The Landy April 16 by Assignment Media Ltd

At the end of January, the last Defender came off the line – and the world lost its most enduring 4x4 icon

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‘THE MOTHER OF ALL LAND ROVERS IS NO MORE’

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Super Series II 6x6 This month, we went on the hunt for some of the UK’s best fords – something that every Landy fan enjoys. It’s going to be a wet and wild ride! Full story: Page 38

You don’t really come across Series II Land Rovers with sixwheel drive.

It probably has something to do with the fact that Solihull never actually made one. Mike Gamble, however, happened to stumble across one that had been left in a barn to fester. But with Mike’s help, it’s now back to its spectacular self…

Full story: Page 20

On test this month: the Discovery 4 Landmark Edition. Find out why this SUV is still the king. Full story: Page 30

Jason Redfern has a particularly vibrant Defender 90. It’s also a champion of playdays and one serious off-roading tool… Full story: Page 24

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Issue 26: April 2016

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Above: If ever there was a time to capture a moment with your smartphone, this would surely be it. Workers past and present scrambled to get their shot of the last true icon

ince the last edition of The Landy was published, the vehicle that inspired this very publication has departed from our world. We all knew it was coming. But the mother of all Land Rovers is no more. On 29 January, the very last Defender was driven off the production line and more than 67 years of continuous production came to an end. Land Rover continues to thrive like never before – but the Land Rover is now history. The final Defender, a 90 Heritage Soft-Top, came off the line to applause from a gathered throng of more than 700 current and former Land Rover employees. The vehicle itself even used a part which has featured on every single ragtop Landy throughout the entirety of the model’s lifespan – in truth, the TDCi model of today is very different to the Series trucks

of old, but the hood cleat on soft-top models dates from the very start of Series I production. The crowds watched as their icon, our icon and indeed one of the world’s greatest icons drove off the line for a tour of the Lode Lane site – where Land Rovers have been assembled from the word go. Having emerged from the production line, the last Defender was joined on its parade lap of the Solihull plant by various other special Landies – including the first pre-production Series I, ‘Huey’. The journey has been long for the Defender, leaving a 68-year legacy that is unlikely ever to be repeated. But the story that began at the 1948 Amsterdam motor show, when Rover unveiled what was meant to be a short-term product aimed at bringing in export sales, has been full of twists,

Below: Having emerged from the production line, the last Defender joined the rest of its bloodline for a celebratory parade around the historic Lode Lane site at Solihull with each revision of the Land Rover carrying over its charm from the last. When what we now call the Series I went on sale all those years ago, it could be bought for just £450: at the end of last year, Defender 2,000,000 sold for £400,000… Despite this, what makes the Land Rover so great is that even as the world changed, it never did. The Series trucks and Defenders all mesmerised the world with their capabilities, allowing people to do their jobs in harsh and unyielding environments and building up a community of admirers for whom nothing else compares. Speaking at the historic event in January, Jag Land Rover CEO Dr Ralf Speth said: ‘Today we celebrate what generations of men and women have done since the outline for the Land Rover was originally drawn in the sand. The Series Land Rover, now Defender, is the origin of our legendary capability, a vehicle that makes the

world a better place, often in some of the most extreme circumstances. There will always be a special place in our hearts for Defender, among all our employees, but this is not the end. We have a glorious past to champion, and a wonderful future to look forward to.’ That last sentence in particular is poignant in the extreme. The Defender we know and love became an icon because of how simple it was, how raw it felt in your hands. Driving any of them, from an 80” to a later Puma, all were engaging, fun and unrivalled in their ability. We have been lucky to have such a national treasure go unchanged for so long. The Defender’s successor will not be of the same mechanical bloodline, nor will it seem like it has been constructed in the same world. But the fact that the name will return IS at least something – and Land Rover does clearly understand that anything

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hile all the attention fell on Solihull’s last Defender as production came to an end, Land Rover has also revealed the launch of its new Heritage Restoration programme. This will oversee the resurrection of a number of Series Land Rovers – on the site of the Defender’s now dormant production line. It will ensure that there is still some Series and Defender presence within the walls of the Lode Lane grounds. A team of 12 specialists, including ten who will be drafted in from the Defender’s old production line, will be in charge of the projects that are undertaken, starting with the restoration and sales of varying Series models. With experience totalling over 172 years worth, the ‘salvation squad’ will be well equipped to

with that name has to be able to meet certain standards. Only time will tell what Land Rover will come up with. But at the very least, under Tata’s ownership it’s com-

forting to know the company has the resources to do it right. Like the Solihull plant on the evening of 29 January, however, it feels like something is missing. There is no

noise of workers, no hammering of metal, no thrum of a diesel engine. Land Rover now exists without the Defender – a strange truth, and one that is difficult for any of us to swallow.

Below: The ﬁnal touches are added to the Heritage Soft Top 90 before its date with destiny at the end of the line

deal with the prospects of refurbishing these classic icons. One such member, Tony Martin, has worked for Land Rover all his life. Not only that, his father and grandfather were both employed by the company too and he will be continuing their legacy as much as the Defender’s. Tim Hannig, Land Rover’s Heritage Director, said: ‘Land Rover Heritage will be offering cars, services, parts and experiences for all owners and fans around the world. Our new restoration service and the sale of expertly restored Series I vehicles is just the start of making sure that classic Land Rovers are not only part of our past but part of our future.’ The first of these specially restored Series Is will go on sale in July this year. Please form an orderly queue…

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Issue 26: April 2016

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JLR backing Invictus once more

aguar Land Rover is once again set to play a significant role in the 2016 Invictus Games, after announcing that it will be sponsoring the UK team and providing financial and logistical support. As expected, that means all competitors will be emblazoned with branded clothing from the company – so you’ll never forget what vehicle they turned up in that morning! Following the success of the 2014 Invictus Games in London, JLR has already announced its role as Presenting Partner for the 2016 event.

Scheduled to take place between 8 and 12 May at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, the Invictus Games is a multi-discipline event open to all wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women. This is only one of the ways JLR has shown its continued support for the British military over the years. Since 2013, the company has hired more than 200 former service personnel and aims to actively boost employment for those leaving the Armed Forces through a work placement scheme.

Gold for JLR after support for Armed Forces Above: From left to right – Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, JLR employee Matthew Malley and JLR CEO Dr Ralf Speth

ontinuing to demonstrate its support of the British military, Jaguar Land Rover was recently presented with a gold award for its collaboration with the Armed Forces community. The award recognises the commitments

which JLR continuously upholds through its Armed Forces Covenant. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon presented the award, saying: ‘The support from these organisations is making a real difference to our Armed Forces community. They are ensuring

that the men and women who have done, and continue to do, so much for our nation are treated fairly.’ Dr Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover CEO, was on hand to accept the prize, commenting: ‘We at Jaguar Land Rover are immensely proud to have signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant and to be recognised through this award.’ Joining Dr Speth to receive the award was Matthew Malley, one of 200 ex-servicemen and women to have been hired by JLR since 2013.

Malley explained that after having been wounded in action, he was told his army career was over. ‘After a month-long specially-tailored work placement at Jaguar Land Rover, I got a job with their site services, where I fit right in. I couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome,’ he said. Malley’s is just one of the inspiring stories to have emerged from JLR’s work placement scheme, which is run in conjunction with Mission Motorsport and the Ministry of Defence’s Career Transition Partnership (As-

sist). The programme aims to support former service personnel in getting back into work following the end of their military career. In October last year, JLR also sponsored the Walking With the Wounded Walk of Britain, an event created to rally support for Armed Forces veterans who are retraining after having been wounded in action. The walk spans 1000 miles, including a stage from the company’s Design and Engineering Centre in Coventry to its manufacturing facility in Solihull.

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Issue 26: April 2016

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Fancy a hundred-grand holiday?

and Rovers will forever be associated with rugged, self-sufficient adventure travel. The current Range Rover, on the other hand… well, that will forever be associated with the kind of person who can blow a hundred grand on a threeweek holiday. Yes, seriously. Roughing it is about as far removed as possible from the latest package on offer from Solihull’s ‘renowned luxury travel partner’ Abercrombie and Kent. For just £100,000 (oh, and that’ll be per person), you and perhaps another bank robber could be seeing the world and revelling in different cultures, all from the splendid isolation of the most expensive Range Rover on sale today: the SV Autobiography. The holiday comes from the blossoming partnership between Land Rover and the aforementioned A&K. Between them, they set out to create the ‘most luxurious road trip on Earth.’ So what do you get for your £100,000 getaway? Well, the headlines roll something like this: five continents, eight countries and not a single tent in sight, plus you’ll be treated to some of the best driving roads in the world. And yes, that’s the blacktop kind and the rough stuff too. You have to hand it to Land Rover if they’re

willing to let you take an SVA Rangey off the beaten track. This 21-day adventure is certainly a trip you’d be struggling to forget in a hurry! Mark Cameron, Land Rover’s Experiential Marketing Director, said: ‘We set out to design a trip worthy of the ultimate luxury SUV and thanks to our partners at Abercrombie and Kent we have achieved just that. From Europe to Australia, this trip is all about the epitome of luxury but done so in a Land Rover way – the unexpected, the off-the-beaten-track and the once-ina-lifetime experiences. This itinerary represents the definitive drive adventure, achieved in the definitive vehicle.’ Now, about the itinerary. Unexpected experiences aside, it’d be nice to know where you’ll be going, right? That’ll be Monaco then. Not a place that’s writ large across the experiences recounted by travellers who’ve roughed their way across the world in an old 110, but still. Having taken in the mountain and coastal roads before reaching the Italian Lakes, you’ll venture north again to seek out the Dolomites and the beauty of the Alps. Next up, a short flight to Marrakech, where you’ll swap snow for sand and pilot your SV Autobiography into the desert near Ouarzazate

before following a route through the Atlas Mountains. Then, it’s Vegas baby! Yes, another staple on the overland trail. Having chosen red or black as you touch down in the United States, you’ll continue on – no, not to Moab or the Rubicon, but Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park.

For the final leg of the tour, you’ll be flying Down Under. Now, here’s where a Range Rover really comes into its own, right? So much Outback to explore, so little time… You, on the other hand, can enjoy climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge and go backstage at the Opera House, before hopping over to Tasmania for a spot of quad biking (we’re every bit as baffled as you, don’t worry) and a chance to sail over to Wineglass Bay. Along the way, you’ll be staying in some of the plushest of all the world’s crashpads. This includes the Four

Seasons Cap Ferret, the San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge, the Royal Mansour and the Sydney Park Hyatt. It does all sound rather epic – so, should sir have a spare £100,000 and the urge to spend it in this manner (or, more likely, you’ve simply run out of things to blow money on and this sounds like a bit of fun), all you need to do is pop into your local Abercrombie and Kent boutique. There are three of these in the world: in Harrods, Monaco and Abu Dhabi. The Scunthorpe branch will be opening soon.

