the landy march 15

LANDYTHE

EVERY MONTH 100% LAND ROVER 100% FREE!

ISSUE 13 MARCH 2015

LACK OF USE IS ALWAYS GOING TO MAKE THINGS LOOK BADReviving a down-at-heel Lightweight by getting it back to doing the things a Land Rover does best

FREE EVERY MONTH FROM YOUR LAND ROVER SPECIALIST

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the uLtiMAte in eveRydAy cLAssics!how a bit of Range Rover pub talk turned up an original searle camper from 1974 thats now been put back into service as whats got to be the most distinctive daily drive youll ever seeFull story: Page 18

At first glance, this is a 90. But the more you look, the more you see! Full story: Page 30

A FLAMING GOOD RESCUE JOB!This magnificent 127 didnt always look so purposeful.

After an early life spent on standby to deal with emergencies at Coventry Airport, it fell into the hands of an owner who always meant to restore it but never had the time.

But then Brian Tonks took it on. And, being a pro in the Landy game, he knew exactly what he was up to. When it emerged from his workshop, the big truck had been restored from top to toe and it was looking more eye-catching than ever! Full story: Page 14

Theres more to this 187,000-mile ex-police Disco 2 than meets the eye. Just as well, when what meets the eye are those alloysFull story: Page 22

Notice anything odd about this 90? Like, for example, its a hatchback Full story: Page 26

3Issue 13: March 2014w 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 553242Uncertain fate for Land Rovers aboard stricken freighter It has been confirmed that the cargo ship which ran aground in the Solent on 3 January was carrying 1200 Jaguar Land Rover vehicles at the time. The breakdown of marques and models has yet to be identified, but JLR products made up the majority of the fleet carried by the Hoegh Osaka which was also loaded with JCBs and other industrial plant.

Shortly after departing from Southampton at 8.20 that evening, Hoegh Osaka began to list. The vessels crew deliberately ran it aground on Bramble Bank to prevent the ship from capsizing a manoeuvre for which its owners hailed them as heroes.

We can confirm that we have roughly 1200 Jaguar and Land Rover products aboard the stricken ship, said a Land Rover spokesperson. Until such time as the salvage operation can safely begin, we can tell you nothing further about the implications for the cargo. However, the most important consideration is that the crew are safe and well.

Since we spoke to Land Rover, the 51,000-tonne transporter has

unexpectedly refloated itself allowing tugs to drag it two miles to a safer mooring, where the salvage operation is now in progress. There was a slight hiccup when one of the tugs holding it in place was picked up by the wind and crashed into it, but this didnt

prevent the operation from being completed successfully.

At the time of writing, the ship was estimated to have taken around 3000 tonnes of water on board, and this will have to be pumped back out during a salvage process which is being

hampered by strong winds and bad weather. Hoegh Osakas fate remains unclear however after so many days aboard at such an extreme angle, it can only be assumed that the entire complement of Land Rovers on the ship will be written off.

Nige Brown @ flickr.com, CC-BY-2.0

Plaudits aplenty for Land Rover at What Car? awardsLand Rovers breadth of quality has been recognised again at What Car? magazines 2015 Car of the Year Awards. On top of successes for each member of the Range Rover family, the Discovery Sport was honoured with this years Safety Award a fitting return for a model which has also just received a 5-star EuroNCAP rating.

This award provides Discovery Sport with valuable, independent validation of its exceptional quality and ability, said Land Rovers Murray Dietsch. It reflects the extreme lengths we go to to ensure safety provisions go beyond what is required and what customers expect.

Safety was a fundamental priority in the development of Discovery Sport as a true family vehicle. This award rewards the no-compromise pioneering work we have invested in the model.

In addition to this, the Range Rover and Evoque achieved Price Point wins in the Luxury Car and Small SUV classes respectively. The Range Rover Sport, meanwhile, claimed the Best Large SUV title for the second year in a row, with the award going specifically to the SDV6 HSE model.

The Range Rover Sport may look pricey next to alternatives such as the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz ML, said What Car? But you know the minute you get in that it utterly warrants its price. If youve got the money, the Rangie is really in a class of its own.

4 Issue 13: March 2014www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNews

Land Rover has revealed first details of the celebrations it has planned to mark the Defenders final year of production. These include the launch of three special-edition models designed to celebrate different aspects of the vehicles character and to separate customers from sums of money climbing to a barely believable 61,845.

Thats the price for the Autobiography edition and with a name like that, youd be forgiven for thinking its some sort of Range Rover.

Inside at least, thats what Land Rover has tried to replicate. A full Windsor leather interior with seats embossed with the Autobiography logo will look great with a bit of mud on it

Stepping out of your Range-Ender (see what we did there), youll notice that its dressed in 235/85R16 Goodyear Wrangler MT/R tyres on Sawtooth alloys and features Santorini Black accents across its grille, rear door and upper body. Elsewhere, things like the filler cap and door handles are made of aluminium rather than plastic, front and rear lights are upgraded to

projector LEDs and you get special badging as well as privacy glass, so the outside world is at once encouraged to look at you more closely but not able to see very much.

Petrolheads (or dieselheads in this case) will also be pleased with the announcement of a power upgrade, taking the 2.2-litre motor from 121 to 148bhp and from 265 to 295lbf.ft. And

while enjoying it, you can relax in your premium leather seats while admiring your reflection in the machined diff lock instruction plate and spun metal discs in the cup holder slots.

Yes, these are the things that make a Defender 90 Station Wagon worth 61,845. Only 80 of the Autobiography edition will be built, with the first customers discovering what they got for all that money in April.

The other two editions, which will hit the road in August, are probably more appealing to most Land Rover fans as well as being priced a lot more sensibly.

Mike Trott

Special editions mark Defenders final year as prices climb to 61,845

Land Rover produced another Heritage edition of the Defender following its 50th anniversary in 1998. It also did a model with a 4.0 V8 engine and auto gearbox a project requiring a greater depth of engineering development than anything on the new crop of specials

5Issue 13: March 2014w 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

Above: Badging is a big deal on these three special-edition Defenders, which definitely want you to know what they are. The Heritage model (top left) plays on its link back to the original Series I by reprising the HUE 166 number pate from the oldest surviving Landy, while the logo on the wing of the Adventure model calls up images of the Camel and G4 Challenge days as does the orange paintwork on this particular example. Finally, the Autobiography has an aluminium badge surrounded by LED lamps and positioned next to a Sawtooth spare wheel seldom can overstatement have been so understated

The first of these is the Heritage Edition, which harks back not just to a previous model of this name but to the looks of the first vehicles to carry the Solihull badge all those decades ago.

Available in 90 Hard Top, 90 Station Wagon and 110 Station Wagon body styles, this modern-day throwback to Land Rovers younger years will cost from 27,800, with 400 vehicles

in total being produced. Equipment will include unique Grasmere Green metallic paint with body-colour arches and heavy-duty steel wheels, a Heritage front grille, various aluminium trim items inside and out, special cloth upholstery, clear indicator lenses and a smattering of badges and logos including a HUE 166 graphic based on the number plate of the famous

pre-production Series I which is the oldest surviving Land Rover.

Finally, the Adventure edition takes the prices firmly back to dreamland again, with 600 available in 90 and 110 SW form from 43,495 upwards. Designed for customers who want to explore, this comes in a choice of grey, white or orange, set off by a black grille, arches, bonnet, roof and rear door.

As with the Autobiography, the 90 has the same power upgrade as well as LED lights, a Windsor leather interior and MT/R tyres, this time mounted on diamond-turned split-spoke alloys. Various shiny trim bits inside and out are augmented by exclusive badging and logos, and off-road equipment to help those lucky customers in their exploration includes sill and sump guards, a snorkel and an expedition roof rack with rear access ladder.

We wanted to mark the end of Defender production at Solihull with a special edition, said Land Rovers Vehicle Line Director Nick Rogers. But coming up with a single identity was impossible, so we developed three very different interpretations of the Defender to reflect its strength and breadth of character.

Whether our customers want to celebrate Land Rovers unrivalled off-road heritage, demand the ultimate in terms of design and performance or have a genuine thirst for adventure, there will be a limited edition Defender that will be fit for purpose.

Fitting as they are for the Defender in its current guise, these special editions highlight the gap that now exists between Land Rover and its traditional customers. None of these models include galvanised chassis or bulkheads, roll protection, enhanced suspension, uprated axles or locking diffs all of which are things you could get on professionally remade Tdi or Td5-era Defenders for a fraction of the price youll pay for an Autobiography.

