FAO Landy Owners
Discussion
I know/an friend of an excellent dealer in ex-military stuff (seriously tempting to buy one of the tank like thingies and destroy numptie wagons that got in my way) - I'm sure he's give youa good price on a recomendation from moi. He's based in the South West tho. Mail me off line if you're interested.
Pete, get yourself a copy of Land Rover Owner Magazine
Lots of ads from ex MoD dealers and
entertaining articles 
Top choice BTW: if you get a good example, it'll be a nice winter driver and garden stuff transporter.
cheers,
Bodo
>> Edited by Bodo on Friday 20th September 16:10
Lots of ads from ex MoD dealers and
entertaining articles Top choice BTW: if you get a good example, it'll be a nice winter driver and garden stuff transporter.
cheers,
Bodo
>> Edited by Bodo on Friday 20th September 16:10
A couple of years back I bought an old (1989) SWB defender from L.R.C (4 X 4) Ltd, King St, Buglawton, Congleton, CW12 2DP. Tel: 01260 273672
The place is run by a couple of brothers, real enthusiasts and great service. They worked hard to make sure I got exactly what I wanted. Recommend them.
The place is run by a couple of brothers, real enthusiasts and great service. They worked hard to make sure I got exactly what I wanted. Recommend them.
You could always check out the local 4x4 clubs like
www.ne4x4.org.uk
If you want to carry vast amounts of kit around then a 90 or 110 is best but if you want something small and better than a landie off road then go for a Suzuki SJ410/413. They are really cheap (about £300) very good reliability and fantastic to chuck around.
I've got so many 1st place trophies the mantlepiece is groaning.
www.ne4x4.org.uk
If you want to carry vast amounts of kit around then a 90 or 110 is best but if you want something small and better than a landie off road then go for a Suzuki SJ410/413. They are really cheap (about £300) very good reliability and fantastic to chuck around.
I've got so many 1st place trophies the mantlepiece is groaning.
I am a landy freak!
for ex military land rovers either ring Witham Specialist Vehicles on 01478 861361 they have some 110 (LWB) the V8's range from £2500 - £3500 and the diesels are about £4250!
My landy will tow 8 tonnes braked trailer so no probs with anything, will get you anywhere you want, providing you have the right tyres on, like me!
If you do check out www.lro.com, mention that you know Sir Fluffy on the readers forum and they will help you alot!
Hope this helps!
Regards
Graham!
for ex military land rovers either ring Witham Specialist Vehicles on 01478 861361 they have some 110 (LWB) the V8's range from £2500 - £3500 and the diesels are about £4250!
My landy will tow 8 tonnes braked trailer so no probs with anything, will get you anywhere you want, providing you have the right tyres on, like me
! If you do check out www.lro.com, mention that you know Sir Fluffy on the readers forum and they will help you alot!
Hope this helps!
Regards
Graham!
I got a defender 90 from High Peak 4x4, just south of Manchester. Very reliable. drove it to cape town!
The photo was us in the Serengeti.
www.africa-overland.net/journal-overland/images/landy.jpg
Remember that lightweights aren't actually any lighter... you can take them apart for transporting under a heli. You may also find that the older ones are very slow and uncomfortable.
If you aren't doing much mileage, the best deals are on early discovery V8s which can be found for a few thousand. More or less the same running gear as a proper landy, will do almost the same off-road but it will do so much more on the road.
If you do go for a landy, the usual advice applies - go for the newest one you can afford and check it carefully.
Avoid turbo diesel model defenders (approx d to g reg) as they are weak unless properly cared for. Better go for a normally aspirated diesel or if possible the 200tdi.
Coil springs are also a huge improvement on the cart springs, both in terms of ride and axle articulation.
Buy LRO and you'll find there's a whole new world out there.
R
>> Edited by yum on Friday 20th September 21:43
>> Edited by yum on Friday 20th September 21:45
The photo was us in the Serengeti.
www.africa-overland.net/journal-overland/images/landy.jpg
Remember that lightweights aren't actually any lighter... you can take them apart for transporting under a heli. You may also find that the older ones are very slow and uncomfortable.
If you aren't doing much mileage, the best deals are on early discovery V8s which can be found for a few thousand. More or less the same running gear as a proper landy, will do almost the same off-road but it will do so much more on the road.
If you do go for a landy, the usual advice applies - go for the newest one you can afford and check it carefully.
Avoid turbo diesel model defenders (approx d to g reg) as they are weak unless properly cared for. Better go for a normally aspirated diesel or if possible the 200tdi.
Coil springs are also a huge improvement on the cart springs, both in terms of ride and axle articulation.
Buy LRO and you'll find there's a whole new world out there.
R
>> Edited by yum on Friday 20th September 21:43
>> Edited by yum on Friday 20th September 21:45
Hi Pete,
I'd agree with the comments posted already. Best bet is to buy the monthly mags LRO and LRE give a fair coverage and look at the independants. There are a number in you area that can supply ex military and civilian Landys.
A coil sprung model will be better if you afford it, much more civilised on road and just as good off. The Tdi engines (200 and 300) are good, the Diesel Turbo is ok if looked after but has a similar reputation as TVR's speed six - ie a bit sus but prob not as bad as its made out to be.