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Can I have a word…? If you’re an avid reader of this publication for Land Rover nuts, then you may have heard me waffle on about some of the fascinating and wonderful vehicles that we’ve featured between these sheets over the last two years. Unfortunately for you lot, the hierarchs have decided that they’d like me to waffle to you here too – God only knows why, but endure we must. I start my waffle this month, though, by saying sorry, for I am about to dampen your day once more with some depressing words about the last Defender that you’ll have read about on page two. It’s difficult to know what to say in many ways: the very vehicle that has brought you and I together through these pages has departed this world, and no amount of consoling from Land Rover itself reassuring us that the Defender will return is doing a damn bit of good. The Defender is no more and we will all be sad to continue existing without it alongside us. That said, there is a higher percentage of Land Rovers left on the road than any other marque. And with that in mind we know that we will be able to continue bringing you these incredible vehicles to read about for the foreseeable future. I’ll be honest, I’m annoyed that my first words to you as Editor have come under such circumstances, but in the grand scheme of things it won’t change what you and I love to do every single day. And that is to live the Land Rover life. Mike Trott, Editor michael.trott@ assignment-media.co.uk

Issue 26: April 2016

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Issue 26: April 2016

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Autonomous Land Rovers edge closer to reality

aguar and Land Rover are making large investments into new technologies and the future of the autonomous vehicle. ‘UK-CITE’ (UK Connected Intelligent Transport Environment), a ‘living laboratory’ project which will make use of 41 miles of roads around Coventry and Solihull, is intended to examine and improve systems in real-world driving conditions. The three-year, £5.5m project will enable vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure testing of a fleet of autonomous vehicles, including five from Jaguar Land Rover. Dr Wolfgang Epple, JLR’s Director of Research and Technology said: ‘This real-life laboratory will allow Jaguar Land Rover’s research team and project partners to test new connected and autonomous vehicle technologies on five different types of roads and junctions. Similar research corridors already exist in other parts of Europe so this test route is exactly the sort of innovation infrastructure the UK needs.’ This information is set to ultimately augment safety on the roads by developing connected technologies, whereby connected vehicles could ‘communicate’ when changing lanes or exiting junctions, for example. The Jaguar Land Rover team will also be using real drivers to test out ‘Over The Horizon’ and ‘Emergency Vehicle Warning’ systems. The former would allow warnings usually transmitted via overhead gantries to appear on the vehicle’s dashboard. This technology again has road safety at its forefront as drivers would receive the message sooner, as well as allowing autonomous vehicles to react and respond to situations. Significantly, the ‘Emergency Vehicle Warning’ system would allow drivers

to be alerted to an oncoming emergency service vehicle, well in advance of hearing any sirens or noticing the blues and twos from behind. Dr Epple said: ‘The approach of an emergency vehicle can often be stressful for drivers. If we can inform the driver, or the autonomous car, much earlier that an emergency vehicle is approaching, we can ensure that the best decisions are made to move the vehicle out of the way safely and conveniently, to let the emergency vehicle pass by.’ JLR has also provided financial backing for a research project aiming to improve the intelligence of autonomous vehicles, making them drive more like human beings than robots. This ‘MOVE-UK’ project, led by Bosch in association with Jaguar Land Rover, Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), Direct Line, the London Borough of Greenwich and The Floow, will examine the natural reactions and habits of real people as they drive a fleet of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, data which will ultimately inform the development of new CAV technologies. ‘To successfully introduce autonomous cars, we actually need to focus more on the driver than ever before,’ said Dr Epple. ‘Understanding how drivers react to a range of very dynamic and random situations in the real world is essential if we want drivers to embrace autonomous cars in the future.’ Dr Epple added: ‘Customers are much more likely to accept highly-automated and fully autonomous vehicles if the car reacts in the same way as the driver. By understanding and measuring positive driving behaviours we can ensure that an autonomous Jaguar or Land Rover of the future will not simply perform a robotic function.’

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‘Best Year in A Decade’ for Jaguar Land Rover I

t has been another productive year for Britain’s now largest automotive manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover. 2015 was the company’s best year in a decade, according to the SMMT, with a total of 1,587,677 vehicles having been produced across its three UK vehicle manufacturing plants. In 2009, the Tata-owned company produced just 158,000 units, showcasing a significant progression over the last six years, during which JLR has become the fastest growing automotive manufacturer in the country. This is largely due to an R&D investment of over £11bn which increased annual output by almost 70% and last year allowed Jaguar and Land Rover to introduce 11 new models, including the Discovery Sport. The company’s three vehicle manufacturing plants, based in Solihull, Birmingham and Liverpool, have each recently received considerable investment in order to bolster production, another contributory factor in JLR’s success. Along with these facilities, a £1bn state-of-the-art Engine Manufacturing Centre – birthplace of the Ingenium engine – has opened up more than 10,000 manufacturing jobs over the last five years, boosting the overall UK workforce to around 35,000. Jaguar Land Rover Executive Director of Manufacturing, Wolfgang

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Stadler, said of the recent achievements: ‘Britain is the beating heart of our business, so becoming the country’s largest vehicle manufacturer is a remarkable achievement, demonstrating our steadfast commitment to the UK manufacturing sector. ‘2015 was a challenging year for the industry against a backdrop of socioeconomic instability, but it is a testament to our strong product range and dedicated team of employees that Jaguar Land Rover has delivered year on year growth, with more exciting products to come.’ What’s more, Bloomberg has named JLR the best place to work in Britain, while across the Atlantic, Land Rover has become the fastest growing car brand in the US. With the release of new models including the Range Rover Evoque Convertible to come this year, the achievements are set to keep on coming. And while an increasing global demand for its products has prompted Jaguar Land Rover to turn its attention to its international manufacturing footprint and support of sustainable global growth, the UK is still very much at the heart of the business. For instance, a portion of a planned £3bn investment due in the next year is going towards the expansion of the Whitley and Gaydon Research and Development centres.

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Land Rover ﬁghting to save the elephants

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and Rover has long been associated with the Born Free Foundation, and the two entities are teaming up once more to promote a new ‘Remembering Elephants’ campaign. They say an elephant never forgets – or at least that’s what I remember from Walt Disney’s classic, The Jungle Book. And it would seem that neither Land Rover nor the Born Free Foundation is likely to forget about these vulnerable creatures any time soon either. Continuing their long-standing partnership, Land Rover and Born Free have announced their support of a new project that focuses on the conservation of the endangered animals by raising awareness and funds. The project was instigated by wildlife photographer Margot Raggett, a woman who is clearly set on conserving what she witnesses through her lens. She has rallied together the support of 50 of the leading wildlife photographers from around the globe and succeeded in getting them to donate some of their work, culminating in one spectacular book that will

be put on sale with all proceeds going towards the elephants. Scheduled for release in September 2016, the publication will represent the fight we must take against poaching, by combining some of the most incredible and breathtaking sights that you can find in Africa – and hope to be able to see for generations to come. Margot said: ‘I’m over the moon that Land Rover has agreed to support the Remembering Elephants exhibition and couldn’t think of a more fitting sponsor. What started as a project on the back of an envelope between a few photography friends has now grown into something that will raise tens of thousands to protect elephants, a cause we all feel very passionate about. We need to remember elephants now, hence the title of what will be a stunning tribute to this beautiful species.’ Sixty photographs will merge together in the Remembering Elephants book, capturing chapters from an elephant’s life through from birth to the time when they depart this world. To raise even further funds, the exhibition will showcase all 60 images

and then sell them off to gather further proceeds for the cause. Both Land Rover and Born Free have endeavoured to campaign for the safety of endangered species of animals around the world for many years. Concentrating on sustainability, educating people and raising awareness, plus improving the welfare of such animals has been a big part of the team’s aims. Mark Cameron, Jaguar Land Rover Experiential Marketing Director, said: ‘Land Rover has enjoyed a successful and rewarding partnership with the Born Free Foundation since 2002. This incredible project allows us to further cement our commitment to supporting the Foundation in their tireless fight against poachers and the protection of Elephants. The photography is emotive, and truly encapsulates the beauty of elephants. It is a project that Land Rover is proud to be a part of.’ An exhibition highlighting the Remembering Elephants photography will open on the 18th September, running for a fortnight until 1st October at Pall Mall’s La Galleria, London. All for a very good cause indeed.

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Business as usual for Disco Sport

he BusinessCar Awards have named their Best Premium Small 4x4 for 2016. And it’s business as usual for Land Rover, whose Discovery Sport drove home with the major prize. It’s a third win in four years for the green oval, following on from the success of the Range Rover Evoque, which dominated the BusinessCar Small 4x4 categories in both 2013 and 2015. Much to the credit of the Discovery Sport, the winners of the BusinessCar Awards are decided by fleet industry insiders who rely on a vehicle for the efficient running of their business, through a poll of readers, as opposed to a panel of experts. Paul Barker, BusinessCar Editor, commended the Discovery Sport, saying: ‘The Discovery Sport has moved Land Rover into the reach of main fleet drivers, offering a prestigious badge combined with practicality, running costs, quality and now, with the new diesel engines, efficiency to compete with its premium brand rivals.’ This isn’t the first time the Discovery Sport has proven to be top dog, securing the title of Best Large SUV in the What Car? Awards in early January of this year and Scottish Car of the Year’s Best Diesel in November. UK Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover, Jeremy Hicks, said: ‘It is always great to receive awards – particularly when they have been decided by customers. ‘Coming on the heels of the What Car? Award for Discovery Sport, highlighting its appeal to the consumer, it is wonderful to receive this BusinessCar Award, which also demonstrates its superiority in the company car marketplace.’

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Issue 26: April 2016

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Bear with us…

he Great British Land Rover Show is approaching and now only weeks away. The Bearmach-sponsored event will be taking place on Sunday 24 April and is set to kick-start the Land Rover season in true style, at its new home at Stoneleigh Park. But who, and precisely what, is this Bearmach company? And what have they got to do with the best Land Rover show out there? Well, for those of you who don’t already know what Bearmach is, this is one of the largest Land Rover part suppliers in the business. If you need something for your Land Rover, the chances are they will have it. And if they don’t, it’s probably not supposed to be on your Landy! Officially they are a supplier of genuine, OEM and other quality products, all of which can be bought to refresh, improve or accessorise your Land Rover. By sponsoring the Great British Land Rover Show, they help the organisers put on the best show possible through working together to figure out exactly what a Land Rover enthusiast wants from a show… funnily enough, it’s more Land Rovers. We must thank Bearmach for their continued support of this continually

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expanding show and, come April, we’re going to be rocking Warwickshire full of Land Rovers more than anyone has ever seen. It promises to be an epic feast of Green Oval goodness, with plans being finalised over the coming weeks and some tasty treats in store for you all. Which means you’ll want to keep an eye out for the next issue of The Landy that will be carrying the show guide for said Land Rover heaven. On this page we’ve also included a couple of example Bearmach products; these are always incoming and you should check out their website for their latest gear. Visit www.bearmach. com. From us, though, it’s time to leave you with the reminders that FREE tickets are still available for the show: you get one free ticket per batch of tickets you purchase. This offer will not be on for much longer, though, so be sure to grab yours. We must also remind you that applications for the Great British Land Rover Show vehicle displays are still open. The best way to enter your vehicle for the display is by visiting the show website at greatbritishlrshow. com and then click on the ‘Land Rover Display’ tab. With few spaces left, you best be quick!

FREE Tickets to the Great British Land Rover Show are still available. Go to greatbritishlrshow.com for yours!