These Defenders appeal to the modern breed of well heeled lifestyle buyer will be obvious, however. And they can be expected to sell out fast and hold their value as tenaciously as any other 90 or 110.

Passion and enthusiasm surround everything we do with Defender, and that will never change, concluded Nick Rogers. This is a Land Rover that has thrived for decades on its unquestionable capability and iconic shape. I now have the honour of being one of the many enthusiasts at Land Rover committed to creating a fitting successor to the legendary Defender.


THE GREAT BRITISH LAND ROVER SHOW was announced a couple of months ago and its already proving to be a huge success, with trade stands filling up fast and public tickets going like hot cakes.

A major new indoor event for 2015, the show will be 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.

Best of all, this massive new date in the show calendar is COMPLETELY FREE! Its organised by the publishers of The Landy and were offering free tickets for entry after 12 noon if you pre-register for them or, if you cant wait and need to get through the doors when they open at 10am, you can buy advance tickets for a mere 5.00.

Be warned, though. These free and half-price tickets are already proving very, very popular. Inevitably, theres a limit on the exhibition halls capacity

and that means it wont be long before theyre all gone.

Youll still be able to pay 10.00 on the day if you want to get in to the show. But if you want to take advantage of free entry after midday, or buy your ticket for half-price, you MUST get them as soon as possible.

We dont want to disappoint people closer to the date of the show by having to tell them there are no advance tickets left. Thats why were encouraging you to register now. The

sooner you can be sure of your place, the better because at the rate theyre going, the freebies and cheap deals will be history in record time.

So dont delay! Head for www.greatbritishlrshow.com and

register for your advance tickets now. Its going to come around fast and were looking forward to welcoming you through the door when it gets here. Dont forget the best things in life are free!

Its free but It wont be for Much longer!Great British Land Rover Show Donington, 26 April 2015 FREE ENTRY but be quick before the free tickets are gone

Claim your FREE tickets today visit www.greatbritishlrshow.com

sPonsoreD bY beArMAchThe Great British Land Rover Show is proud to be sponsored by major parts and accessories supplier Bearmach. For the last half a century, Bearmach has been supplying OEM and its own branded quality-assured parts for all Land Rover vehicles making it the ideal partner for whats going to be a huge one-day supermaket of Landy bits. Bearmach will be present at the show, as will several of its top distributors meaning you can be sure of getting unbeatable deals on whatever parts or accessories you need.


Its very easy to snort with derision at the news that Land Rover is to build a Defender costing 61,845. But yes, thats what the limited-edition Autobiography model is going to cost.

I dont suppose there was much doubt that Solihull would see the last year of Defender production as an opportunity to cash in. And the three special-edition models it has unveiled for this year certainly do that. But the very fact that its able to do so illustrates just how much of an icon the Defender has become.

We know that theres going to be a new Defender, which will be launched in 2016 or 2017 depending on which magazine you choose to believe. But theres also going to be several thousand old ones and theyre not going to go away.

Unlike some journalists who claim to have information from a Land Rover insider, I dont pretend to know what the new Defender will be like. But I know what it wont be like.

Take an old Tdi-era 90 or 110. Strip it right down and rebuild it on a galvanised chassis and bulkhead, using a remanufactured engine and gearbox. Put it on refurbished Td5 axles and trim it with whatever off-road kit and other accessories you see fit. Use stainless fixings throughout.

There you are: what the new Defender wont be like. Theres a huge market for rebuilding old ones into better than new condition: whether they really are better than new is open to debate, but with a galvanised chassis below it a Land Rover is well set to last longer than it did first time round. It might not hold its monetary value as strongly as a new one, but to an owner who intends to keep it for the odd quarter of a century or so that means nothing.

The fact is that by spending a third of what the Autobiography 90 costs, you can get a professionally refurbished old one that doesnt have any of the shiny kit but does have the one thing that matters so much more. Itll be a good, honest Defender. And those will remain priceless forever.

Alan Kidd, Editor

Comment


The manufacturing sector in the UK has been boosted by the addition of a further 1300 new jobs, thanks to fresh plans from Jaguar Land Rover. To continue its expansion into the use of aluminium and lightweight technologies, Britains largest manufacturing investor has announced that it is to develop new facilities at Solihull which nowadays builds Jags as well as Land Rovers and is currently gearing up for the luxury car companys first performance crossover.

News of this latest jobs boost comes only three months after JLR opened the doors on its new 500 million Engine Manufacturing Centre which itself will have created a total of 1400 jobs once it gets up to full steam.

Jaguar Land Rover plans no less than twelve significant product actions over the next year including new launches and major updates. Its this non-stop programme of product-led development that gives the company its extraordinary need for an ever-greater skilled workforce.

Todays announcements once again demonstrate our commitment to the UK and the advancement of a high-tech, high skilled, manufacturing-led economy, said JLR boss Dr Ralf Speth. It is that innovation and relentless quest for new technologies that sets our products apart. We want to offer customers greater choice, with even more exciting vehicles, crafted with that special British flair. We want to improve the quality of life for our customers and for our own employees, creating opportunities for more people to be part of the Jaguar Land Rover experience.

Home to the Land Rover Defender, Discovery and the Range Rover, the Solihull plant now incorporates Europes largest aluminium body shop and final assembly hall.

Applications for the new roles are now being accepted. In addition, after Jaguar Land Rovers involvement with last years Invictus Games, former service personnel and those leaving the armed forces in the near future are particularly encouraged to submit applications of their own.

Mike Trott

Solihull puts 1300 new jobs up for grabs

JLR fined after production line accidentJaguar Land Rover has been fined 40,000 following an incident in which one of its employees was seriously injured on the production line.

Colin Downes, 57, a maintenance electrician from Northfield in Birmingham, was working in the Lode Lane paint shop in June 2013 when he was dragged on to a conveyor belt. He suffered a broken sternum, 10 broken ribs, two punctured lungs, blood clots to his heart and kidneys and a broken right hand.

Following a 40-minute operation to free him, Mr Downes was taken to hospital and placed into an induced coma. Remarkably, he was back at work just 17 weeks after his ordeal.

The prosecution alleged a lack of safety equipment which, if fitted, would have prevented workers from being exposed to the conveyor system. Jaguar Land Rover pleaded guilty after admitting there had been no guard in place to prevent the incident.

Ordering the company to pay a fine of 40,000 with costs of 13,474, Judge Peter Carr told Birmingham Crown Court this fell far short of a safe and reasonable standard.

He continued: This was an entirely reasonable, foreseeable situation. The breach was an ongoing failure and an accident waiting to happen.

In a statement, JLR said: The safety and wellbeing of our workforce is an integral strategic imperative across our entire business. We continue to work tirelessly to ensure the protection of our employees remains our highest priority.

9Issue 13: March 2014w 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 553242Six Landies team up to draw a line in the sandHow did Land Rover mark the dawning of the Defenders last year in production? By using six different vehicles from throughout the models extended history to create a kilometre-wide drawing of a Landy on the beach near to where the first ever prototype was originally conceived, thats how.

Using 12-foot harrows, the sextet of Landies followed GPS outlines to create the artwork on the beach at Red Wharf Bay in Anglesey where Spencer and Maurice Wilks brought to life a bold idea to boost export sales by building a tractor that could be driven on the road. The rest, as they say, is history

The team behind the drawing used a 1951 80, a 1965 Series II (which once belonged to Spencer Wilks himself), a Series III 109 SW, a 90 Truck Cab, a 2011 110 Station Wagon and a 2014 90 Hard Top to dig it out. The result was a continuous line measuring 4.52 kilometres just a little less than three miles, which takes a lot of harrowing

Singer, dancer and all-round up for it kind of girl Pixie Lott was to be seen careering down a hill in North London aboard a big rubber tube recently, after Land Rover created a pop-up winter wonderland in the grounds of Alexandra Palace. As you do. The Strictly Come Dancing star, whos a Land Rover UK brand ambassador, was showing her face (and chucking snowballs) as part of Solihulls Hibernot campaign, which encourages people to keep on embracing the great outdoors even in the depths of winter. The surprise snowfall appeared overnight and, in a weather phenomenon unmatched since the great day when Ian McCaskill spelt fog backwards, was accompanied by the appearance of a Discovery and Discovery Sport. Hibernot celebrates Brits who relish the winter months rather than hibernating inside featuring more than 300 recommended activities all over the UK for families and individuals to enjoy and explore, its at www.hibernot.co.uk.

10 Issue 13: March 2014www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsLand Rover Experience Scotland has been named as a five-star activity centre by the countrys national tourism organisation.

VisitScotland was on a mystery shopping exercise when it popped in for an hour-long session at the Butterstone Loch site near Dunkeld, run by long-time off-road instructor and former hillrally competitor Graham Clark..

Land Rover Experience Scotland has access to in excess of than 5000 acres of wild Highland estate, where customers

can learn about off-road driving aboard Land Rovers latest vehicles amid some of the most picturesque surroundings Britain has to offer.

The VisitScotland Quality Tourism Advisor who visited the site described it as superb fun and commended Land Rover Experience for its warm welcome and friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic team.

We are delighted to receive this honour, said Graham Clark, and feel very proud of our staff who have put a lot of effort into setting such a high

criteria for this award. Our facility at Butterstone gives us the opportunity to facilitate a range of events to a five star standard, reflecting the strong customer focus and culture of excellence that the Land Rover brand embodies.

Jim Clarkson, Regional Director at VisitScotland, commented: I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to staff at Land Rover Experience Scotland on receiving this award. But it comes as no surprise, as this attraction really is a fantastic asset to the tourism offering in Perthshire.

We know that visitors love a truly hands-on experience, Clarkson added. And Land Rover Experience

Scotland certainly offers just that, within the beautiful surroundings of Highland Perthshire.

Jaguar Land Rover is working in partnership with Intel and Seeing Machines to create vehicles that can read their drivers. The purpose of this latest high-tech development is to enhance safety by constantly monitoring the drivers face and eyes for signs of distraction or fatigue.

Seeing Machines showcased the new Driver Monitor System (DMS) at the recent International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, using the latest in sensory technology to interpret a humans face.

The companys Nick Langdale-Smith said: The algorithm we have developed for DMS has the potential to seamlessly enable a host of safety and autonomous driving features and reduce the potential for accidents caused by the driver not paying attention. DMS is unique because it is the only driver monitoring system that can achieve this even if the driver is wearing shades, or in full sunshine.

JLRs Engineering Director Dr Wolfgang Ziebart said: The attention-monitoring technology has huge potential for road safety. If the drivers gaze moves towards the infotainment screen or out of a side window, and the car identifies this, the system could alert the driver to hazards earlier.

DMS could even enhance settings in safety systems like Autonomous Emergency Braking, to reflect the drivers lack of attention. As the car drives up to a hazard, the brakes could engage autonomously sooner because the car realises the driver has not seen the danger ahead.

Jaguar Land Rover is currently working on the next version of its head-up display, which it hopes will be able to utilise the full windscreen and Driver Monitoring System. Whether we are projecting a transparent view of the bonnet or helping the driver to navigate by following a ghost car, added Dr Ziebart, it would be very useful to understand exactly when the drivers eyes arent actually looking at the windscreen to see this information, so it can be repeated or shared in a different way.

Five-star tourism award for Land Rover Experience Scotland


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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01283 553243 [email protected] www.thelandy.co.uk www.facebook.com/thelandyuk

NEXT MONTH

PLUS The original Range Rover Sport is normally thought of as a bling machine. But its still a

Discovery under the skin so whats it like when you put it in front of a trailer?

NEXT MONTHS LANDY IS PUBLISHED ON 23 FEBRUARYYou can pick up your copy of our April 2015 issue from newsagents or Britpart dealers or read it online at www.thelandy.co.uk

HOME-MADE HOME-FROM-HOME There are plenty of DIY camper conversions in the world. But few can match the standard set by this amazing Wolf 130

This late Series IIA looks much like an unmolested example of a 109 hard-top. But while it certainly is a nice one, its not going to win any concours awards. Believe it or not, beneath the surface this Land Rover is part Range Rover and part Peugeot!

12 Issue 13: March 2014www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsTHE LATEST BRAND to join the ever-growing stable at XS 4x4 is Upracks, whose Italian-made expedition roof racks promise to offer a solution thatll fit any Land Rover.

The company makes its racks from 100% aluminium alloy, keeping to a minimum the amount of weight added to your vehicle where you least want it. The heavier the rack, obviously, the less it can carry, and Upracks units weight in from as low as 14kg.

That changes depending on the size of the unit youre fitting, of course, but even the sort of rack youll need for a big expedition truck should only take a relatively modest bite out of the manufacturers stated roof load limit. Bear in mind also that any kind of suspension lift will mean you cant carry as much up top and the need for keeping it as light as possible is more obvious than ever.

The basic rack is a simple platform, available in a huge range of sizes from 1097 x 907mm up to 2846 x 1477mm. In each case, you can choose between black and polished aluminium finishes.

Beneath this, fitting is taken care of by leg kits which are available for vehicles with and without gutter rails. These come in four different heights,

too, and are supplied in pairs so you can decide for yourself how many you need Upracks itself suggests a minimum of three per side, and that for a large rack intended to carry its maximum weight you should go all the way up to seven.

If your vehicle is already fitted with roof mounting points, on the other hand, Upracks will also supply a custom kit to suit it. So whatever you drive, therell be a solution here for you.

Theres also a huge selection of accessories in the manufacturers product range, including ladders, fairings, storage boxes and attachment points for jerry cans, sand ladders, jacks, spare wheels, CB whips and more. The racks themselves are designed with a slot for bolt-in fitting using a special M8 rectangular nut, and all the hardware the company supplies for racks and accessories alike are either stainless or galvanised.

The racks clever modular design means theyre as flexible a solution as youll ever find, and with universal mounting hardware and walkable platforms also in the options list, youre unlikely to ask a question the company cant answer. xs4x4.parts

If youve got the good fortune to have a Puma-engined Defender as your off-road toy, youre probably also just generally lucky enough not to have walloped the fuel cooler on any expensively shaped rocks. But your time will come, sunshine.

When it does, just imagine how glad youll be that you fitted Britparts new electro-plated Fuel Cooler Guard the previous day. Which is what will have happened, because youre the lucky type.

The guard is easy to fit and, at less than 50 including the dreaded, equally easy to afford. Though that doesnt matter to you, because youre loaded, arent you? Lucky, see.www.britpart.com

Sealey has launched a stonking new cordless impact wrench aimed at the pro-level mechanic. Called the CP3005, this is an 18V Drive model, and it comes with a spare lithium-ion battery so you neednt ever have to worry about down-time for charging.

The wrench delivers 480lbf.ft of torque, which is more than a 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 Range Rover. Wheel nuts should run scared

With forward and reverse controls, speed selection and an integral work light, this is a well featured machine. It also has a useful indicator that keeps you aware of when a change of battery pack may be in order, so you can plan this in rather than running out of grunt with a job half done.

At the time of writing, the Impact Wrench is on offer at 399.95 plus VAT. Promotions come and go, but theres no such thing as a power tool thats not on offer somewhere. Go shopping around, and we think youll like what you find.www.sealey.co.uk

Heres something you dont see every day a Land Rover burnt meticulously into wood to create a true piece of art suitable for any fan of the green oval.

These beautifully crafted art pieces are the work of Kelly Smith, the brains behind Wood-Bee Pyrography. Having undertaken an Art Foundation course at Hereford Art College after completing her A-Levels, Kelly later combined her creative nature with her passion for the countryside and started producing pyrographic pictures using elegant pieces of wood.

I started sketching with pictures of birds of prey, then dogs and even fish! says Kelly. They came alive with burning the images and adding detail. I was then asked to produce a cherished Land Rover image as a Christmas present and found the challenge produced another fabulous result.

There is no debating the level of detail in each of these pieces and its easy to identify the models Kelly has recreated. The phrase ideal gift comes to mind

Because of the techniques used in creating these pieces, no two will ever be 100% the same. So you could have your own unique artwork with your very own Landy burnt on to a unique piece of wood.

I have been commissioned by woodturners to produce pieces on to vases and bowls as well as the usual flat wood slices, Kelly told us. The finished item can be used as a decorative piece indoors or a functional house sign outdoors.

If youd like Kelly to fashion you your own unique piece of Land Rover art, or even if you have something else in mind, all you need to do is supply her with a good quality photograph to copy along of course as some idea of what you want her to do.

