was placed, Land Rover was about to replace the 300Tdi with the Td5. But the Army wasnt up for the more modern engine. When youre playing chicken with RPGs, youd rather not have a light come up on the dash saying computer says no As it happens, the Td5 has proved since then to be extremely reliable, but sometimes the ease with which a thing can be fixed is paramount.

We have the original CAST certificate issued by the MOD, continues Graham, which covers all the vehicle data, chassis number and so on. The date into service for it is 01/04/1997, so registering it for the road would put this on a P-plate.

Back then, some rudimentary sums using government figures on the value and size of the Wolf contract suggest that the Army paid about 21,000 apiece for these special Land Rovers. As always, 90s would have been worth a little less than 110s, but you get the idea. Were talking about a 30% price premium over what a standard 90 cost at the time and that doesnt include the sort of discount you get when you order 8000 trucks in one go!

That illustrates the cost of the work that went into making these Landies a cut above your average Defender. And when you consider the sort of prices people still ask for very ordinary old

Tdis and early Td5s, a good Wolf is a classic case of spend it once, spend it right even at the five-figure prices they tend to command. This one has 116,000 miles under its wheels, but most of the time these supremely over-engineered machines will have been used on fairly untaxing patrol duties and lets not forget that vehicles under the keep of the Ministry of Defence are maintained to the highest standard regardless of cost.

This Wolf may have been involved in reconnaissance missions, says Graham. Certainly nothing to do with the Royal Marines, though, as it doesnt have the aquatic kit on.

It still has the original explorer kit, though which usually goes missing including shovel, pick axe and the sling attached to the bonnet.

Some versions of the Wolf were designed for tropical environments and others for winter surroundings its essential to know what youre getting if at all possible, and with its engine pre-heater and heated windscreen the latter could make a worthwhile choice if youre planning to buy a Land Rover for everyday use.

Either way, the Wolf is Land Rover at its best. Shrugging off what the world throws at it, it can adapt and survive in different climates and as a predator, its right on top of the food chain.

As Defenders go, this is not your average rank-and-file infantryman. Strong and smart, highly trained and honed for action, its more like James Bond. No wonder its the pick of the ex-military crop for everyone who knows a good truck when they see it.

Above: If you find yourself despairing every time you see the interior of a Defender from the Td5 era onwards, what do you reckon to the opportunity to climb aboard this one every morning in the knowledge that youre its first registered owner? Youre looking at a proper Landy here and no mistake

Right: Another advantage of buying a Wolf: unless youre planning on using it for full-on motorsport, you wont have to shell out on a roll cage. Its as strong up top as it is underneath, this truck

i like to dream up ideas and see if they can be achieved

Gareth Raynor cant have been a very happy man when his old Range Rover blew up. But when somebody offered him a 200Tdi 110 for the old trucks scrap value, his frown turned upside down. Not that it stayed a 200Tdi for long

When youve got a Land Rover that you love, and it blows up, that tends not to be ever such a good thing. But when Gareth Raynors old Range Rover did just that, his misfortune turned out to be a passport to something better than he could ever have dreamed of.

This happened at a time before rough old Defenders were sent flying upwards in value by the appearance of the DC100. Even then, though, Gareth got lucky when someone offered him a 200Tdi 110 for the scrap value of the

Rangey. It wont shock you hugely to hear that he said yes.

He knew the 110 would never be as comfortable as his old Range Rover. But it was going to be far cooler. He had a plan, you see.

This involved an engine. Theres nothing wrong with the 200Tdi, but Gareth had always been a fan of the 5.7-litre Chevrolet V8. His mate Ian had done something similar in his 90, and Gareth put a good one right at the top of his shopping list.

Fitting the mighty great Chevy unit under the Defenders bonnet turned

out to be far easier than you might expect of course, having already done it once on Ians truck made it that much easier and it ended up mounted a little further back than the original Tdi. This meant a custom exhaust, but youd have expected the job to need one of those anyway.

The engine was bolted to a four-speed auto box (later replaced with a five-speed LT77 manual, chosen both for its strength and its remote oil cool-er), and away Gareth went straight into some water. Cue one engine re-build and a waterproofing programme.