Go fibre with Bearmach

ibre is generally considered a very good thing. When concerned with the internet, and the word ‘optic’, it normally means your YouTube clip loads up before your face has the chance to turn into something out of Shaun of the Dead. It’s good for your diet, too. But we shan’t venture too far into that topic. On the automotive front, fibre – in the carbon format – is a very useful material. Not only is it stronger than steel, but it’s considerably lighter. That’s why it’s used on most of the furthest technologically advanced vehicles on the road today… and now it can be on yours too! That’s because Bearmach has released a hoard of carbon fibre parts for numerous Land Rover models. The benefits are obvious, really: a lighter car is a better car, and besides it uses less fuel. Not that changing a couple of details will add a hundred miles to your

truck’s range, of course. But every little helps, right? And lighter means faster, too – or, if you prefer, better at getting up the hill between the two and one gates in an RTV. Okay, we admit it. These parts are things like door handles, fog light surrounds, radiator grilles and side trims, and they’re for the L322 Range Rover, Discovery 3 and 4, Evoque, Range Rover Sport and Freelander 2. So, they’re not likely to be seeing a lot of RTV action. Given the weight of the vehicles they’re designed for, it’s hard to make a case for them making a noticeable difference in terms of weight, either. But you know what? They look cool. And that’s what they’re there for, so all well and good. Prices start from around £30 and climb to approximately £135, depending on model and part. There’s a full guide to what’s available for your Land Rover at Bearmach’s website, which you’ll find at www.bearmach.com.

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NEXT MONTH

London Lass: This Series I has resided in London for the last 20 years. But we managed to catch up with it while out on a rare country retreat… PLUS

Two-tone bodywork, bobtailed, German and with just 15,000 miles on the clock – unusual is one word you could use to describe this P38 Range Rover…

With the demise of the Defender, the age of the classics has truly begun. Even the Discovery 1 can be considered a classic – if found in the right condition. Take this one, for example…

NEXT MONTH’S LANDY IS PUBLISHED ON 28 MARCH ou can pick up your copy of our May 2016 issue from

newsagents or Britpart dealers – or read it online at www.thelandy.co.uk

01283 553243 • enquiries@assignment-media.co.uk • www.thelandy.co.uk • www.facebook.com/thelandyuk Editor Mike Trott Admin and Editorial Assistant Gemma Pask Art Editor Samantha D’Souza Contributors Gary Noskill, Nicky Smith, Mark Bailey Photographers Steve Taylor, Harry Hamm Group Editor Alan Kidd

Advertising Sales Manager Colin Ashworth Tel: 01283 553244

omissions nor the consequences of actions made as a result of these

Group Advertising Manager Ian Argent Tel: 01283 553242

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

Publisher Sarah Kidd Email: sarah.kidd@ assignment-media.co.uk Every eﬀort is made to ensure that the contents of The Landy are accurate, however Assignment Media Ltd accepts no responsibility for errors or

The Landy is distributed by Britpart. Details of your near-

est Britpart dealer can be found at www.britpart.com Where 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 © 2016 Assignment Media Ltd

Issue 26: April 2016

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Issue 26: April 2016

Get the right trimmings for your Defender 110 Mentioning the ‘C’ word can always be a recipe for disaster, but Christmas is now very much a hazy memory and just another burnt turkey scribbled into the history books of your family’s photo album on Facebook. But one thing you no doubt will be able to recall is that a turkey ain’t a turkey without the trimmings. You will be sitting there now thinking we’re gobbling as much gibberish as... well, a turkey. However, have no fear, because if you are a Defender owner then there is a link here to concentrate on. A Defender 110 Utility Wagon is not a turkey. But you can still have it with all the trimmings, courtesy of Mud-UK. That’s because this everinnovative company has launched its new Utility Wagon Trim Panel.

These are designed to finish off the bare metal panels in the rear load space, tidying up their appearance and adding even more storage space thanks to the cargo nets with which they come supplied. Yes, you can have a smarterlooking interior and room to place your meat and two veg, although hopefully not till next Crimbo. Finished in the same Dark Granite as the Defender’s factory plastics, the trim panel slots neatly behind the existing ‘window’ panel to give you more efficient use of space. It adds an extra layer of insulation, too, thanks to the four foam pads that come with it. The panels come as a pair, so one side of your 110 won’t be feeling left out and both can be yours for the price of £185 including VAT. www.mudstuff.co.uk

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Sealey’s shock to the system

Winter can be a time of joy for Land Rover drivers. Alternatively, come a light frost our trusty steed will turn over a couple of times and the idiot lights on the dash will die in front of our eyes. It might be a sign, then, to replace your battery before it gives up the ghost altogether. Until then, it might be handy to have Sealey’s new Electrostart Batteryless Power Starter on hand. This jump starting device differs from other conventional battery bumpers because it doesn’t have a battery within. The clue is in the name really… Instead, it uses ultracapacitors and what Sealey calls ‘some clever patented electronics.’ These are said to maximise a discharged battery’s voltage. The E/Start 600, to give it its proper name, only needs five volts to spark a vehicle back into life. To do so, all you need to do is hook up to your discharged battery and watch as a voltage reading comes up on the pack’s display. If it says less than 5v, you just need to plug it into the mains to get it ready instead. Now connected, the Electrostart pack actually sucks in power from the battery. It charges itself up in the process and then, after two minutes, is ready to send the power back to the vehicle – in enough of a short, sharp bursy to fire it into life. As always with this kind of kit, though, the story comes with a disclaimer. The lightweight (1.4kg) charging pack is, well, more for the lightweights of the Land Rover breed. It delivers 300A of starting power, which Sealey says will be enough for a 3.0-litre petrol or a 2.0-litre diesel. It does, however, have a ‘glow’ feature for helping a sleepy diesel engine see it your way on a cold morning. Sealey says that the pack carries a life cycle of ten years and shouldn’t need any maintenance. It’s also slim enough to slide into your glove box and, of course, doesn’t need to be kept charged up just for the odd occasion you’ll need it. It’s not cheap at £179.94, but depending on your view that might be reassuringly expensive. www.sealey.co.uk

Issue 26: April 2016

What is all the Ratchet about…? If you own a Land Rover, chances are you use it for towing – they are the best after all. If that’s the case, you’re probably very familiar with the need for ratchet straps. If you’re not, there’s probably quite a strong chance that you soon will be. Hopefully this will be because someone tells you, rather than because your precious cargo has gone off on its own in search of fame and fortune and instead found the front end of a now rather angry cyclist. There is of course no shortage of straps in the world. But Ring

Automotive has added to your choice by launching its new Ratchet Tie Down Systems. These are available with and without S-hooks; which you use will depending on what kind of anchor points your trailer is fitted with. Both possess durable straps constructed from high-quality materials, which operate with just three simple moves. Pull the red latch and the system will release the strap for quick unloading, while the ratchet and strap should never be found apart thanks to the integrated handle.

Measuring in at 5m long and 25mm wide, the straps should give you plenty of flexibility. Each can manage up to a working load of 260kg. So you won’t see the Army using them to hold Chieftain tanks to their transporters, but for general cargocarrying duties they’ll hit the nail right on the head. Prices vary from stockist to stockist. But if you find these straps for more than about £9.99 (RLS11 standard set) or £10.99 (RLS12 with S-hooks), then keep looking. www.ringautomotive.co.uk

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Issue 26: April 2016

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Serving up a treat

In the UK THE NEW SMOOTH LIGHT CLUTCH SERVO SYSTEM FOR

The REDBOOSTER is a vacuum servo, similar to that on the braking system, which reduces clutch effort to an acceptable level, transforming your driving experience. • A heavy clutch becomes a light clutch • No more painful knees • Gives you better control For All Defender models TDCi Puma, TD5’s, 200 & 300Tdis For information or a demonstration please contact: Rod Barry REDBOOSTER in the UK John Barry Ltd 16 Dryden Road, Bilston Glen Industrial Estate, Loanhead Midlothian, EH20 9LZ Phone: 0131 448 0808, 077655 32347 or evenings 01896 850 619 Email: rod@johnbarry.co.uk Supply only price £375 inc. post to UK mainland

LUXURY INTERIORS FOR RANGE ROVER, DISCOVERY & FREELANDER UNIT 17 BARTLETT ROAD, WEST WASHFORD INDUSTRIAL AREA, REDDITCH, WORCESTERSHIRE, B98 0DG

RE-TRIMS IN CLOTH OR LEATHER ARM RESTS - HEADLININGS - ACCESSORIES

• Range Rover electric/manual seats • can be fitted to your Discovery • • • • • • • •

SAGGY HEADLINING? Try our GRP Moulded Unit covered in Original Fabric, one piece for Electric Sun roof Models 1987 EARLY onwards or two REPLICA pieces for all RANGE ROVER models

• FREELANDERS • trimmed in Leather • in any colour

CLASSIC SEATS

A TOUCH OF COMFORT Fully Adjustable Armrests can be fitted to Freelanders, Discoverys and MOST OTHER VEHICLES TAILOR MADE SEAT COVERS FOR SELF FITTING We can supply you with the same High Quality Seat Covers that we manufacture and fit ourselves. Wide choice of colours in either Cloth Fabric or Leather THEY ARE NOT LOOSE SEAT COVERS www.nationwidetrim.com email: trevor@nationwidetrim.com TEL - 01527 518851 FAX - 01527 518395

NATIONWIDE TRIM

You’ve probably got into the driving seat of a Defender at some point or another, and thought to yourself, ‘My, my, that is a heavy clutch!’ Well, it’s not going to be the first time someone has had that moment of realisation, but thanks to Red Booster, it may just be the last. This new servo clutch system takes away the strain of a Defender’s potentially wearisome clutch and brings driving back to a more comfortable experience that is better suited to your needs… or knees, should we say? The Red Booster system has been developed for both Tdi models, TD5 and also TDCi Puma variants. It essentially reduces the pressure required to operate the clutch – and not only will it keep you from needing replacement legs, but it gives you improved control while you’re driving. It’s a vacuum servo, much like the sort of system you’ll have on the

vehicle’s brakes. Included in this kit is the servo unit itself, the vacuum reservoir tank and relevant pipework, plus all the brackets. The only thing you need to supply yourself is the brake fluid.

And the cost of this leg-saving modification? Well, it’s £375 including delivery, providing you’re a resident in the UK. Probably cheaper than a new leg then… www.redbooster.com

Exclusive to the UK, red Wild Mats for vehicle recovery in soft sand, slippy mud and snow. Light and easy to store. Only £99 per pair. Krazy Beaver™ Super Shovel, made in the USA and brought to you exclusively by Matt Savage. This is a full size shovel that means business. The sharp reinforced teeth are perfect for hacking through frozen snow, compact clay and anything that gets in your way! Measuring 40 inches tall and with a shovel head that’s nearly 9 inches wide and made from heat treated heavy duty 13 gauge steel this shovel is STRONG! Lightweight handle, decent sized D grip which can be used with gloves on, and altogether a great piece of kit to carry on your off road adventures. £69. Here at Matt Savage 4x4 we are the UK dealer for Viair 12 volt compressors. We stock the full range of Viair products including portable compressors, on board air systems and individual parts such as pressure switches and tanks. Take a look at our Viair website that is dedicated to Viair compressors only, www.viair.co.uk.

85P Portable Compressor Kit £55.25

400P Portable Compressor Kit £228.52

Extreme Duty On Board Kit £628.51

High Speed 2on2 Compressor Kit £639.95

1.5 Gallon Air Source Kit £205.66

We also sell CTIS kits by SYEGON. This enables you to inflate and deflate your tyres whilst driving! This is great for soft sand, or if your load changes a lot (tractors or lorries) to prevent tyre wear due to tyre over/under inflation. This is used a lot for the Dakar race and similar things. Matt Savage 4x4 based in Derbyshire. We specialise in Land Rover service and repair as well as overland preparation and vehicle rebuilds. We have a fully equipped workshop with two ramps and vehicle diagnostic equipment. Please call us on 01629 735555 or email sales@mattsavage.com

www.mattsavage.com

Matt Savage 4x4, Unit 3 Unity Complex, Dale Road North, Darley Dale, Derbyshire, DE4 2HX Tel 01629 735555

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Issue 26: April 2016

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Watt’s this from SuperPro?... The Discovery 2 is still a hugely popular vehicle for towing. But it’s getting on now, with even the last

examples well over a decade old. So even the best looked-after Disco 2s are going to be showing

signs of old age. Signs like deterioration in the Watts linkage bushes, for example – which happens as time passes, especially if the vehicle spends a lot of its life in front of a trailer. In the words of aftermarket bush specialist SuperPro: ‘The factory Watts linkage, when worn, or when used regularly for towing, can introduce slop or sway into the drivetrain, reducing precision and decreasing driver confidence.’ It won’t come as a huge shock to learn that they’re saying this because they’ve launched a new replacement kit for these bushes. Thus equipped, the company says the Disco 2 will exhibit better rear axle control and give the driver back the ‘feel’ he got through the

suspension when it was new. The bushes, which are made from polyurethane, are housed within strong steel tubing. SuperPro says they’ll hold their position much more firmly than the originals, meaning that they should last longer but while still giving you the same flexibility of the standard component fitted at the factory. To quote from the horse’s mouth: ‘SuperPro’s polyurethane formulation gives a cossetted cabin feel, like the original rubber, but will last for many more years and miles than its factory forebear.’ The kit costs £153.47 plus VAT and comes with a three-year/36,000mile warranty. Try running that down quickly. www.superpro.eu.com

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Buzzweld have got it in one

Not everyone can afford to splash out on a galvanised chassis. But you’ll want to protect your Land Rover’s heavy metal as much as the next person. Step up Buzzweld CIO – or to give it its full name, Chassis In One. Buzzweld’s reputation as a provider of alternative means of chassis protection is growing. The company says its CIO protection is geared towards customers who are looking for a ‘medium term’ solution, typically estimated to be around ten years. Chassis In One is designed to be a simple corrosion inhibiting product that is less intense than the company’s extreme four-coat dual-product system. It might sound like a government agency (or an ‘ogency’, at least), but instead of catching bad guys its job is to foil any rusting mischief going on under your Landy. Buzzweld says just two coats is enough to protect your chassis, with the top layer of paint needing little in the way of preparation. Prior to applying CIO, the idea is to cut the metal back using a flap disc. Definitely easiest if you’re doing a full body-off refurb, then. Buzzweld says the chassis will come out looking like a new build from the factory. CIO also incorporates a self-leafing glass flake for better resistance against severe abrasion compared to standard coatings. It carries a NATO stock number, which is promising – and, equally handy, it dries good and quickly, allowing you to apply the second coat just 30 minutes later. You can even paint it on to existing rust, which Buzzweld says it will chemically modify over time. Obviously it won’t turn flaky old crumbs into fresh new steel, but once on it’ll halt the process in its tracks. Buzzweld even says you can use CIO as a bedliner or anti-slip coating. Prices start at £7.99 for 125ml and climb to £114.99 for 5 litres. www.buzzweld.com

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Exmoor help ﬁght against thieves One way of preventing a thief from driving away with your precious Defender is by stopping him from being able to steer it. Many people would say that the best way to do this is to cut his arms off, but while this would be an excellent pre-emptive measure there’s a chance it could be frowned upon by those whose job is to uphold the law. Less controversial, and definitely less messy, is Exmoor Trim’s new Quick Release Boss Kit. This allows you to remove your truck’s steering wheel in a jiffy and take it away with you when you park up. The kit can’t be used with Land Rover’s own OEM steering wheels. But it is compatible with any Momo, Motolita or Mountney unit, as well as Exmoor’s own Spline Boss, as the mounting holes will align with the 90mm boss diameter. The Quick Release system is positioned between the wheel and the standard mounting boss, fitting any 36 or 48-spline boss in the process. All the correct stainless bolt fittings and an allen key are included, with a facility for a horn push if necessary. The unit’s internal casing is finished in stainless steel and incorporates the locking pin and dual-lock action. It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway, that the locking pin on the side of the boss must never be depressed while driving. Exmoor says that with the kit installed, the wheel will sit 55mm closer to the driver. The company maintains that there should be no issues with this, however, especially when using a 13-15” steering wheel. Any way of preventing a gang of skagheads from fuelling their filthy habit by taking your truck away has got to be worth it. And at £55.80, this feels like a good-value way of making your truck that bit less vulnerable. You’ll never stop a professional thief, but most of the vermin that prey on people’s Land Rovers will at least be slowed down by looking in the window and seeing a steering column with nothing on the end of it. www.exmoortrim.co.uk

Issue 26: April 2016

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Super Six Issue 26: April 2016

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words and Pictures: mike trott

You don’t see many Series IIs in a 6x6 format – predominantly because Land Rover never actually built a 6x6 back then. This here, though, is an example of what a man with an idea can do, as The Landy discovered earlier this year…

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good 4x4 can put a grin on the face of even the gloomiest person, and even more so when the badge at the front is green and oval in form. But a 6x6 takes the small child out of you and places it right in the driving seat. Most six-wheel drive Land Rovers have evolved from the Defender and original Range Rover. But here we have a 6x6 that has as much heritage and charisma as any of the other old Series Landies you’ll see. It’s a 1960 Series II – a historical vehicle in every sense of the word. But in addition, two extra wheels and an additional propshaft get this classic wherever the mood takes it. ‘When it came out the factory it was a regular 88” Series, II’ says Mike Gamble, the current and satisfied owner. ‘I found out that the previous owner had converted it to a 6x6 when it was just five years old – I’m only the second owner of this Land Rover.’ This Series II turned out to be a bit of a barn find for Mike, having stumbled across the ‘wreckage’ not far from where he works. ‘I don’t know how long it was sat there, but when I found it, it was in a right mess,’ he continues. Mike had been tipped off about the Land Rover from an acquaintance who was conducting a bit of a clearout for the landowner upon whose manor this Series II was resting. Once beckoned to investigate what had been found, the findings didn’t look great… at first. The 6x6 was wedged into two feet of mud and the vehicle needed undressing before it could even be rescued from the clutches of the earth. ‘I wanted a 6x6 and had been after one for a bit, but it had to be a 6x6, not a 6x4,’ explains Mike. ‘The back axle runs off the PTO and that gives you the six-wheel drive. ‘Having agreed a price for it, the following week I came and picked it up Continued overleaf

Issue 26: April 2016

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Issue 26: April 2016

News

Left: Most bonnets like this feature on a lavish Italian supercar – but then this is a super car. Hiding below is the rebuilt 2.25-litre petrol engine, and a sweet piece of engineering it is too

‘I wanted a 6x6… it had to be a 6x6, not a 4x6’ Right: Producing 74bhp, the petrol 2.25 unit was Land Rover’s most popular fitment from its launch to the mid-80s. Behind Mike’s engine, though, lies an extensively repaired chassis and a replaced bulkhead, owing to the fact the old one was beyond salvation

Below: This is where the mechanics will get their kicks. Looking at the underside of the loadspace, you can see how the leaf springs rub shoulders with each other, managing the weight of, say, a mini Jeep. The rear axle runs off the PTO to give Mike his six-wheel drive, and you and us a whole lot more to gawp at!

‘It’s even come to be quite reliable’

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and pulled it from the nettles. I’ve now had it for over three years.’ This special Series has come on leaps and bounds, to the point where it is one of the smartest classic Land Rovers you’ll see. Mike has even put that to the test and taken it to various shows around the country. ‘I took it to a couple of steam rallies, but for the first 12 months it just sat on the trailer, because I was frightened the chassis was going to snap in half!’ exclaims Mike. The much-needed work soon began to snowball, however, with the general tidying up of the cabin reaping significant benefits. ‘I set about steam-cleaning the cab inside, as it looked like someone had lived in there for ten years,’ says Mike. ‘I then began assessing all the damage that had been done and started by stripping the body and bulkhead.’ The body that was attached to this 6x6 previously was two feet wider than the actual Land Rover, so a diet was going to be needed. All the drivetrain was checked over, too – but then it came to the chassis… As often is the case, the rot had set in and the chassis had become victim to years of neglect. Starting from the back and moving his way forward, Mike spent three months refabricating the whole structure wherever needed, combining new and repaired sections to bring some strength into this 6x6’s backbone once again. The axles were then reconditioned, with the gearbox getting off lightly and needing just minimal ‘repairs’. ‘The engine – a 2.25 petrol – was a rebuilt unit that needed rebuilding again, but the bulkhead and seat box had to be replaced as there was nothing left of either of them,’ adds Mike. Slowly, though, the pieces of the jigsaw were coming back together. Mike has had to use some Series III components in places because, as is the case for most of us, it’s just getting too hard to source the correct parts these

Workshop

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days. Carrying out a complete overhaul of the body was a major undertaking for Mike, rebuilding the whole rear but managing to slim it down so that it now has the correct proportions and looks all the better for it. One of the stranger things you may notice if you see Mike’s Super Six Series at a show is that the front suspension is on coils, but leaf springs have been maintained on the back for simplicity – and to help with that loadspace if required. Having been swished off to the paint shop, the Series II came back for a rear loadspace varnishing, and after six months of being a ‘finished’ project, Mike can now spend time more time behind the wheel and less behind a computer screen scouring for parts. ‘I’ll mainly use it as a show vehicle, and may occasionally plod to work in it for something different to drive,’ says Mike. ‘It was the six-wheel drive thing that got me – you don’t see many about and it had the potential to be a lot different. I was well chuffed with it the other week. It did its first 70-mile round trip and I’m really happy with it and how it drives. It’s even come to be quite reliable!’ As with most Land Rovers, they can capture the hearts of kids very quickly. And this 6x6 has become a big part of the Gamble family. ‘My boy has a little Willys Jeep which is basically like a Toylander,’ describes Mike. ‘The Series II tows the caravan to shows and he can have his Jeep in the back ready for when we get to our destination.’ The owner who decided to convert this 88” into a 6x6 was really on to something. It has bundles of charm and character, as you would expect from a Series Land Rover, yet the added practicality and presence of an extra axle and a bigger loadspace. Mike has saved a vehicle that could have been lost forever. And in the process, he has transformed this old ‘mess’ into a Land Rover worthy of wowing any crowd.

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one of his Jim Marsden posted this month greatest ever results the Glens by of when he won King and a half hours. more than three of his old comp But what became Gigglepin 4x4 car? The man from challenges aboard used to do winch it SV. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s treating a super-rare 90 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; though itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still better these days seethe. likely to make purists 14 Full story: Page

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BUILT TO PERFE CTION! Unveiled at the New the Discovery Vision York show, suggests what next Concept yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disco 5 is going to look like. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the start of a new era, too. The Disco will now become a family of models for Land Rover â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in the same way the Range Rover has. Full story: Page 10 A year and a half of weekend s went in to Paul Bramleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 100â&#x20AC;? Tornado special.

But it was worth every moment of hard graft. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just a work of art from the outside, either. Its cabin features a unique Discovery dash, which was shaped to fit by Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dad. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a real family affair, too. The whole project was Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s idea in the first place!

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frEELANdEr

The second round of the Defende r Challenge took place month at the Somerseearlier this t Stages Rally in Minehea d. And there was a hugely popular result, as a team of disabled ex-servic emen from Race2Recovery took six other Bowler-p on a field of repped 90s and came home in first place. Full story: Page 35

The head gasket alone could make But overall, it grown men cry. wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all really ThAT bad, was it?

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Technicolour 90 Issue 26: April 2016

Land Rover was never adventurous with its colour schemes for the Defender. But enthusiasts have been sorting that out for many years, and there’s no such thing as a hue that hasn’t been appended to a 90 somewhere. Jason Redfern, though, simply went about trying to decorate his Landy in as many as possible…

Words and Pictures: Mike Trott

and Rovers come in all shapes and sizes. And, you’re bound to have noticed, colours. Solihull’s own palette of paint options for the Defender might have been about as adventurous as a holiday in Frinton-on-Sea, but countless owners down the years have transformed them using everything from bogey green to baby pink, canary yellow and bronzed Left: There is much to like about Jason’s Defender and that includes its bodywork. Tree sliders and an external roll cage over the cabin makes for adequate protection, while the decals and various colour splats you see here do a great job of adding some personality to the truck

orange. You name it, it’s been done. But why spend thousands on a professional respray for your Landy (or indeed settle for the, er, ‘distinctive’ appearance of a brush-painted shed) when all your design solutions can be found on eBay for the tempting price of a few drinks, say? That’s the route Jason Redfern took when, as with many of the world’s Defender owners, he decided he didn’t want to stick with the standard (aka boring) paint colour on its panels. So he sought the assistance of one of his most trusted allies, eBay – and the results are there for all to see. ‘All the decals have simply been finds while browsing through eBay,’

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says Jason. ‘They’re cheap and help protect the paintwork too. Plus if I ever fancy a change, I can just pull them off and slap some new ones on instead.’ Jason’s Defender, a 1990 example, may look like a parrot that’s been paintballing. But, rife with modifications, it can squawk the talk just as much as the next Land Rover. It was stock when he got it. But Jason has transformed his Defender into a proper weekend warrior – again with help from that online accomplice. ‘I think it’s great that you can just buy stuff from the shop and bolt it on to your truck,’ says Jason. ‘It means that you can drive your vehicle still while building it up to how you want

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Above: Jason turned to MM4x4 for his suspension needs, opting for a kit that gives him a combined 5” lift. Complete with heavy-duty 3” springs, 2” spacers, Terrafirma shocks and dislocation cones, this Defender turned from being a tidy road hack to a proper play-day champ. Behind you have Adrenaline trailing arms, while upfront a steering guard shields the Terrafirma damper, and extended bump stops have been fitted all-round it.’ There are built-not-bought diehards who would look down their noses at that view but, if you’re not a spanner monkey by trade and/or you’d sooner not become a complete stranger to your children, Jason does have a valid point. ‘With the Defender, I started off with virtually a blank canvas. It was a nice solid truck, another eBay find, which I went down to view at a place in Norfolk,’ explains Jason. ‘The body and bulkhead had been overhauled, which is why I bought it. From there it has been more of a conversion than a project, slowly building it up from there.’ One of Jason’s initial purchases was a kit supplied by MM4x4. This took care of most of the suspension, with a lift totalling five inches, dislocation cones and shocks by Terrafirma. From there it’s been a steady stream of upgrades, usually following on from a short bout of surfing on t’internet. Having reached what Jason considers to be his ‘limit,’ should anything hapContinued overleaf Below: On the pulling front, Jason has a couple of 13,000lb Winchmax units positioned at the front and rear with synthetic rope ready to unravel. The rear tray is one that was designed for the front, but Jason simply welded it on to the truck’s posterior to hold the rear winch in position

Issue 26: April 2016

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Issue 26: April 2016

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Above: Get tread into your head, because it’s one of the most important choices you can make for off-roading. Jason has gone for Silverstone Extremes, measuring in at 35 inches. They’re a solid tyre and look well while wrapped around the black Mach 5 rims Left: Jason reckons the rear axle must have been changed before he came to own it. This is because the Defender now runs disc brakes on the rear; to enhance the vehicle further, extended brake hoses are now also in place pen to the truck now – a broken halfshaft or knackered suspension bush, for example – then it will be simply a matter of replacing the relative part. ‘I want to look after it now and have almost made this into something that I consider too good to be thrashed off-road,’ Jason continues. The irony here is that he only bought this 90 because didn’t want to wreck his other Land Rover. Yes, Jason is also the proud owner of a Series II, garnished with full V8 power. It’s this particular vehicle that links to the early days of Jason’s life as an off-roader. ‘My second ever car was a Land Rover, which I owned for a bit before switching back to more ordinary

Above: The transmission is believed to be the original unit, with the handbrake still calling upon a conventional transmission drum. There is, however, a double cardon prop on the front and a new wide-angle unit on the rear. You can see the new A-frame, which has been drafted in to create a bit more twist. The diffs too have been changed for Detroit stickies, and that’s one of the mods Jason recommends most highly

vehicles,’ Jason remarks. ‘After a while, I found myself wanting a cheap car with a V8 in it, and Land Rovers were the only ones that seemed to be fitting the bill at the time.’ Not long afterwards, an old school acquaintance in the shape of Andy Fleming (whose Discovery trayback featured within these very pages in our January 2016 issue) tracked down Jason and invited him along to one of the many green laning trips that the Staffs 4x4 club host. ‘I had the Series II and used it for off-roading for a couple of years. It’s a tidy truck, and while I’m not going to restore it or anything like that, I do want to try and take care of it now,’ admits Jason. The only thing he says he may do is replace the V8 with a 200Tdi he has waiting in the wings. This way his Series Landy, and the Defender which is also a 200Tdi, would have the same parts requirements – a tactical and shrewd strategy for the future.

‘Working on the vehicles is no problem. They’re pretty easy things and I’m a HGV mechanic by trade. The problem is finding time to work on them!’ Over time, Jason’s taste has evolved from the introductory laning into hardcore playday stuff. As he says, quite often you can lane for a whole day and your skills at the wheel are only tested on rare occasions. Go to a pay and play, though, and you’re looking at a free-for-all where you and your vehicle can seek out the most challenging of terrain – just as he demonstrates at Silverdale during our photoshoot. ‘I also try and attend some of the shows with the club throughout the year as it gives me a break from work,’ laughs Jason. It also gives visitors the chance to look at the great truck he has brought together. It’s a fully-ready off-roading champion, equipped with the lift, tyres, cage… everything you could need to have fun in a Defender on those all-too-rare spare Sundays. But it has another secret too. ‘One modification I’d recommend is the Detroit limited-slip differentials,’ says Jason. ‘They’ve made such a difference. Just when you’re approaching the brow of a hill or when you need the traction the most, they give you that little bit more.’ Few trucks out there will go as far as this Defender – and even fewer will be able to wow a show crowd so happily. It’s a truck that has been given the mods to create complete confidence, and now it’s loud and happy to show off all of its quirks. It’s no wonder its proud owner wants to keep it that way. Thanks to Jim Johnston and Explore Off-Road for letting us use their brilliant site in which to photograph Jason’s truck. Silverdale hosts pay and play days once a month – to check out the upcoming dates there, pay a visit to www.explore offroad.com

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Issue 26: April 2016

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As good as it gets?

Words: Mike Trott Pictures: Vic Peel and Mike Trott

On Test: Discovery 4 HSE Lux Landmark LE As the sun starts to set on the ageing Discovery 4, Land Rover has decided to roll out a number of limited-edition models to keep interest keen. This is the final hurrah for what has been a massive success, not just in terms of sales, but in bringing the Disco into the modern era. Now, all they have to do is make the Disco 5 even better…

ack when the Discovery 3 emerged, the 4x4 world took a hammer blow to the head. Land Rover’s old mantra had been ‘evolution, not revolution’ – but now here was a Disco that not only left its own predecessors far behind, it made the rest of the SUV market look foolish too. The 2.7 TDV6 was, at last, an engine worthy of carrying around a modern seven-seat family car. The styling brought the Discovery into the 21st Century with a loud bang and the now-famous Terrain Response system would become the foundation for all of Land Rover’s off-roading capability and technological advancements in the future. The next Defender, for example…

Land Rover got it right with the Discovery 3. So much so that they didn’t really have to try very hard when it came to replacing it. In 2009, the tweaked D4 was launched without the same frenzy its father had experienced. The engine got bigger, the grille got blingier and some interior details were updated, and for sure the Disco did turn into a better car. But it was very much a return to evolution, not revolution. Since then, the Disco 4 has been nipped and tucked into an increasingly upmarket SUV with an interior much closer to that of the Range Rover. An extra touch of polished metal here and another layer of hide there means the Discovery can now give you virtually

as much luxury – especially in the Landmark derivative tested here. This of course uses the 3.0 SDV6 engine and eight-speed auto box which have long since become part of what the Disco is all about. And thus equipped, it really is a car for all occasions. Of course, the Landmark takes the Disco further than ever on the journey from what it used to be (the family vehicle that could do everything) to what it is now (the family vehicle that can do everything if you’re rich). But you get what you pay for. The only time you ever saw a TV screen in the back of a Discovery 2, for instance, was if you were taking it to the tip. But in the Discovery 4 Landmark we were sent, anyone in the second row of

seats could watch live TV on a pair of headrest-mounted screens. That’s the sort of thing £58,105 buys you. Compare that to when the L322 came out, and people cringed at how expensive it was – more than (gasp) forty grand! At the time, Land Rover said it expected a large proportion of

buyers to be on six-figure salaries, so what they expect the latest breed of Disco owners to be pulling in is best left to conjecture. And yet, in many ways this is a Land Rover that still stays true to its roots. While the interior has shifted towards the Range Rover rather than the

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Issue 26: April 2016

Above: These were some of the pictures that Land Rover released in 2014, when it ﬁrst showed the world what the Discovery 4’s successor may look like. Now that we’ve seen the Discovery Sport, we wouldn’t mind betting that the Disco 5 will be closer to these Discovery Vision Concept pictures than people ﬁrst anticipated now-deceased Defender, there is still an air of ruggedness about the vehicle; you just have to read between the lines. The twisting dials, for example, around the climate control settings. The door handles that still give you something to grab. And the whole dash configuration, which has a slight chunky feel. Brilliant, but chunky. The exterior has always divided opinion. Some onlookers admire the squared off-posture, which they see as a nod to the Defender’s boxy shape – dressed up and carrying its butchness in a different, more handsome manner. I fall into this category – though others think it’s too opposing, even ugly. For all its talking points outside, though, once inside and you begin driving the Discovery 4 it is simply splendid, especially when referring to the newest incarnations. The engine is fantastic. There’s so much torque to be played with – 442lbf.ft worth, in fact – that big kid inside you can play all day without ever puncturing the truck’s air of sophistication. And when you take into account the melodies that this engine can play, even if it is a diesel, you’re in for one pleasurable experience. The 0-60 dash (it would better be called the 0-60 stroll, actually) is achieved in a brisk but stately 8.8 seconds, and it’s never less than pleasing to call upon the 256 horses stabled beneath that long, businesslike bonnet. It’s the type of engine that makes you question whether you’d ever need to consider the more powerful V8. Certainly, for towing – which this car is the king of – look no further whatsoever. As I mentioned earlier, the SDV6 is linked to the eight-speed automatic gearbox which is another joyful component of this car’s driving involvement. The changes are slick and seamless – I actually found it shifting more efficiently than the newer nine-speeder in the Disco Sport we tested last year. Ride quality remains peerless as ever, thanks to the air suspension system that’s been part of the vehicle’s make-up since the advent of the Disco 3; owners of early examples, please Continued overleaf

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Above: Plush – it’s one word that you can use to describe the Discovery 4 Landmark. You see those TV screens? Well, those can give your passengers live telly on the go. Available on the D4, but something you could never have foreseen on the Discovery 2

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Issue 26: April 2016

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Above: The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is good, but like an iPhone update which gives you a faster and smoother interaction, this is what the D4 is now in need of. 4x4 info screen is just one of the developments of the impressive Terrain Response system Right: It’s a great interior that the Discovery 4 has been blessed with – carrying a substantial amount of luxury, but still remaining functional. A theme that runs throughout the vehicle’s entirety

Stats (as tested)

Engine: 3.0-litre SDV6 Transmission: 8-speed ZF Auto Top speed: 112mph 0-60 mph: 8.8 secs Power: 256bhp Torque: 442lb ft Kerb weight: 2,622kg Fuel economy: 36.7mpg (30.1mpg) Price: £55,995 (£58,105)

Verdict The Discovery 4 is still one of the top performers in its class, but it’s no longer looking modern the way it once did. It’s still unrivalled in its class both off-road and for towing, and in Landmark form it’s all things to all (rich) people. This was and,

for now, still is a true seven-seat masterpiece with luxury to spare and capability in virtually everything it does. The Discovery 5 should see Land Rover firmly back at the top of the class – but it doesn’t half have a hard act to follow.

8/10

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forgive me for praising what may be the thing you hate most about your life right now, but when it’s new and working as it should the effect really is excellent. Either way, you could tiptoe down some genuinely tricky rock runs aboard this Discovery en route to your favourite restaurant and still look the part when you arrive. To have seven seats, all of them providing room for each and every occupant so that they won’t murmur a word even on a long and arduous journey, takes the packaging skills of a master. Yet that’s a trick Land Rover pulled off with utter brilliance when it launched the Disco 3, and it remains unbeaten more than a decade later. Not by anyone else, nor by any other Land Rover product. Which is why, with the sort of luxury and equipment this Disco provides, you have to ask whether you really need to look for that extra mile of luxury. At £58,000, you shouldn’t really have to; you can spend coming on for twice as much to get the additional prestige and pampering a Range Rover may provide, but is it twice the car? Or, more to the point, twice the Land Rover?

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You pays your money (and how) and takes your choice. But I like the Discovery. It’s not overly flamboyant like a Range Rover can be. The interior may be classy, but part of that class comes from its dedicated fitness for function. There’s nothing unnecessary here, just the good stuff done as well as can be. Which gives Land Rover one hell of a benchmark. Because the advent of this Landmark edition signals the beginning of the end for the Disco 4. And to beat it, the Disco 5 is going to have to be very, very good indeed. How will they go about that? First, the exterior will likely start again from scratch, having stuck with the same image and shape for the past 12 years. And now that the Discovery is part of a family of vehicles, thanks to the Discovery Sport, the D5 is likely to take styling cues from its smaller sibling. In the same way that the front of the Range Rover Evoque can require a second glance to distinguish it from a Range Rover Sport, the mistaken identity is likely to continue between the baby Disco and the Disco 5. But just as any relation between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport is purely visual, the Disco 5 will resemble the Disco Sport in looks alone. We expect it to stay true to many of the ideas revealed on the Discovery Vision Concept in early 2014, which includes the continuation of the stepped roof – itself now a Discovery trademark as strong as the Range Rover’s castellated bonnet. The next Disco will be built on an all-aluminium platform, and it will be much lighter as a result. Lighter and of course more efficient (our Landmark tipped the scales at 2622kg, and the best we could get from it was 30mpg in fairly gentle driving). Lop 400kg off the thing, though, as they’ve done with the latest Range Rover, and you’re well on your way to recouping some of those extra miles between fuel stops. But the big question remains unanswered: will the Disco 5 be as much of a truck as the Disco 3 and 4? It will feel more modern, unquestionably – but, while there are Land Rover die-hards who see that as an instant red card offence, let’s not forget what happened when Solihull unveiled the successor to the Discovery 2. No live axles? No coil springs? No way. But plenty of the people who hated what they were seeing went on to own a Disco 3 and love it. No doubt, many of the same people and a good few more besides will baulk at the idea of a revolutionary Disco 5. Maybe they’ll even buy a Landmark like this one to insure themselves against the future. But I wouldn’t mind betting that one day, the future will catch up with them. Turns out the people at Land Rover knew what they were doing when they built this Discovery. And you know what? I think they still do.

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Issue 26: April 2016

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Heavenly hellraiser

‘OWNERS OF THE 630R WERE ABLE TO CALL UPON 400BHP’

Words: Mike Trott Pictures: Goochie Babber

Overfinch was transforming everyday Range Rovers into supercar-bashing luxury wagons before most of today’s bling artists were even born. One of its less well known creations was the 630R – a P38 with a 400bhp Chevy V8. And you’re looking at one of only 25 they ever made

emember Kenny from South Park? Or Phoebe from Friends? In any group, there’s one who isn’t quite up to the standards of everyone else. They don’t play by the same rules, they don’t laugh at the same things; they’re a little less reliable and, while their mates tolerate them, they have an annoying tendency to get under everyone’s skin. These are the kind of people who mean well, but just don’t quite get it.

They’re a little less cool than everyone else and a little more awkward… they’re part of your gang and you look out for them, but being friends with them is, you know… well, a little bit like hard work. If you’ve owned a P38 Range Rover, you’ll probably know where I’m going with this. Line it up with examples of each other Rangey, and it’ll be the one pulling a face in the photo while the others are smiling nicely. If cars had

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Above: 25 special Range Rovers to mark 25 years of Overfinch, a brand that was ‘blinging’ them before many of the companies doing it today were even a twinkle in the eye. The 630R is one of their greatest efforts American-style college yearbooks, the P38 would be the one whose classmates voted it ‘most likely to provoke owner into having a Basil Fawlty episode on its increasingly foliage-stricken bonnet after its air suspension gives up.’ The dashboard that blinks like the lights on last year’s Christmas tree, the engines that would drink more than a bunch of teenagers on holiday in Magaluf… it’s all part of the joys of having a relationship with a P38. Having said that, despite being the thirstiest of the lot, the 4.6-litre V8 was probably the pick of the crop. Not because it was particularly good, but because the 4.0-litre V8 and 2.5 diesel engines were particularly bad. So you could be confident that with the P38, there was room for improvement. Numerous people have attempted in one way or the other to soften the hardship of being the registered keeper of such a vessel. But there’s one that has always added considerable shine to the Range Rover family. Enhancing these already luxurious vehicles is something Overfinch has always thrived on. The Leeds company are the original makers of ‘bling’ off-roaders, if that’s not too derogatory a term. Established in 1975, today they take the newest Range Rovers and turn them into super-luxurious 4x4s for the incredibly wealthy. In 2000, the company ran a limited production run of 25 P38 Range Rovers. These, however, were no ordinary troublemakers. But you could call them hellraisers! To create what became the Overfinch 630R, the company would take the standard 4.6-litre V8 and kick it out of the park. In its place would go the 5.7-litre V8 from the raunchy Chevrolet Corvette. It wasn’t just a straight drop-in job, though. The Chevy engines were treated to brand new rods, pistons, heads, crankshafts and manifolds, emerging from the process displacing 6.3 litres and bearing almost no resemblance to what first came out of the Chevrolet crate. Continued overleaf

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£118.75

£148

£163

£150

£300

£499

Each

Discs Set

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£57 £27.50

Each

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Above left: So there it is, all 6.3 litres of the thing. A booming great Corvette-derived heart that will surely give you more smiles per mile than any ordinary P38 Above: There are many small details about this vehicle that let people know it’s something special. Not sure about the wheels, but the brakes behind them look tasty While Land Rover’s own top-option 4.6 put out a handy 225bhp, owners of one of the 25 Overfinch 630Rs were able to call upon 400bhp. This was backed up by 474lb ft, which is not far off what the snorting new Range Rover Sport SVR will produce. It’s still some serious power today – back then, it was nothing short of bonkers. There are claims that this Anglo-American predator could reach 60mph from a standing start in 7.0 seconds flat. Not bad for something that weighs as much as a house. And it wasn’t all power and soiled pants at the sight of a corner, either. Overfinch fitted the vehicle with its anti-roll suspension set-up – the result might not quite have been the handling of a Ferrari, but it was probably a lot closer than you would think. The reason we’re telling you about this fearsome roadrunner now, though, is that we happened to come across one that is currently up for sale. At rather a high asking price by P38 standards, but we’ve already established that this is a P38 in appearance alone (and what a street sleeper that makes it). Besides, it goes without saying really that if you own something of which only another 24 were made, you can consider yourself to be in fairly exclusive company. So what do you get when joining such an exclusive club? Aside from the insane powerplant, you also get an Overfinch embossed Range Rover, complete with a burr walnut interior and two-tone leather upholstered seating emblazoned with Formula 1 logos. Also on the visual front, the 630R comes with Overfinch kick plates and a unique front spoiler to set it apart from the P38s you won’t rush to buy so quickly (or vice versa). Naturally, being one of the pioneering vehi-

cles of its time, it came with xenon headlights, climate and cruise control, plus the delights of a Harman-Kardon stereo system whose power and clarity remain impressive to this day. Going back to the mechanical and technical aspect of the 630R, Overfinch recalibrated its air suspension compared with the normal P38. The vehicle sits fractionally lower – and, once above 50mph, the stance is lowered further still for greater stability. Factor in the stainless steel exhaust system and think about how this thing might sound while bellowing through a tunnel, and quickly you’re playing a game of how-can-I-convince-myselfthat-buying-this-makes-sense. Since Overfinch started working its magic on Range Rovers, countless others have tried to do the same. Some have been better than others, but be in no doubt that the 630R is a proper upgrade. It’s like going from a dinner date with Kate Moss to a night out with Kate Upton… (Google will help you on this). The Overfinch 630R is that rare treat that comes along and shows the world how happy the owner of a P38 can really be. Or indeed that the owner of a P38 can be happy at all. The original may have had its faults, and who knows how many of these managed to survive the conversion process. But sat among a group of its peers, this is no longer Kenny or Phoebe; here, at last, is a Mk2 Range Rover that everybody will be happy to know. If you’re a bit of a petrolhead, love an oversized V8 and like the idea of owning something exclusive, there aren’t many better ways than this of ticking all the big boxes. Not all P38s are capable of keeping you happy, but this has got more of a chance than any! If you’re interested in taking it off his hands, contact the owner on 07827 229649

38 Fording Britain w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k

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Land Rovers and water can be a dangerous cocktail. But when it concerns driving through some of Britain’s very best fords, surely that is a concoction worth sampling…

ords are a fascinating part of Britain’s road network. Where road meets water, the notion of modern civil engineering seems to have been forgotten – and the result reminds you why you own a Land Rover in the first place. Whether it’s just a deep puddle, or navigating through a river, all Land Rovers look at home with water sloshing up their bodies. There is also something about fords that delivers a genuinely satisfying buzz. It’s why playdays always attract so many daredevils into competing for the title of ‘Biggest Dive of the Day’. And yes, diving is what these Land Rovers may as well be doing at times… Enough pondering, though, because it’s important to tell you that what

words: paul looe pictures: steve taylor you’re about to read concerns some of the best fords in Britain. Whether long, deep or accessed via tricky green lanes, all will give you a grin as wide as your snorkel is long. Which is a modification you may wish to install before embarking on your search for these little (sometimes big) pockets of motoring delight. Starting in The North and plunging down to The South, we have picked some of the very best for you to check out. So, read on my fellow forder!

Cumbria

Breasthigh Road Bumpy, stony-bottomed stream crossing which has the bonus of being on

one of Britain’s most spectacular green lanes – the glorious Breasthigh Pass, from which the views to east and west are magnificent. The ford itself, which crosses the Borrow Beck, is normally shallow – though after a lot of rain, it can become quite a challenge.

North Yorkshire

Hutton Common A true classic. As you approach this beauty of a ford south of Hutton-leHole, a quaint old highways sign warns you that it’s unsafe ‘due to holes in the bottom of the stream.’ You certainly don’t want to get to close to the foot of the weir, that’s for sure – that’s where it’s at its deepest and most treacherous.

Hutton Common North Yorkshire

Rake Lane This ford is something special for a number of reasons. One, it’s accessed

via a green lane that’ll actually get you into low box. Two, it’s overlooked by a soaring viaduct on the famous North York Moors Railway. And three, if you don’t follow the correct route across the river, you’re going to end up getting your feet very wet…

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Breasthigh Road

Slaty Ford

Cumbria

Rusland Pool Two very different fords for the price of one – with a nice unsurfaced road thrown in for good measure. Best taken from east to west, the track first crosses a wide, shallow expanse of water before making landfall. But a few yards on, you come to the main event – a seriously deep, fast-moving stream which after heavy rain becomes impassable to anyone with a brain. It is also impassable to all vehicles at times, because it has had several seasonal TROs put in place over the years. Be sure to check its status.

Northumberland

Slaty Ford A scenic ford on a unsurfaced road across Thorneyburn Common in Northumberland, this is formed by the stream running along the track bed for perhaps fifty yards. It’s not deep, though after rain you’ll get the distinct feeling that you’re driving along a river.

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Warwickshire

Coughton Fields Lane This ford is by the end of a lengthy unsurfaced right of way, though in fact it’s on the C-road it joins that you’ll splash through the River Arrow. It’s quite a wide crossing, but the surface is good – just as well when the river is in flood, because at those times it’ll be less of a splash and more of a glug.

Tel: 01904 728461

Rusland Pool

‘when the river’s in flood, It’ll be less of a splash and more of a glug’

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Corwen Carwash Denbighshire

Corwen Carwash

The name says it all. Near the lively little town of Corwen (which, rather conveniently, is close to the western end of the magnificent Wayfarer green lane), an unclassified road crosses the Afon Alwen via a wide, deep ford which has become a legend among off-roaders. So much so that the river up and down stream has had to be fenced off to prevent ‘playing’; a very fine argument in favour of eugenics.

Worcestershire

Edward’s Lane

This is a tougher proposition than the other Worcestershire fords in the same area. The track leading to and from it is unsurfaced and pretty rough in places, and the water will normally be up to your hubs. Flooding may be a problem in winter, as could encroaching plant life in summer. It’ll still be okay in most Land Rovers, though – and a lot more rewarding for being that much less of a walk in the park.

Ceredigion / Powys

Strata Florida

Furneux Pelham

You could write a whole article about this phenomenal mountain pass alone. It’s certainly one of Britain’s best-loved green lanes, and it features a series of fords which culminate in a long, deep bottleneck along the river bed at the confluence of two streams. It’s not to be trifled with, however. When the weather’s dry, it’s a monster: in spate, it has been known for foolhardy 4x4 drivers to end up half a mile downstream.

Hertfordshire

Edward’s Lane

Wiltshire

Furneux Pelham

Kingston Deverill

An absolute legend among fords, this is a narrow, sunken, unsurfaced road that runs along a seasonal stream bed. In the summer, it’s simply a leafy, shady green lane with a few big puddles along the way; but after plenty of rain, it’s a bonnet-deep chicken run for the best part of a mile. Catch it at its best, and you won’t believe your eyes.

This ford is, quite simply, an absolute colossus. Hidden away on an unclassified road at the back of a sleepy little village, it’s long, wide and deep – even in dry weather, you’ll get a bow wave going. In the winter, meantime, it can pose a challenge even for vehicles with snorkels and drivers with absolutely no brain. It is a beauty.

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Kingston Deverill Hampshire

North Warnborough Half a mile from the M3, you come to the spread-out, low-lying village of North Warnborough and follow the road through tight houses then an open field before coming to a deep but quite ford. Within a second, it’s over. Then your eyes adjust to the fact that ahead of you is a lake…

Hertfordshire

Pudding Lane Apparently, the way to tackle this monster of a ford is to hug the western bank of the river. We’d been there four times before finally judging it safe to drive, so by and large we’d say the way to tackle it is to go home. It’s so deep, you can see submerged boulders on the river bed. And we’re fairly sure we’ve spotted a monster swimming in it too.

Somerset

Tarr Steps

exciting new 2016 r u o g in c u d o r t In ts and awnings n e t f o e g n a r ” “modular Contact us on 07 961268297

or come see us at the great brit ish land rover show! 10am - 4pm AT Stand A41

Coughton Fields Lane

This is a ford that would make it on to anyone’s A-list. A mediaeval clapper bridge across the River Barle in Somerset, it’s rough-surfaced and at times breathtakingly deep. The stone bridge running alongside it, and the area’s popularity with tourists, means you’re likely to have a delighted audience, too. And there you have it – 14 great fords from around England and Wales. There are hundreds more that might be at the top of your own list – but if you ever find yourself in the right county, check these wonders out for yourself...

Strata Florida

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The Project Has Landed: Part Six I

t’s time to get another collection of memories from our man as he soldiers on with the rebuild of his Series III 109. Over the course of the last several months, this avid enthusiast has slowly been restoring this bargain Landy to bring it back from beyond its sell-by date. Since we last had a tea break with the man himself, he’s been busy carving out the place for his new filler cap, rebuilt all of the brake drums and fitted a new fuse box to give the 109 a kicker in the ticker. We rejoin the action now as Nicky attempts to fit his new exhaust. Buckle up!

words and pictures: nicky smith Above: From left to right, these are the stages in which Nicky slowly repositioned the fuel filler cap. First, cutting through the 109’s bodywork, remembering to start small and enlarging the hole so as to not leave himself with an unfillable abyss. Once it was large enough, Nicky set about fixing the new surround in place, before painting it in that familiar green and rather expertly blending it in with the rest of the Series III. Finally, he painted the cap and slotted it on top

aving done the chores and given in to walking the dog, I soon found myself back out on the now-infamous driveway. I dug out the grinder and, with a sizeable smirk, it was time to get stuck into the exhaust. What a shame… I was finally going to be able to kill it! It took all of 30 seconds to cut it

away and we were in business. The reason behind fitting a new exhaust isn’t because the old one looked rusty; it was solid enough, but the problem was a section of the pipe had been squashed. Not ideal for gas flow. Out with the old and in with the new. I jacked up the front of the Landy another notch on the axle stands,

Above: This was the state of Nicky’s Landy after the fuel filler cap job had been completed. The brakes were tested after the drums were rebuilt, but there’s always room for some bricks under a Land Rover’s wheels

which gave me enough clearance to fit the new front pipe without getting stuck again. The whole system fitted in without any fuss, along with new brackets and bolts. With the shiny new exhaust fitted, my attention turned to the batteries and getting the engine to run again. Now, this really would be a big moment… I popped both of the batteries into place, wired them up and turned the ignition over… but it wouldn’t start. I figured I hadn’t pulled enough fuel through the new pump and pipework, so I pumped away again to my heart’s content for a couple of minutes. It’s awkward reaching that pump handle, you have to bend over and practically lie on the engine top to achieve your aim… or at least you do when you’re my height. That was enough to fire her up, though, and I was happy to hear the exhaust system was sealed and see the dash dials were working. I watched as all the old dust and dirt in those hardto-get-at places burnt away and the temperature needle started to climb. I forgot to say that I’d tested the brakes out the day before with the help of my youngest, and they all worked. I had to tweak a couple, but nothing that

couldn’t be fixed in a flash. Back to the engine, though, and the temperature had hit the middle of the dial. So I thought it best to check that the thermostat was working, seeing as it had been lodged in there for so long. I reached for the pipe running from the top of the housing to the radiator and this is where it got interesting… You know those big metal fan blades that help cool your radiator, the ones that are normally painted blue? Well, mine are now red. The Landy demanded a larger blood offering this time, before I was allowed to finish it completely. I felt for the top pipe to check for heat, slipped and pushed my fingers into the rotating blades. Yes, ouch. To say I was lucky is an understatement. My first finger went in and got skinned on the side and split next to the side of the nail. My third finger came off worst, with a blade going in and out just below the fingernail on the tip, but fortunately it came out again before it took the whole tip with it! All fingers were nicely bruised and very painful, but hey it could have been so much worse. Due to my shenanigans, I had to take the week off work – just what I

needed on the run up to Christmas. So, there I was with a week to kill and nothing to do – because if I so much as touched the Landy, Wifey would kill me! While rueing my earlier mistake, my new seats arrived. I say ‘new’, but they were a set of County seats bought off a chap on Facewipe. They came in great condition and looked the business. They were to be one of the last things to go into the 109, though, as they were made of cloth and, at the time, the front door windows were not completely watertight. It wouldn’t be long before I found myself back on that driveway, though. And some days later, having cleaned out and dressed my gammy finger, I took a spare few minutes to fit the new front wheels. I set up with the jack and wheel brace, and then my mobile started to ring. It was my middle daughter calling me from her trip into London. Just to clarify… she was in London! And I live in Nottingham. ‘You’re working on the Land Rover, aren’t you?’ she says. ‘You are not supposed to be doing that!’ ‘How the hell do they know?’ I thought to myself. I’d only just set up, too! I’ll confess that I had a quick

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Left: A Land Rover’s fuse box, the place where all the major scenes of violence stem from. Cue an inspired, enthusiastic mechanic feeling upbeat about the near-conclusion of his project, when all of a sudden he faces the rat’s nest of motoring. Nicky quickly realised he’d rather give his Series III a shot in the arm, as opposed to the vehicle giving him a heart attack from stress. So a new box was bought in for sanity’s sake

Below: Here you have the Discovery wheels that Nicky painted and prepared for fitting on his Series III. He maintains that the old Series boots weren’t bad, but he liked the look of some chunkier and meaner looking wheels. They have been finished in green… naturally peek around to see if they had set up a couple of cameras on me! I told her I was ‘just looking at it’ and promptly got to ‘looking’ at the old wheels. There’s nothing really wrong with the old Series wheel rims that were on before, but I fancied a set of the early Discovery steels with chunkier tyres. With the front end still on axle stands, the Series wheels simply fell off. I had slipped into my overalls so that I could use my legs to help manhandle the new wheels on. And oh, it did look smart with its new shoes on! I loved it with the nice, chunky tyres and its matching NATO green paint. I am happy to say the handbrake worked just fine. The bricks that appeared under the rear wheels were just a failsafe measure – something you think about quite seriously when you have a downhill driveway leading directly onto the main city ring road. The last job of the day was to change over the rear number plate light. I’d done this previously, but since then I’d managed to pick up a Land Rover one which looked a lot better than the truck one I had stuck on before. That following weekend, I began to feel rather sick. I had the shakes, cold sweats and was distinctly light headed. I put it down to the fact I had to spend another large chunk of cash. The Landy was crawling closer to its first MOT and I was feeling a bit nervous about it, if I am being brutally honest. The initial build was nearly done and it seemed it would only be a few weeks before I got the insurance and MOT then sent off for the age-related number plates, provided of course I had done my job right. Does anyone else worry that they have missed something? I was glad another Landy nut was arriving to give it the once over before I booked it in, and I knew he would only be too happy to call me a tool and point out any of my shortcomings. But this was not what had me feeling nauseous. No, I had ordered all the service Continued overleaf