Pictures on slices of wood start from 45 (depending on the picture and level of detail) and you should allow up to 28 days for delivery. Kellys company, Wood-Bee Pyrography, is waiting to hear from [email protected]

REMEMBER THOSE Heritage editions Land Rover did of the 90 and 110 to celebrate its 50th anniversary? Yes, the same ones theyre going to reprise later this year to help cash in on the end-of-an-era market. Well, Bespoke Cars now offers a Heritage grille for the Defender.

With a Bentley-style mesh design, this is a bit different to what Solihull

came out with back then, but used in combination with some of the other styling touches you can get from Bespoke and elsewhere we could see it being part of a really stunning retro-style package. The grille is priced at 495, so youd need to be dedicated to your art, but used smartly itll look a million dollars.www.bespokecars.co.uk

Grotted-up electrical contacts? Of course you have. You own a prehistoric Land Rover, dont you?

Not to worry, though, Normfest is here to help. The company specialises in chemical solutions for the automotive industry, and its latest product is TermClean. Stands for Terminal Cleaner, and its now available at Euro Car Parts.

This comes in a 400ml aerosol spray and is formulated to clean all types of electrical contacts. Ideal around the workshop just spray and wipe, and before long the current will be flowing as well as ever.www.eurocarparts.com.

13Issue 13: March 2014w 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 553242Its been a while in the making, but you can only say no so many times! Raptor Engineering has yielded to popular demand and come up with a steel binnacle for those seeking an alternative to the plastic one which in so many old Landies has only ever moved from its original position because its in the early stages of being shaken to pieces. Sometimes not all that early, actually.

This black powder-coated piece of work has quality written all over it. Designed to fit all pre-2000 Defenders, it slots in as a direct swap for the original. The difference being that it wont start to assault you with non-stop rattling noises just when you think its safe to take your earplugs out.

If you have a Raptor console already installed within your Defender, there is also a deluxe version, complete with a silver or black bezel, to complement it.

The new binnacle fits directly to the existing plastic mount. If you want further peace of mind, though, Raptor also offers a steel mount built for exactly this job another fine way of retaining a rattle-free cabin.

As with all Raptor products, this latest addition to the companys range comes with a lifetime guarantee. Prices start at 79 and include VAT.www.raptor-engineering.co.uk

Removing the metal locking ring which holds the fuel tank in place on the 2002-on Defender, Disco 1 and 2, Freelander 1 and Range Rover L322 is not known for being the easiest job in the shop. Unless you buy Britparts new Fuel Tank Sender Wrench, that is. At less than 50 including the VAT, we cant imagine many busy workshops being without one for longwww.britpart.com

Britpart recently introduced a kit for converting the Disco 3 from air springs to coils and if the vehicle follows the same pattern as the P38, therell be no shortage of customers doing just that.

Should you want to change the front suspension arms at the same time (or at any time, come to that), the company is also now offering these, supplied with ball joints but no bushes. Left and right-hand arms are available separately, and with a bit of perseverance they should sneak in at a trace under 100 apiece.www.britpart.com

it came to me with the body just sat on top of the chassis

What does the future hold for an old 127 fire engine after years of neglect? In the case of this whopping great Landy, it held a nut and bolt restoration and a bit more besides. By the time Brian Tonks was finished with it, the old brute was better than new and looking like a home-grown match for the coolest American pick-ups, too

When I was growing up, I always appreciated the scale and presence of a fire engine. Standing at the side of the road as the piercing howl of sirens approaches, following by the insistent flashing of all those blue lights it was something no mere ambulance or cop car could match. Enough to leave a bus queue on the floor in a puddle of seizures, at any rate.

While Im on the subject, I once had the responsibility of calling the fire

brigade after a stricken damsel next door had failed in her quest to make beans on toast. Two fire engines were promptly at the scene and pretty soon they were gone, too, once it had turned out that the beans were only mildly baked and sometimes, actually, there is smoke without fire.

Off-duty, Im sure the firemen all had a chuckle at the poor lass expense. I certainly did.

I also like to think that when their work is done, firemen drive home in

vehicles that look like fire engines. Big, impressive and red. And I think I may have found just the vehicle.

Brian Tonks isnt a fireman, but it wouldnt have surprised me if he had told me he was. He drives (daily) a superlatively restored Land Rover 127 Crew-Cab Hi-Cap. Its a proper titan among road vehicles. If this thing had a Transformers badge on the front, I would happily convince myself that underneath is a ten-storey high machine called Renegade.


words and pictures mike trott

FLAME-GRILLED WHOPPER

15Issue 13: March 2014w 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 553242But it doesnt. Instead it has bold,

black Land Rover lettering on a glossy red body which, it should be stated, was not always in such top condition.

Brian is the owner of Tonks 4x4 in Huthwaite, just west of Mansfield. Hes been working on vehicles most of his life, completing the restoration of his first classic car at the age of 15.

Hes a bit of an off-roading enthusiast, though, and the need to combine that passion with a reliable and practical workhorse led him to the 127. This Landy, originally a quick response fire appliance at Coventry Airport, would have been the first on the scene should the worst have happened.

The guy who had the truck before me had wanted to do a rebuild on it, but after six or seven years he decided to sell up, Brian explains.

It wasnt in the best shape when it came to me. The body was just sat on top of the chassis and the rest was mainly in pieces.

Just over a month later, Brian had transform this shed of components into a capable off-road tool with more than enough room for some tools of its own in the back. I had a 110 Crew-Cab before, so there wasnt loads of room in the back. The 127 came up and it made sense in terms of practicality. I can fit all the family in and it has a high towing capacity, which is useful for work or when the missus uses it for the horsebox! Its just nice to have something different.

Different, it certainly is. Aside from the fact that you dont see many 127s about, full stop, you see even less with old airport livery masking sections of the body. Youll find a couple of strobes on the tailgate, for example, as well as on the front A-bar, which warn followers that this machine is not to be messed with.

The lights and rescue decals arent the only nice touches, though. There are new side steps, a Puma bonnet and a KBX front grille, while inside Brian really has made it a true all-rounder the stylish Exmoor Trim seats are a big improvement over the original bum-holders. Shame about the radio, which was stolen just days before we met Brian, but at least they didnt get take the rest of the truck with it.

Its not just about the looks, though. Like many of Brians projects, the 127 went through a complete nut and bolt rebuild as well as what he calls a straightforward bobtail job. Now, with a galvanised chassis and bulkhead to boast of, its ready to serve another quarter of a century without blinking.

Weve kept all the original parts, he says. Except for the engine, which is now a 200Tdi. It was a simple

Continued overleaf

choice, really it has more power and is great for what I need it for. Besides, anything newer would have cost me on the DVLA scoring system.

Ah yes, that. One of the things that makes Britain great, and no mistake. This is sort of a British take on some of the big American pick-ups, Brian continues. If points werent an issue on the 127, Id probably consider a Cummins conversion!

The turning circle matches its Ameri-can counterparts, anyway, but the Land Rover machine is better looking (of course). It should be called Red Five. Its BFGoodrich Mud-Terrains help it tackle more than just highways (and runways), too.

So, what was it I was saying about off-duty firemen? This would be the perfect vehicle for Sam and Elvis to ride home in after a hard days work saving Pontypandy from its own extraordinary ability to go up in flames at the drop of a hat or for taking the whole family out for a weekends camping adventure, with plenty of space in reserve for recovery kit in case it snows a little and everyone with a super-sporty SUV gets stuck in half an inch of the stuff.

Red Five is actually in line to be superseded at some point, as Brian is working on a 6x6 rebuild at the moment. As daily runabouts go, this will be even more unusual, but we

admire the extraordinary and the different and that means we admire Brian and his vehicles really quite a lot.

As for the 127, its a fine example of how an old Landy can be given a new lease of life when someone who knows what theyre doing gets their hands on the project. From a disgruntled and soulless collection of parts to a truly magnificent Land Rover, this is the happy tale of a truck that rose like a phoenix from the flames and of one mans burning ambition to create a smokin hot vehicle.

16 Issue 13: March 2014w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNews

Wake up inside this Landy and you wouldnt peg it for being quarter of a century old. The modern dash and cubby help there, as do a very nice set of Exmoor Trim seats

While he was rebuilding the 127, Brian changed its engine for a 200Tdi. This is more powerful than the old 2.5 TD unit and, heaven knows, more reliable. Another more prosaic concern was that had he tried to fit anything newer, he would have ended up knocking heads with the DVLAs points system for modified vehicles, and nobody takes that on and wins. These days, engine and body alike sit on a galvanised chassis and bulkhead: the only point of familiarity there with the vehicle in its pre-refurbished form is that sitting on is exactly what its body was doing to the previous frame it was literally held together by gravity. The previous owner had had it for six or seven years with an eye to restoring it, according to Brian, but finally gave in to reality and let it go to someone with the time and facilities to actually get it done

ive got everything i need in here. Cooker, sink, wardrobe

Dave Blackburn wasnt looking for a super-rare classic Range Rover, but a chance comment in a pub led to him becoming the owner of an original Carawagon. It did come in kit form, and hes changed the engine twice himself since buying it with a Perkins tractor lump under the bonnet, but thats never put him off and today hes got a classic thats not just a great holiday machine, its a daily driver he can rely on to be good at absolutely everything

Land Rovers and camping are made to go hand-in-hand together. Just pack up your stuff in your very practical and desirable truck, get to your destination with minimal hassle because you can of course drive anywhere and enjoy all that there is to offer upon your majestic arrival.

Splendid, job done, a fantastic holiday guaranteed right? Wrong.

For those of you familiar with Britain and you should be, seeing as its where you live the weather can be, lets say, questionable. Erecting a tent in Britains fabulous weather can in some cases be like trying to pole-vault in a hurricane. Someone will get hurt.

Still, there are solutions to this problem. Dave Blackburn has one, and hes been driving it to Wales, Norfolk, the supermarket, work and everywhere else for the past 15 years.

It never fails to do anything I ask of it, says Dave happily. Hes referring to his 1974 Range Rover Classic, which was one of the few to receive a camping conversion from R.J. Searle Ltd of Sunbury-on-Thames.

So its a classic, a rarity and a great Land Rover to boot. No wonder hes made up. Yet it took a certain level of provocation for him to buy the Rangey in the first place.

I was in the pub with my mates, talking about how I was getting fed up

of short-wheelbase Land Rovers and tents, when one of them mentioned that they had the parts from an old Searle conversion.

Dave explains how the price of the conversion on a new Range Rover was horrendously expensive back when they were new, adding that for some it was on the small side for a camper, too.

The previous owners had sold the Range Rover without the conversion, he explains, and replaced the roof with a very 70s and 80s vinyl roof in order to get a sale. If vinyl roofs make you think of Allegros and late Cortinas, youll be shivering with horror right now.

Its all come back together, anyway, and Dave is the proud owner of what is


words and pictures Mike trott

CARRY ON CAMPING

Keeping the Rangeys face looking as original as possible, its winch is hidden behind a standard-looking front bumper. The grille hasnt been chopped up to fit it, either in a delightful touch, the Carawagon badge lifts up for access to the freespool lever


once again a well sorted, well together Searle Rangey. And its a lot more to him than just a holiday funmobile, too.

I do everything with this car, he says. It is my daily drive. Its so versatile and the fact it does everything means its the best vehicle for what I am doing.

What Dave is doing, to be precise, is commuting, playing and, when the opportunity arises, sleeping in his Range Rover. He uses it for towing his vintage tractor, has taken it off-piste on numerous occasions and has driven it round most of England and Wales on holiday.

We used to go away in it about ten to twelve times a year, but unfortunately thats come down to two or three now. Id definitely like to do more with it; we always take it to a lot of the Land Rover shows, but a couple of weeks in Scotland or Ireland would be nice.

I always say Im going. But with time and money, it has never quite fallen into place.

This camper may now be in its fifth decade, then, but it has still got a few destinations left on the bucket list. No problem, of course, because its still going very strong indeed.

During those forty years, it has seen some big-time action both in the workshop as well as out and about. It had the usual V8 engine when it first rolled off the production line, but now its fitted with the very popular 300Tdi. Dont for a second think it was a straight swap, though.

When I bought it back in 1999, it had a 4.236 Perkins, says Dave. I wore that out and replaced it with a Daihatsu diesel engine.

Putting a Perkins engine in a Range Rover is a bit like asking the Queen to

do her Christmas address to the nation in a West Country accent. Theres nothing wrong with either, but they just dont go together. This is a tractor engine, and the Rangey may have plenty of traction, but that doesnt make it a Massey Ferguson.

The Daihatsu engine that followed it was much more suited to the Range Rover, though Dave only took this path because buying a Tdi at the time would have meant selling a couple of vital organs. Like most Japanese units, wearing out is something it wasnt

Continued overleaf

Above: The Rangey came out of the Land Rover factory (and the Searle one) with the usual 3.5-litre V8 that was your one and only choice at the time. By the time Dave bought it, however, someone had seen fit to throw a Perkins 4.236 in there, giving it all the characteristics for which the average Massey Ferguson was known and loved. Once hed worn that out, he replaced it with a slightly less agricultural Daihatsu 2.8 because he couldnt afford a Tdi. That had changed by the time it was the Daihatsu units turn to meet its maker and heres the 300Tdi which now lives under there

about to do in a hurry, but it did in the end by which time Dave, with his kidneys still intact, had managed to find a 300Tdi. Now with his favoured engine, he decided to go the whole hog while fitting it, and mate it up to a bigger turbo and intercooler.

With the changes, it is a much better tow car now. It has a galvanised chassis and a winch behind the front grille the little sign lifts up so you can reach the spool.

Another nice exterior touch is the presence of two apparent fuel inlets. One is obviously for diesel, which Dave needs to travel to his paradise of choice, while the flap above it opens to reveal the connection point for gas and electric hook-ups. Nifty.

Inside the cosy cabin, there is a strong hint of the Seventies pervading the atmosphere. If you were to rock up to a festival with this as your dwelling for the weekend, the term glamping would never have been so fitting.

Ive got everything I need in here, says Dave. A cooker, a sink, wardrobes and two single beds. There are extra pads, too, to fill the gap in the middle and make it a double. Its funny at first, but you get tired of falling in the hole when you come back drunk at night!

We all know that Range Rovers are extremely well equipped. But seeing a kettle above the gearstick takes it to a whole new level. We wouldnt recommend making a brew on the move, though downshift times will be dramatically lengthened

The seats at the front actually have covers on which I made to match the

rest of the interior, says Dave as were surveying the interior. Ive made all the trim inside, but apart from that everything is pretty much as it was.

All in all, Dave has found his perfect machine in the Range Rover. Its a vehicle he can use for a spontaneous vacation and everything else besides, so he doesnt have to worry about running something else for day-to-day errands.

In the 15 years Ive owned this car, he concludes, Ive probably done about 100,000 miles in it. It gets about, thats for sure, but it is still the newest car Ive ever owned.

The newest and, assuredly, the best. Will he finally make it to Scotland before that Tdi engine wears out, too? We dont know, but you can be sure that every mile along the way is putting a smile on his face.


Above, right: When you look at it, the amount of room in the Carawagon really is remarkable. Its not like the lounge in your house, but for something with the footprint of a Range Rover and less height than a Luton van its more spacious than youve any right to expectBelow: Not one but two filler caps, and this is a diesel so no, the second one isnt for LPG. In fact, hidden behind that second flap is the electric hook-up connection

This is what its like to have a gas hob above your gearstick. The Carawagon interior is a work of packaging genius, not to mention 70s design, and Dave has retrimmed the front seats to match the camper area


Ive never been chased down by the police. At least, not to my knowledge anyway. I could be wrong, of course, and may recently have featured in an episode of Traffic Cops while on my way home from work. But generally Ive always kept my distance.

Being a bit of a petrol head, Id be lying if I said I dont keep tabs on the different models of vehicle the police use from time to time. The usual panda cars, in my area at least, consist of Focus estates, the odd Astra still in commission and, once you get further out to the motorways, BMW 3 Series and Audi A4s (also popular in unmarked versions).

Speaking of unmarked versions, we spotted an ex-police Discovery recently which was in such good nick that, had it still been in service and chasing you down the M4, youd probably be too busy marvelling at its paintwork to notice the blue lights beaming down at you.

As you would expect, the police maintain their vehicles to a very high standard. But this Disco has been

Many people have owned this ex-Police Discovery 2. But still it always finds its way back to the dealership it seems to call

its been through a number of different owners but somehow it always ends up back here!

OLD COPPERS NEVER DIE

The first thing youre likely to notice when you clap your eyes on the Disco is that someones put it on horrible wheels. Well, horrible might not be the word that comes to mind, but youll definitely notice them one way or the other. Its had a heavy-duty front winch bumper from Extreme 4x4, too, as well as a set of later-style headlamps to make it look like a post-facelift model. But really, the main thing to remark upon is how clean and shiny it is for such a high-miler


treated with the utmost respect, even after it finished its law enforcement duties nearly ten years ago.

It has obviously tried to rebel in its retirement, with a set of alloys that look about as in keeping on an old Disco as a pink mohican on a 60-year-old man. Perhaps this is one of those slightly dodgy cops who gets away with it and leaves the force with their lairy deeds undetected. But rather than buying a villa in Spain and getting fat on ill-gotten gains, its stuck around its old manor and remained in excellent shape.

We found the vehicle at Churchill 4x4, a place whose name will be familiar to our regular readers. No surprise there, at any rate, as since leaving the force, the West Midlands Landy specialist seems to have had a strange hold over it.

It keeps finding its way back to us, this car, says Jonathan Churchill. The police auctioned the vehicle off, we had it for a while before selling it on and its been through a number of different owners. But somehow it will always end up back here!

The vehicle itself is a bit of an anomaly in that its a five-door with rear air-suspension. Everyday people couldnt get that combination, but that just goes to show the power a police order holds over car manufacturers.

It makes sense for the sort of work a cop Disco would have done, at any rate. These trucks tended to do a lot of motorway miles while carrying a heavy load of equipment, so a self-levelling rear set-up was ideal for them. So too was the deletion of the now-feared sunroofs perhaps the long arm of the law also had some sort of foresight that made it able to see how unspeakably prone to leaking these would become.

Naturally, the vehicle was finished in white, so all its fluorescent markings could be added. A few years later, many forces started ordering their cars in silver so theyd have a chance of selling them again afterwards, but you have to say its quite a dapper old thing in plain white. Not like a 60-year-old with a pink mohican at all.

It was registered to the Chief Constable of the West Mercia Police initially, says Jonathan. Though whether it was his actual vehicle or whether they were all registered to him, I am not entirely sure. Its general composure would certainly have suited a management-level user like that no doubt, indeed, many years of satisfied Top Cops views have contributed to the fact that today, traffic officers up and down the land patrol the motorways aboard Discovery 3s and 4s.

This Discos next owner after its first spell at Churchill 4x4 was none other than MJA Land Rover, a company based just down the road from Jonathan. In their hands, it gained an Extreme 4x4 heavy-duty front bumper

and Champion electric winch, as well as facelift-style front and rear lights to give it the look of a later Disco 2. In addition, the TD5 engine was re-mapped to give it some more grunt.

We had it back off MJA and for a while we were using it mainly as a tow car, continues Jonathan. Then some months after, a guy was browsing outside and happened to spot the Disco. It wasnt for sale, but he gave enough of an offer for us to part with it once more.

Youd think that would be the end of it, and they all lived happily ever after. But no. The gentleman whod bought it sold it back to Churchill 4x4 again.

And as if that wasnt enough, Jonathan then sold it to one of the

companys own mechanics who in turn sold it back after having his fun. Its gone off again to someone else now. But its only a matter of time

Despite going through a few owners, its still in such good condition, says Jonathan. Thats partly down to the fact that all the owners have been enthusiasts and theyve all helped in keeping it properly maintained. Its a great looking vehicle and doesnt look the mileage and runs very well.

The mileage? A cool 187,000 on the clock, though this old-timer has been kept youthful by transplant surgery its engine is a bit more middle-aged, having only covered 80,000-odd.

We didnt ask which of its previous owners were responsible for those

alloys. That would have appeared a little impertinent, perhaps: after all, if you see an old boy with pink hair or a tie-dye T-shirt, you dont go up to him and ask why hes chosen to look so silly, do you? Besides, one mans prize is another mans poison, so theres every chance that whoevers bought the Disco has already used them to make a tidy sum on eBay from somebody with more money than taste.

So who knows what else will have changed about this grand old truck by the time it next fetches up at Churchill 4x4? Maybe you should call them up and register your interest now. Because whatever its new owner does to it, you can be sure of one thing: which is that one day, itll come back home.

Left: The TD5 is still a TD5, but its not the original one anymore. The clock on the dash reads 187,000, but the engine is just nicely run in at about 100,000 less than that. It was remappped for a bit more oomph during the vehicles time as the property of MJA Land RoverRight: You dont find many Disco 2s of this age with such a clean interior. One reason for this is that the police specified theirs without sunroofs which, history has shown, was a very wise move indeed in an everyone-elses-leak-water-down-their-A-posts kind of wayBottom: The rear got facelift-style lights, too. And that spare wheel looks so much classier than the other four


It takes a lot to make a 90, even a modified one, stand out from the crowd. But when Jim Malkin decided to do just that, he had a plan. Introducing the Land Rover Defender 90 hatchback

One of the main reasons people give for off-roading something thats not a Land Rover is that they want to be different. Fair enough, you could say, theres a tremendous amount of modified Landies out there that all look more or less the same. But that doesnt mean youve got to go off and drive something with no soul just to stand out from the crowd.

The normal way of making a 90 look different to the others is of course to paint it a wild colour (lifting the suspension and fitting a snorkel, winch bumper and knobbly tyres doesnt count, because so many other people have done it too). Even then, though,

is there any such thing as a colour that hasnt at some stage been slapped all over a Land Rover?

Well, you dont see many 90s like this one. Built by Jim Malkin, it looks a bit like what might happen if you were to put a Qt Wildcat in a hotel room with a Peugeot 205 and tell room service to send up a bottle of champagne.

Jim did it removing 3 from the 90s rear overhang and completely redesigning the back of its hard top so as to turn the vertical back end into a jaunty take on the style of a hatchback.

Jims bodywork followed the line of a full exo rollcage, and rather than having a tailgate as such the 90 is more

of an enclosed truck-cab with a side-hinged rear door. Jim made this from chequer plate something he used liberally throughout the build, both outside and in.

The idea was to create something that would do the job in punch hunts, which explains the exo cage and front and rear winch bumpers all fabricated by Jim himself. He built the truck a few years ago and the game has moved on a bit since then (you see a lot more traybacks these days, for one thing, and most challenge 90s are built with tubular front ends nowadays), but there was a tasty looking set of kit lurking beneath the surface too.

this is the rarest of things, a land rover that looks different from all the rest

FREAK OR UNIQUE? Words gary noskillPictures steve taylor


Theres no such thing as a 90 that cant be improved by the addition of a V8, for example. This one was treated to a 3.9 EFi job with heads from a 4.0 Thor unit, a four-barrel Edelbrock carb and a custom exhaust with Janspeed tubular manifolds all of which boosted power by about 20bhp. Jim also raised the breathers and made a snorkel, topped off with a K&N filter, from 3 o/d stainless pipe.

Behind the engine, in went a four-speed ZF auto from a 1991 Range Rover, fitted with heavy-duty clutch plates and a special torque converter made by an engineer who normally works on drag racers cue some very alert responses when changing gear. Ive always preferred autos for off-roading, Jim told us. They give better

performance on hillclimbs and put a lot less strain on your left foot over the course of a day!

This all went in to a D-reg donor vehicle, which dates it from well before the time when Land Rover started putting disc brakes on the Defenders back axle. Jim sorted this out with a set of late 300Tdi units which he got cheap by part-exchanging a couple of Range Rover tailgates he happened to have lying around. As we said earlier, this was a few years ago

Wisely, Jim didnt just lob the axles in there and cross his fingers. First, he stripped them both right down for a full check, then he rebuilt them with all new seals and bearings as well as ARB locking diffs. Tasty. The rear unit, which is a 24-spliner, is located using

rose-jointed front radius arms, comp safari style definitely not conventional wisdom on a truck thats built to do extreme stuff, but Jim told us hed recommend it to anyone.

Radius arms on the rear give you a more controlled ride at speed but less articulation than the standard A-frame set up, all else being equal, so it would seem a bit odd to combine them with any sort of dislocation. And sure enough, Jim didnt. A straightforward +3 spring and shock combination was all he felt he needed, making room for a set of 35 9.00x16 Petlas Mud Terrains. Most Landy fans will know these as a 101 tyre and Jim told us he rates them highly for heavy off-road use. Ive

That theres a 3.9 V8, but its definitely not an everyday example of the breed. Up top, its gained the heads from a later 4.0-litre version of the same engine, topped off with a four-barrel Edelbrock carb. The air system starts with a K&N filter, which is perched on top of a tailor-made stainless steel snorkel, and ends at a custom exhaust fed by a set of Janspeed tubular manifolds

Continued overleaf


experimented with a lot of different manufacturers in my time, he said, and Petlas have never let me down.

Building the exo cage which is such a feature of the trucks appearance, Jim ran it down to a set of box-section rock sliders which he welded directly to the chassis. This in turn mounted a full-length underbody plate system stretching all the way from the front bumper to the back axle, and the

rear crossmember was replaced by a bespoke winch mount.

Talking winches, up front Jim bolted on an 11,000lb T-Max wound with Plasma rope. That rear crossmember got a Warn XD9000, though when we spoke to Jim he was planning to take the T-Max route there as well to benefit from commonality of parts. Taking care of the sparks, in went a pair of Pro-Comp Explorer gel-filled deep-cycle

batteries charged through a 100-amp alternator from a Ford Scorpio (used because Land Rovers own 140-amp job wouldnt fit without more messing around than Jim was up for).

Ahead of a rear load area which Jim designed and fabricated himself to make the most of all the available space, he fitted a simple pair of standard 90 front seats. I didnt want to spend the whole time wrestling with bucket seats,

he said, so Ive gone for ease of access over comfort and support.

Thats not the only thing about this 90 that flies in the face of conventional wisdom. From its 101 tyres to its V8 engine, a great deal about it is the opposite of what most people do but that doesnt stop it from coming up with the goods when times are tough.

Most of all, its tyres, cage and bumpers arent the reason why it

stands out in a crowd. Neither, even, is the lovely V8 burble coming from its custom exahaust. No, this is that rarest of things, a Land Rover that looks different from all the rest.

Youll see plenty of modified 90s in your time, and plenty of crazy colour schemes put in place by people who really want to stand out. But if you ever see a hatchback 90, look twice. Chances are its probably this one.

Left: The 90 dates from the days before all-round disc brakes, but a set of 300Tdi axles saw to that. They hold it up using +3 springs and shocksAbove: As you can see here, that suspension combo does a decent job of flexing its way over the terrain. Also visible here is the belt-and-braces fabrication in the rock sliders, which are all Jims own work

Above: This is a truck whose builder was very comfortable working with chequer plate. It was designed for hardcore off-roading, which explains all those lights and switches as well as the need for a hose-out interiorRight: Yet more ally plate went to finish off the hatchback-style rear. As you can see here, in truth its more like an enclosed pick-up in some ways

its never going to be the fastest. but its pretty strong

When you see a Land Rover with the front end of a Defender, you

tend to assume its either a hybrid or, indeed, an actual 90 or 110.

A second glance at the 88 James Watt built would point you

towards the former but as well as some classic Series IIA

signatures on its bodywork, a foray underneath would show you that this modern looking Landy was in fact still almost

completely standard

When you see a Landy of a certain age with the front end from a 90, you tend to assume its got coil springs. If its from the 90 era, its probably genuine: if not, its probably a hybrid someone created years ago by plopping a Series IIA or III body on to a shortened Range Rover chassis. They used the bonnet, wings and front panel from a 90 to create a bigger engine bay for the V8 or Tdi they used, but look beyond it and youll see the tell-tale signs of a bitsa.

Its not always like that, though. Sometimes, youll see a Landy whose original front end hides a bigger engine than Land Rover ever intended whether or not the vehicle itself is actually a hybrid. And then there are the ones like this, built some years ago by James Watt, which go the other way.

James built his 88 Series IIA using the front of a later vehicle. But despite the fact that it looks like a 90 from head-on, theres something very different about it: its a leafer.

We used the H-word a moment ago, so lets clear this up. The Landy James built never was a hybrid. It was a modified Series IIA. And not even all that modified, when you start to look at it. Its more of an exercise in changing the stuff that really matters while retaining as much as possible of whats original.

Of course, you could argue that getting rid of the leaf springs is among the things that matter. But you could also argue that the number of old Landies that ended up on coils is an


Words gary noskillpictures steve taylor

APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEPTIVE

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


accident of history caused by the sudden appearance of lots of grotty old Range Rovers at the bucket end of the used car market in the late 1980s and early 1990s if that had never happened, wed have followed the American lead and worked out how to get cart springs to flex the way we now know they can.

James kept them, at any rate, and didnt regret it. His IIA wasnt built to be a daily driver, so he could get away without the extra comfort you get from coils though he did get rid of that other old favourite, a V8 engine, whose calamitous thirst has crippled so many Land Rovers everyday usability down the years.

The V8 had been fitted in place of the original 2.25-litre diesel lump, which made the IIA sound nice but didnt give it the reliability and low-down torque James felt hed get by returning it to an oil-burner. The unit he used was the 2.5-litre normally aspirated unit, taken from an early 90. This engine was also used in early Leyland Daf Sherpas, he remarks. So it is inevitably fairly bullet-proof. Just so long as you dont add a turbo

It might not be as sprightly as a V8, but James never looked back after fitting the 2.5. With 68bhp, its an engine which can at least keep up

Continued overleaf

Above: The IIA started life as a 2.25 diesel, but at some point prior to passing into James hands it was converted to 3.5-litre V8 power. All well and good, especially if youve got something else to drive to work so you dont bankrupt yourself, but what he really wanted was the reliability and low-down lugging power of an oil-burner. What youre looking at here is a 2.5 naturally aspirated diesel, taken from an early 90 but also commonly seen in early Sherpa vans and FX4 taxis. The vast majority of swap-ins these days use TDi units, but if youre thinking of the non-turbo 2.5 it pays to get one that started life in a Defender as van and taxi versions saved on production costs by not having a waterproof cambelt coverBelow: If the trucks front end still had you fooled by the time you bent down to check out its suspension, youd soon realise you werent looking at a 90 or indeed a hybrid. Not only are these leaf springs, theyre standard-height leaf springs James wasnt scared to change things when he built this Landy, but he wasnt scared to leave well alone either

with the traffic most certainly an improvement over that old 2.25 and James is adamant that mating it to the standard Series IIA gearbox didnt throw any unexpected obstacles in his way. Its never going to be the fastest or smoothest vehicle, he told us. But it feels pretty strong.

Talking of strength, an interesting upgrade was the use of 109 drum brakes all round. These have extra

diameter to them which added a reassuring additional measure of stopping power never a bad thing, especially when youve got taller tyres being turned by a bigger engine. The tyres in question are the same height as a 7.50, at 31x10.50R15, but theyre much wider and with standard height suspension (yes, on a playday truck just how much fun do you think you need to have, anyway?)

the rear arches needed a bit of a trim to prevent them from fouling. On went a set of spats to keep the MOT man happy further enhancing the 90 look, even if that wasnt the intention.

So, standard-height suspension. Standard-height tyres. An engine thats as close as they come to standard without actually being it. Like we said, this might be a modified vehicle, but its not nearly as far from its original

32 Issue 13: March 2014w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsLeft: In another case of not trying to fix what aint broke, the Series IIA axles remained in place on top of those leaf springs. James protected them through the use of diff guards, and upgraded the brakes on the ends of them to larger- diameter drums from a long-wheelbase model, but that apart the original equipment was just fine

Right: Theres nothing wrong with a basic Series IIA interior, either. James found plenty of places to install the switchgear he needed, and the presence of those classic red and yellow-topped levers indicate a Series Landy whose gearbox and transfer case remain as they always were

Having built the rollcage, James admitted later that given the chance to do it again hed have revised the design. In the main, hed have moved the rear braces so they didnt take so much out of the cargo area

33Issue 13: March 2014w 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 553242spec as a glance at its front end might lead you to think.

There are a few bolt-ons to mention, such as diff and steering guards, a Safari snorkel, extra lights and a 12,000lb Champion winch on a Guardian bumper. James fitted a roll cage, too though he told us hed have done this differently if he could start again, revising the way its positioned in the rear load area so that, well, he could still have one.

Elsewhere inside, its pretty standard fare: a 40-channel CB radio, internal storage for the high-lift jack and an isolator switch for controlling the Kenlowe fan. Though actually, there is one other oddity in the shape of a Defender fuse box.

And that right there is the only other Defender item on this vehicle, beyond its front-end body panels. That apart, its just a Series IIA with a few additions to improve it off-road.

However different its face might have become at the end of a four-year programme of running mods, this IIA is surprisingly close to how it was when it left the factory more than 45 years ago. Its deceptive, but not in a way youre used to.

And everything it does, it does without a coil spring to be seen. Thats what you call keeping it real.