They're excellent cars though, you do enjoy driving them and an S series and a Landy is just about the best combination.
Cheers,
JSG.
I'd agree with the comments posted already. Best bet is to buy the monthly mags LRO and LRE give a fair coverage and look at the independants. There are a number in you area that can supply ex military and civilian Landys.
A coil sprung model will be better if you afford it, much more civilised on road and just as good off. The Tdi engines (200 and 300) are good, the Diesel Turbo is ok if looked after but has a similar reputation as TVR's speed six - ie a bit sus but prob not as bad as its made out to be.
They're excellent cars though, you do enjoy driving them and an S series and a Landy is just about the best combination.
Cheers,
JSG.
quote:I had a lightweight for a bit. The are heavier (oddly) than the normal series 2 and 3 despite the name and they also have less soundproofing (none) and are pretty slow. The cruising speed is about 55 ish. If you do any sort of distance then I'd go for a 90/defender. It was a lot of fun, easy to work on and the bits were very cheap but I ended up using it a lot less than I thought I would as a lot of my journeys were quite long.
Was thinking of a Lightweight or more modern ex-military
Mark
I learned in and did 000's of miles in lightweights. If you have the choice, I would say avoid them. Series Landies also have a lorra charm (owned a Series 3 for many years), but I would echo a previous comment very loudly GET COIL SPRINGS. Ahem, sorry about that.
My other comment may be slightly contentious.
I would avoid ex-military unless you can get really close to a particular vehicle (compression tests etc). The reason I say this is that normal servicing and daily checks "first parade" are carried out by the squaddies that drive them. They are (in my experience) often ignored. I was that soldier
It isn't until the bigger services that the vehicle gets to the REME (the mechanics). You may also find that the vehicle has been sitting in an MT depot for donkeys' years and then driven more than a thousand miles to a dealer or auction without proper preparation. All this is in my experience and I am not saying that all MOD wagons will be the same.....obviously a vehicle from a motor specialist unit will be a different story.
The police, on the other hand, I believe, and am told, is a completely different story. Regular, often audited, sub-contract servicing. (My 3 was ex-police).
Just my 2p worth. One thing is for sure. Having any Landy, whatever type and from wherever, is better than having non. Enjoy.
>> Edited by DavidP on Saturday 21st September 09:24
My other comment may be slightly contentious.
I would avoid ex-military unless you can get really close to a particular vehicle (compression tests etc). The reason I say this is that normal servicing and daily checks "first parade" are carried out by the squaddies that drive them. They are (in my experience) often ignored. I was that soldier
It isn't until the bigger services that the vehicle gets to the REME (the mechanics). You may also find that the vehicle has been sitting in an MT depot for donkeys' years and then driven more than a thousand miles to a dealer or auction without proper preparation. All this is in my experience and I am not saying that all MOD wagons will be the same.....obviously a vehicle from a motor specialist unit will be a different story. The police, on the other hand, I believe, and am told, is a completely different story. Regular, often audited, sub-contract servicing. (My 3 was ex-police).
Just my 2p worth. One thing is for sure. Having any Landy, whatever type and from wherever, is better than having non. Enjoy.
>> Edited by DavidP on Saturday 21st September 09:24
Lightweight or ninety a fine choice spartan practical and cheap to run, i had a lightweight for five years and in all that time only had two halfshafts let go and a new water pump.General mechanical parts are cheap but body parts (lightweight)in particular can be expensive.Plenty of ltwhts about try M.V.S in staffs there number is in l.r.o they have large stocks of all military landrovers as they are sole agents for the M.O.D in the disposal of all military landrovers.I personally prefer a mil spec landrover to a civvy one in that they are built to a stronger spec i.e strenthened chassis and copious amounts of under body anti-crrosion underseal.Expect to pay £2000-£3500 for a good ltwht and about £3500-£5500 for a ninety n/a diesal.If you are gona go the civvy route then avoid the 2.5td like the plague,basically a 1950 engine with a garrett turbo charger fitted to it,a turbo fitted to an old engine never a good combo to much stress for the unit and to many horror stories to be told.200-300tdi models are the most reliable just make sure the cam belt has been changed these tend to weaken around the 70,000-85000 mark.I still retain a military landrover in the shape of a 101 forward control with a range rover 4.6 vogue for every day use and a tvr for the wkend. I hope i could have been some help in your choice
Cheers people for the info, a lot to swot up on, first stop being LRO or similar.
Seems to be mixed feelings about the ex-MoD approach thou' which has me worried.
Just checked the web for Suzuki 413 pics -eek, bit of a hairdressers motor!! :nooffence:
Will have a nose in High Peak 4x4 (pass it most Sundays) and the people near Congelton
S-series and Landy...agreed, a nice combination
Cheers
Pete
Seems to be mixed feelings about the ex-MoD approach thou' which has me worried.
Just checked the web for Suzuki 413 pics -eek, bit of a hairdressers motor!!
:nooffence: Will have a nose in High Peak 4x4 (pass it most Sundays) and the people near Congelton
S-series and Landy...agreed, a nice combination
Cheers
Pete
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff