Other Stuff - Previously owned Land Rovers

Previously Owned Land Rovers

The first time that I ever drove a Land Rover was whilst on holiday on the island of Tenerife in 1986, only months after I had passed my driving test aged 17. I signed up for a 'Jeep Safari', which was basically a drive up into the mountains on unmade tracks, but the 'Jeep' was a SWB IIa soft top Land Rover! From that moment on I was hooked and, after a brief flirtation with a hot hatchback, I bought my very own Land Rover in 1988.

My first Land Rover was this Series III 2.25 diesel SWB hardtop. Limited funds meant that it remained pretty much standard during the year that I owned it, although I did manage to fit a bull bar and spotlights to the front, and some fog lights to the rear.

I replaced the door tops as the originals were rusty but, apart from a couple of oil changes, that was all I had to do in the way of repairs and maintenance.

Rear of my grey Land Rover showing the natty fog lights

This vehicle was great fun and even came in useful a couple of times for my job as a surveyor, but it wasn't the most glamorous vehicle for an eighteen year old to be seen in and it eventually made way for something more comfortable.

How my Green Land Rover looked when I first bought it

For my next Land Rover I was offered this very tidy Series III 2.25 petrol hard top by a family friend who had used it as a shooting hack. It was immaculate, with no rust thanks to a yearly underseal regime and had a genuine 30 000 miles on the clock! By this time I had a company car for my day-to-day transport and a bit more disposable income so the Land Rover became my weekend toy.

A year or so into ownership and some of the changes become apparent

Although it came fitted with a host of factory extras like an overdrive, free wheeling hubs and a capstan winch I was keen to add some improvements of my own. Over time it gained bigger 7.50 x 16 tyres and the appropriate speedo head, a CB radio, roof rack, spot lights, better seats, 90/110 one piece doors, windows in the hard top sides, high level rear lights, parabolic springs and numerous smaller detail changes.

Near the end of my time with LRC and it's a very different looking vehicle. This picture was taken at a very wet and windy Eastnor during a Series III Club National Rally

Other than regular maintenance, necessary repairs were few and far between with one notable self-inflicted exception. Several runs through a deep water hole at the now defunct Bagshot Heath Off-road Show saw me buying a new engine! Water had got in and, although it still ran, the oil pressure light wouldn't go out and it made the most horrendous rattling noise. Given the excellent condition of the rest of the vehicle and my intention to keep it for a very long time, I decided to have a Turner Engineering reconditioned engine fitted. This ran like a dream and was all but silent on tick over.

A couple of years later I found myself yearning for a V8. Not just any V8 though - it had to be a Stage 1 V8, the last and greatest of the leaf sprung Land Rovers! I found what appeared to be an immaculate example through friends in the Series Three Club. It was a 1982 County station wagon with only 24 000 miles on the clock, so was barely run in. A previous owner had fitted a 110 front grill but other than that it was completely original. The only negative thing was the colour - Russet Brown! Very authentic but not very attractive so my wife and I made a decision to re-paint it in something a little more eye catching. We settled on a very striking orange, which I had done by a profession bodyshop.

Rear of Stage 1 with distinctive reversing lights

Once again I made a few modifications including buying a brand new Brownchurch roof rack, fitting a 90/110 rear door, parabolic springs, replacing the wheels with 6.5 inch ones from a forward control and fitting 235/85 BFG Trac Edge tyres, replacing the front door tops with early 110 aluminium ones, CB radio, stereo (!) and twin towing sockets with a split charge system.

I owned this vehicle for a little over two years and enjoyed every minute. It had character and presence, awesome off-road ability and pulled like a train. It also served as wedding car for my wife and I which earned us a small part in a TV documentary that was filmed at Gaydon in 2001.

It's only downside was the fuel consumption, which was down to single figures on short journeys, and it was this that eventually made me decide to sell it. There was also a nagging problem that due to the relative rarity of the model, some of the specific parts were getting hard to find.

This vehicle eventually made way for my Discovery.

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