Buying an old Landy

[SGirl]

Now that winter is here, and the supermarket carpark idiots are getting worse, I was vaguely thinking of investing in an old Land Rover, Defender type (or pre-Defender, I don't really mind).

So I have a couple of questions for you, hope you don't mind.

1. What big and expensive things go wrong with the older ones that I should be looking out for?

2. Where can I find one? They seem to be a bit old for dealers to stock them, Autotrader doesn't really have any within my budget (I don't want to spend more than £1500 on it) and I'm not keen on buying cars on eBay. Anyone know any good sources?

3. Are rear seatbelts easy to retrofit?

4. What's the best colour?

I suppose I ought to mention that it'll be used as a short to medium-distance workhorse only. No long-distance travel in it, unless it's so brilliant that I want to take it everywhere with me.

Thanks in advance.

[Touching Cloth]

Looking at possibly doing the same at the moment (keep dithering and changing my mind). Re the rear seat belt issue, do I assume it is for children/child seats? Having the same dilemma as am drawn to the size of a 90 but they really only have bench seats in the rear as standard which is why I am looking at a 110 Station Wagon with the second row of fwd facing rear seats and proper seat belts as standard. I know you can retrofit fwd facers into the rear of a 90 but you still have seat belt issue as assume there is no decent mounting points for a three point belt without building in extra stuff.

Re weak points, like Tvr's, the chassis seems to be a key area for rust or rot as is the bulkhead. All other things tend to be fairly easily interchangeable. Am sure the experienced will be along shortly to list a whole load more however

Have you considered an old Discovery, I keep looking at them and also old Cherokee's as you get theoretically "more" for your money but Disco's are not really doing it for me and I have had a Cherokee before so want/need to get the proper Landy out of my system.

Edited by Touching Cloth on Wednesday 22 November 10:01

[xjsjohn]

thought of a classic range rover?? saw one on a car lot in Surrey Quays the other day that didnt "appear" too ratty as i drove past, with £999 on the window.

[greenlandy]

Have you ever driven a landrover? They have a unique driving style that a lot of people don't like. Defenders and Series motors have crap heating and little or no insulation which can make for a pretty miserable drive in the winter. Like the above post said have you looked at Disco's? These are a lot more car like and a lot more people friendly comfortable seats heating that works!
Disco's and Landy's suffer from dissimilar metal corrosion mainly on the doors but some times in the rear load area as well. If you have a transmission problem expect big bucks, early series motors have really bad boxes(imho) while the defender/disco LT77 is an improvement it is far from perfect. Unless you have access to a skip full of cash stear clear of the V8. The early disco had a 2ltr variant(iirc) as well which should be steered clear from.
Series/Defenders both rot out the rear cross member and the front outriggers are prone to this as well. both these also suffer from bulkhead rot which can be repaired but be on the look out for filler etc around the fresh air vents.


HTH and hasn't put you off.