Andy Scarr and I have a thing about buying old Land Rovers. We have, over the years, had a good few.

Some were just Defenders that came up at the right price. Others were full-on projects that deserved to be given another chance at life. Were fortunate to have friends with facilities, who have kindly let us sort these old buses out in their lovely big garage.

Our last one was a 1975 Series III, which has ended up with a new owner in Darlington. He loves it, but I bet he wouldnt have given it a second look if

it were in the same condition as when we bought it!

Anyway, during a recent trial I was talking with a member of our club (North East Rover Owners) who had a Lightweight CCV motor he used a few years ago. He had bought it from another club member who used it in RTVs, and I believe the car had even done the odd comp safari.

The current owner mentioned that he was looking to sell, if someone wanted it. It set the cogs whirring. Like clockwork, some might say!

The following Saturday, Andy and I were collecting the Lightweight from its dwelling of the last four to five years. She was in a fairly good state, but certainly down at heel. Lack of use is always going to make things look bad.

Dont get me wrong here; we expected some welding and a fair bit of work to get her to a standard we would be happy with. As the car came with its logbook, we had the idea of returning her once again to the open highway and able enough to compete in RTV, CCV and even a comp safari if the mood

should take you. The added bonus of being tax exempt in a couple of years didnt fail to entice us, either.

On getting the car back and giving it a good wash, our plan was to park her back up and work on her as time allowed. We had bought a set of cylinders for the clutch system as these had clearly failed, but other than that she wouldnt start. What condition the rest of the car was in, wed find out when time allowed.

We then found ourselves in a situation where both Andys

competition car and mine required either new engines or major works. This would take us out of action for some time.

Sick to the back teeth of fixing things, wed simply had enough. If we were using the cars hard, then we could accept the issues, but we have had nothing but bad luck for years with them. All we wanted was a reliable car to play in.

Then the bulb lit up above our heads. What about the Lightweight? We went to see it the following Saturday with a

For Paul Walton and Andy Scarr, doing up old Landies was a hobby that paid for itself. But when they took on an old Lightweight, little did they realise that the perfect customers for it were themselves

THE CLOCKWORK ORANGE

Words Paul WaltonPictures Paul Walton and Heather Carroll


view to sorting the clutch and seeing if we could turn her over. Graham and Matt Pink kindly allowed us to use part of their workshop, as the torrential rain was not really encouraging us to get under the car where it was kept outside!

On changing the master and slave cylinder, we seemed to have ourselves a clutch. By scraping the contacts on the points we had the engine running. I started the engine so I slipped it into first gear and we were off. Back and forth, up and down the yard she went the car worked in all gears, and had brakes! It was basically ready to go and play in the CCV.

A good look around the chassis showed it was still covered in paint and in good order. We loaded it on to the truck and took it to my house so I could paint the cage and so on.

Having rubbed the cage down and found no issues, I painted it in gloss black. This made the bodywork look worse! So, given that we had a can of orange paint knocking about, my wife Zena and I set to it with a small brush

for the detail work and a 6 foam roller for the bulk of the bodywork.

Its the first car on which I have used a foam roller, and I have to say Im rather impressed. It took a couple of coats, but in our eyes the Lightweight now looks particularly splendid.

This is a Lightweight which has been a competition car for many years probably about 15 or so. It has had some money spent on it in the past and now has a tubular sports manifold, a twin-barrel carb from a 90 and a high-lift cam. She goes like stink for a 2.25 petrol!

She does, however, have a tappet tick. This, apparently, is there no matter what you try and do to remedy the problem. I believe this is why she was painted in her distinctive colour and named The Clockwork Orange after the makeover. I did develop an overwhelming urge to paint the name on the bonnet following this epiphany the character is there, anyway!

Our first event was at the clubs September CCV in Herrington Woods,

near Sunderland, with the first order of the day being to have the CCV logbook updated. This requires a vehicle to be re-inspected by our logbook scrutineers surprisingly, possibly, she passed with flying colours!

Then it was to the trial itself. Its been a good few years since I drove my old Series I and then Series II CCV motors. The latter had a V7 engine (I could never get all eight to fire at the same time) and of course power steering so the Lightweight was a bit of a handful, with unassisted steering and a manual Series III gearbox coming as something of a shock for the first few sections.

She did, however, perform brilliantly. She even stepped in for a couple of members whose car suffered a broken propshaft, allowing them to keep on playing for the day.

We do still plan to put her back on the road, and well continue to use her for CCV trials at least until we finally sort out our other cars. In the meantime, the Clockwork Orange will keep on ticking along!

The Lightweight was down at heel as opposed to being completely knackered and after 15 years as a competition car, it came with a list of goodies including a tubular manifold, twin-barrel carb and high-lift cam. With the master and slave cylinders replaced so it had a functioning clutch, rubbing the contacts on the points was enough to fire it up and with a fresh coat of paint duly applied, she was all ready to go trialling again!

36 Issue 13: March 2014www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k

South-West England

South-East England West Midlands

Series I

Series I 88. Has an early 2.25 engine fitted which runs on petrol and LPG. Bulkhead totally rebuilt using galvanised box-section, galv steel plate and new footwells. Not to original spec but strong and rust free. Chassis repaired where needed to make roadworthy. Parabolic rear springs with Polybushes.

Items still to do include front springs, speedo cable to fit, some rear area windows which are cracked and hard-top painting, plus carpet inside. For sale as is, only because I have other projects to complete. 7000. Kendal, [email protected]

Series I (1956). Petrol engine. Restored approximately six years ago, fantastic condition, any viewing welcome. 10,000, 07973 131603

Series II

Land Rover Series IIA 109 Ambulance (1963). 2.25 petrol. Ex-Army. Ambulance body built by Marshalls of Cambridge. 41,000 miles, new MOT, tax exempt. Fully restored and brakes overhauled. Drives very well and is ready to drive away. 4995. Littlehampton, West Sussex, 07833 087439.

Land Rover 109 200Tdi. Twin tanks, body-off refurb, chassis checked and no welding required, HD military style crossmember, new bespoke bumperettes, 3 coats of Shutz to chassis, tub and wings, galv bulkhead and front panel, Defender front wiring loom, professionally wired rear, new LED standard style lights, high level brake light, LED camping/reverse lights and internal strip lights, Pioneer CD,

Toro overdrive, P38 PAS box on 12mm plate welded to chassis, safari roof, 5 General Grabber 235/85R16s, head skimmed and crack tested, timing belt changed, electric fan. Viewing essential. Must go to a good home. 6500 ono. Call Mat on 07908 582133 or email [email protected]

Land Rover Series IIA (1969). 2.25 petrol. 48,389 miles. This is a beautiful marine blue Series

IIA 88 soft-top. In excellent condition, fully serviced recently, newly repaired starter motor and 10 months MOT. No need for road tax! Essex. 3000 ono. 07966 242402, [email protected]

Land Rover Series II SWB pick-up (1970). Barn find spares or repairs as a project. Pulled straight out of a barn at the weekend where it has been sat for a few years. It is tax exempt and currently has no MOT. It has

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South Wales

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STOCKIST DIRECTORY

LAND ROVERS FOR SALE

the petrol engine. You will need to bring a trailer to take it away (we can be on hand to help load it). 1095, offers welcome. Exeter, 07857 289809.

Land Rover Series IIA 6x6 (1965). Registered as an 88 wheelbase and converted to 6-wheel-drive at manufacture. Currently a project, but I have run out of time. Chassis in good order but front spring hangers have rusted at the front. Engine com-pression is good. I am confident the engine works well, and wired some of the lighting up which works. Havent tried the clutch, but have bled the brakes and they work. Requires the following to complete: windscreen, wind-screen motors and wipers, doors, front lights, roof. I do not have the V5, but the chassis and engine number register it as a Series II. I also have a large selection of spares which I can sell with the vehicle. Needs to be towed away. Once complete, this is a unique Land Rover and would be worth a high price. 1800. Kingston, Surrey, 07810 55398

Series III

Land Rover Series III 88 (1980). 2.25 petrol. Less than 2000 miles in last six years covered (backed up by VOSA). MOT end of March 2015. Webber carb. Starts first turn of key, runs superbly. Clean under bonnet. Bulkhead completely solid. Brand new driver and passenger doors (drivers door bottom needs painting). New seat belts fitted, nearly new Defender rims and Michelin tyres. Brand new grille. Headlight bowls painted correct marine blue. FWH fitted. Transfer box work

the landy march 15

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