Words Gary noskillpictures steve taylor

PILING ON THEPOWER


This involved fitting twin snorkels to keep the big engine supplied with enough air (they look cool, too), as well as a Real Steel insulation sleeve on the HT leads. Gareth moved the ignition coil inside the cabin, too, where it was housed in a roof console to keep it as far from harm as possible. If the water gets this far up, the drivers going to drown, so a spluttering engine is un-likely to concern him.

Aside from that little incident with the water, Gareth also put a hole in the

110s original fuel tank. Rather than messing about with guards, he simply replaced it with a Series III unit on the basis that this is a smaller target. The tanks lower capacity wasnt an issue as the truck had been converted to run on LPG, with twin gas tanks giving him a range of 250 miles.

LPG is a lot cheaper than petrol, but with a 5.7-litre V8 shifting something this big, bluff and heavy from A to B with 35 mud tyres on the road and an enthusiastic driver behind the wheel,

youre still not talking about a cheap car to run. The Chevy is a very reliable engine, though, so its cost-effective in other ways and anyway, who cares about the dull stuff when getting about is this much fun?

So, we have a 110 with an engine that goes beautifully and sounds lovely. But as youll have spotted, theres more.

Whereas Ian had his Chevy in a 90, Gareth soon realised that though the 110 had fallen into his lap somewhat, he was a big fan. I think the 110-inch

wheelbase is more forgiving than that of the 90, he told us. Its a lot better over choppy ground, and I think it can really help to get you out of trouble.

But lets talk about the 110s rear overhang. In standard form, this gives it a departure angle of 34.5 degrees rather than the 90s 53 degrees, and it didnt take long for this to rattle Gareths teeth when he dropped off a ledge and landed on his back chassis.

The solution? Simple. Lay into it with a grinder until the back body finishes a couple of inches behind the rear wheels.

The problem? Simple. The hard-top is now too long.

The solution? Simple. Lob the hard-top and turn it into a truck-cab.

Another reason for doing this was that as well as being a toy, Gareth used his 110 as a daily driver. That meant four hours each day and when youve only got an old-school Land Rover heater, a truck-cab takes a lot less keep-ing warm than a big old van.

Providing cover for the rear tub, in went a pair of bespoke storage lockers, hidden under a layer of aluminium chequer-plate an idea Gareth came up with as a means of keeping spare parts and valuables secure. A locker on each side of the load bay was fitted with a pop up lid a system that looked tidy, worked well and only cost a few tens of pounds to make. Im not a big fan of expensive bolt-on components, Gareth told us. I like to dream up original ideas myself, and see if they can be achieved in the workshop.

Surrounding it all, he fitted a full ex-ternal cage which covered the rear tub as well as the cab and ran down to a set of custom rock sliders. As normal with exo cages, its everyday job was to rub against trees, but come the crunch

Holding it all up was a +2 spring and shock lift, with the extra weight of the Chevy engine controlled by twin front shocks on mounts from Qt Services. Gareth used rose joints wher-ever possible in the suspension to add flexibility, and swapped out the front axle for a stronger Salisbury unit. The vehicle was late enough in the 200Tdi era to have been built with disc brakes all round, so the factory-fit Salisbury at the back was left well alone.

Further mods included heavy-duty bumpers at both ends, but Gareth explained to us that he wasnt bothered about bolting any winches to them. I generally go off-roading in company. If I get into a pickle, one of my friends will be on hand to rescue me.

So, heres a 110 built by an owner with the imagination to do things his own way. Will it come as any surprise to you to hear that he rigged it up with external speakers so everyone else could enjoy his stereo too?

Thought not. Though for most petrol heads, no music could sound better than the noise that came out of this 110s exhaust pipes when Gareth put his foot down. He may not have intended to buy a Defender when his Rangey bit the dust, but he sure did embrace the opportunity that came his way. And what a truck he created in the process.

Theres a 5.7-litre Chevy V8 under the bonnet (below left), a tidy bobtail job and a +2 spring and damper lift with twinned front shocks controlling the extra weight of the bigger engine (below centre). All fine things (unless youre an ALRC scrutineer), but some of the most interesting features of this particular 110 are found behind its cab. The rear stays for the full-length exo roll cage double up as supports for the radiator and spare wheel, and underneath them is a tidy storage system in which a pair of bespoke lockers are winkled away beneath a layer of aluminium plate. Lockers on each side of the load bay have pop-up lids which, in a particularly neat touch, sit open on gas struts. Classy and practical and it only cost a few quid to make


Land Rovers have been described as a great many things. Trusty workhorse, favourite toy, lifelong companion, mans best friend, mans wifes worst enemy... you know the kind of thing. But boat? Less so.

Recently, though, we came across this rather unusual 109 Series III. It was relatively standard from the outside; the brushed-on black paint job wasnt what you would call authentic, but if that was the furthest it had been taken from standard, we thought, its done pretty well.

Inside, however, things were less familiar. The front of the cabin remained typically Landy-esque, with the large steering wheel and primary-coloured transfer levers alongside a knurled overdrive control but out back, a previous owner had converted it into a mini home-from-home.

You open the rear door of this 1981 Series III and immediately arrive into a lounge/bedroom combo which, if were honest, has a bit of a passion wagon vibe to it. Youd have to say its a warmer environment than the rear of

most Series Land Rovers, though, even if the all-black colour scheme makes it feel rather sombre inside. Or maybe its just nice and cosy. Light a few candles, and away you go

Anyway, whether its a love machine, a way of bonding with your truck or just a better option than erecting

a feeble tent every night, the home-brewed camper look makes great use of the Series III in long-wheelbase form.

This is a two-berth Landy. I say berth rather than bed because, while I was in the passenger seat, the man behind the wheel (NSV Autos mechanic Ken Harper) described it as a

Mike Trott

From pricey new trucks to old classics, Land Rover camper vans take many shapes and forms. The best of the lot are often the home-made homes-from-home and this neat 109 Series III is a fine example

the home-brewed camper look makes great use of the series iii in long-wheelbase form

Left: At a glance, the 109 doesnt look like the prettiest thing in the world. A hand-painted overcoat in matt black tends to have that effect, see. But its beauty is definitely in its function

Right: Not sure if wed still describe this as a hose-out interior but, when youre fitting out your old wagon as a camper van, how far wrong can you go with a bright red carpet? The cab is generally pretty standard, save for the addition of a control lever for an overdrive


boat. You were wondering where that was going to crop up again, werent you?

I much prefer the power steering in my Renault, to be honest with you, Ken jokes. Mind you, this was happening as he was swinging the 109 through a set of those road chicanes you come across every now and again to keep your speed from building up. Not something that tends to be a problem in a long-wheelbase Series III.

It gives it a lot of character though, thats for sure, continues Ken. Im sure he couldnt fit the same set-up in the back of his Renault, either. The bed slats fold up to create a sofa for extra seating, which is in addition to a bench on the side, and there are a couple of sockets should you wish to plug in, say, a TV.

Would this be the ultimate green laning weekend tool? Well, its recently gone on to a new owner who will find out in time, but before that NSV Autos made sure it was in peak condition for its next adventure.

Prit Virdee, the owner of NSV Autos, said: Weve redone the brakes and its had a fair bit of welding done. Its also been steam-cleaned, with the chassis having now been painted black.

The love boat also received a full

service and reconditioned injectors. That counts as suitable TLC for a truck that only shows 46,000 miles a figure which, despite being very low indeed, Prit has found to be genuine.

The idea of this Land Rover is hardly unique, but it sure is great. It could be the only vehicle youd ever need, combining Series looks and character (black paint or not) with Land Rover ability and somewhere to rest your head. Providing you arent rocking the boat too much, of course

Thats not what was in my mind (honest) when I found myself only moments away from bidding on this 109 when it was sold on eBay. My head stepped in with an authoritative tone before my heart had commanded my mouse finger to do anything silly, though, which is probably just as well.

After a

the landy february 15

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