Suppliers of premium products for the Land Rover market for over 28 years. ● Extensive stocks ● UK Mainland next day delivery Below: This was one of those moments when Nicky still had all his fingers and thumbs in a reasonable condition – one that didn’t relate to the word ‘gammy’ in any way. The rebuilding of the brakes here was necessary, but also the requirement to sit too…

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Above and below: Clearly, this isn’t the type of exhaust you’d like operating underneath your Land Rover, particularly when it looks like a piece of roadkill. Nicky was only too happen to get rid

Above: These were purchased by Nicky from a guy he had contacted on what Nicky calls ‘Facewipe.’ They are a nice set of County seats and arrived while he was rueing his injuries. Not being watertight, they had to wait their turn to go into the Landy

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‘The Landy demanded a larger blood offering this time before I was allowed to finish it completely’ Left: Now that is much better – a long and silver rounded section of piping, as oppose to a flattened, brown and inefficient piece of scrap metal, clinging to the underside of your 109

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parts. On a standard Land Rover, these don’t cost too much – but for a 24v FFR, it’s all a bit pricey. It had to be done, though. My other large outlay was a brand new fuel tank. The second-hand unit I fitted previously was leaking – so, seeing as I had spent so much on the project already, I figured I’d put my hand in my pocket for something good. With that large purchase, it meant I had replaced the fuel system up to the carburettor, so I hoped I had no more headaches to come. Taking some time out to total the costs, I soon realised how it was all creeping up – even though I originally wanted to do this rebuild on a tight budget. But as someone pointed out to me, how many other Land Rovers could you buy for that price with new parts fitted and it having been subject

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to a rebuild of that extent? I also had the knowledge that it had all been done right (I hoped). So, with sweaty palms and a sick feeling in my stomach I updated the costs. It came out at a freaky £1616.16. Once the oil and the price of the MOT were accounted for, we were looking in the ball park of £1700 from my own pocket and around £2200 altogether from bits taken off the Landy that were then sold. At that price, it was a pleasant thought to know I’d have a cracking Land Rover to last me a good few years before needing a full rebuild again. Better yet, I still had all my fingers fully attached and, with the money squared up, the shakes and cold sweats went away. So it wasn’t blood poisoning after all – just yet more of the symptoms that go with a case of Landyitis!

If you would like to read the full story of Nicky’s Series III rebuild, or if you can’t wait to hear how he got on with the rest of the project, you can purchase a copy of The Project Has Landed from www.amazon.co.uk. Alternatively, you can read all of his rants and raves on most walks of life – but mainly Land Rovers – at www.nickysmith.me.

The cost so far: Land Rover £375 Sanding Discs £11.70 Ignition Barrel £20 Heritage letter £21.75 2x Batteries and rear 1/4 light £35 Pair Battery Terminal Clamps £3.99 Floor pan nuts & bolts £6.50 Grinding disc £2.25 Under Seal £8.99 Complete set of lights £85 5 Litres Primer £24.99 4 Discovery Wheels £10.20 Rear Door £21.00 Front Door £20.00 Handbrake spring £1.50 2 Discovery wheels Two seatbelts Wing Mirror 2 Headlight surrounds 2 headlight frames £60 2 Front Doors £60

Nato Green Paint £36 Rear Window Seal and insert £9.99 Wiring connectors £3.00 2 tins of silver metal paint £7.00 Fuses & Sandpaper £4.50 5x tins black spray £5.00 5x more tins black spray £5.00 Clutch fluid Exhaust putty WD40 £8.49 Car Boot Bits £13 Front & rear shocks £59.45 Front & rear brake rebuild kits £81.62 Fuel tank & filler £40 Wheels complete with tyres £250 Fuel pump Fuel hose Indicator stalk Bonnet strap Brake switch Fuel pump gasket

Fuel line clips £67.74 24v Wiper motor 24v flasher relay 24v heater 24v front loom oil cooler Door tops x2 Rear bench seat £67.50 Roof rack £100 Wheel nuts £8 Brake pipe kit £39 Wheels & Tyres £250 Exhaust System & Flexi pipes £66 Number plate light £5 Seat set £90 Fuel tank and service parts £136 CREDIT FOR BITS SOLD OFF OF PROJECT £446 TOTAL £1616.16

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USED LAND ROVERS FOR SALE Series I

101

Series I 80” Soft Top (1953). 1,200 miles (on new engine). 2.0 petrol. Tax & MOT exempt. Mostly original. Solex carb. New clutch and steering box. £14750. Sheffield, South Yorkshire, 07811 698250 04/16

Series IIA 88” Soft Top (1962). 56,000 miles. Recent restoration. Galv chassis, rebuilt engine, loads of new parts, seats, clutch, parabolic springs. New coil. £16000. Petersfield, Hampshire, 01730 269999 04/16

Series III 88” Soft Top (1980). 64,000 miles. 2.25 petrol. 3 owners from new. Original features: chassis,engine, gearbox etc. Refurbished. 12 months MOT £16995 exc. VAT. Glan Conwy, 07825 587155 04/16

Series III 88” 200Tdi (1984). MOT Feb ‘17. Engine from D1. Range Rover gearing, chassis and bulkhead superb. Parabolic springs fitted for smoother ride. £6995. Chesterfield, Derbyshire, 07738 410923 04/16

Series III 109 2.3 diesel (1980). 85,923 miles. Chassis, bulkhead excellent. Straight body. Interior in excellent cond. Rear floor good. Original engine. £2900 ono. Nottingham, 07833 684472 04/16

Series III Lightweight GS (1979). Served Northern Ireland. 12-volt electrics. ABRO recon engine. Runs. RH fuel tank removed. Leaks – like any Landy. £5000. Shaftesbury, Dorset, 07989 560075

Series IIA 109” Station Wagon. Non-runner, 300Tdi. Power steering. Disc brakes. Ideal project. Would be lovely back on road. Spares or repair. £2250. Liverpool, Merseyside, 07712 436905 04/16

Series III 88” Hard Top (1984). 80,000 miles. Recommissioned. Resprayed. Two previous owners. Avon Traction tyres. 5-bear crank 2.25 petrol. Good, solid original vehicle. £8000. Shotts, Lanarkshire, 07859 879168 04/16

Series III diesel (1978). Chassis-up rebuild. Galv chassis, rebuilt engine, full rewire, FWH, overdrive, clutch kit. Rebuilt bulkhead, floor and cross members. Full MOT. £8500 ono. Manchester, 07749 866756 01/16

Series III 88” (1973). Tax exempt. Diesel in good working condition, good bulkhead, new rear tub floor fitted, chassis good. 10 months MOT. £3950. Scottish Borders, 07763 496371 after 6pm 04/16

SIII Lightweight (believed 1979). 20,000 miles. 12 months’ MOT. Solid chassis and bulkhead. New seats, canvas top. Currently Q-plated, but original chassis plates are present. £4500. London, 07711 064214 01/16

Series IIA Lightweight (1969). £2800. ajblundell@gmail. com 01/16

Series II

Series III

Lightweight

101 Forward Control (1976). 29,700km. MOT March 16. Demobbed Sept 1993. 3.6-litre V8 (MOD bored from 3.5). Waxoyled. LPG. 4 new Discoverer STs. A4 file of history. £7000. East Dereham, 07425 605829 01/16

Land Rover 90 Hard Top 300Tdi (1989). 93,000 miles. 12 months’ MOT. Loads of service receipts. Manual. 3-seater front cab plus 2 rear seats. Atlantic Green. £5450. Liversedge, West Y’shire, 07774 025764 04/16

Land Rover Defender 90 2.4 TDCi XS (2007). 58,500 miles. Arctic prepped. Roof Rack. Hi-Lift, Winch, Odyssey batteries. Chipped. Coopers. £18,500 ono. Hemel Hempstead, Herts, 07946 433397 01/16

Defender 90 TD5 Station Wagon (2003). 130,000 miles. FSH. Alloys. Big tyres. Snorkel. Winch. Winch Bumper. Refurbing side steps currently. Epsom Green Metallic. £9991. Halifax, West Y’shire, 01422 355581 04/16

Land Rover Defender 90 DT King-Cab (1989). 211,000 miles. MOT April. Lifted, rear dislo’ cones, radius arms, trailing arms, Sumo bars, guards, cage, winch, Allisport header tank. £6000. Telford, 07767 796360 01/16

Defender 90 2.4 TDCi Hard Top (2008). 77,842 miles. ABS. PAS. 12 months MOT. Tow bar. Alloys. Central locking. Rear mud flaps. Heated r/screen. £11995. Middlesborough, North Y’shire, 03309 004915 04/16

Defender 90 300Tdi (1996). 101,000 miles. MOT July 2016. New timing belt ‘13. Records and MOT receipts. Sound chassis. 12/230V invertor. Split-charge system. £4850. Hassocks, West Sussex. 07887 575151 01/16

90 200Tdi (1985). 171,262 miles. MOT July. Disco engine/ box. +2” springs/shocks, dis’ cones, steering/diff guards, rock sliders, winch bumper, Special Tracks. £4300 ovno. Kettering, Northants, 07837 014310 01/16

Defender 90 V8 3.9 EFi (1986). 79,000 miles (unknown on engine). Full year’s MOT. RR running gear. ECU in cab. Electric fans. Fantastic chassis. Lifted, polybushed. £2995. Weston Super Mare, 07725 687197 01/16

Defender 90 300 Tdi (1989). 120,000 miles. Cage, 2” lift, Pro-Comp shocks, Insas, winch bumper, sliders, steering/diff guards, drilled/grooved discs. £6500 ono. Newton Abbot, Devon, 07949 249743 01/16

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110

Defender 90 200Tdi (1987). 95,000 miles. Disco 200Tdi with 100,000 miles. Chassis rust-free, Waxoyled. Refurbished starter motor, new battery and clutch. List of work available. £4500. Aberdeen, 07976 006469 03/16

Land Rover 110 County SW (1983). 2.25 petrol. 138,000 miles. Safari model, ex-dem. Full years’ MOT. Smooth engine, gearbox. Chassis, bulkhead excellent. £9995. Hollym, East Riding, 01964 615925 04/16

Issue 26: April 2016

COATINGS

Protected by www.buzzweld.com Defender 90 200Tdi (1984). 62,611 miles. Scorpion suspension. 24-spline axles. Rear ARB. Winch. HD st’ bars. Full exo cage. Exmoor hood. Galvanised chassis. CB, MOT April. £5600. Benfleet, Essex, 07970 689629 01/16

Land Rover 110 3.5 V8 (1987). 111,046 miles. Low mileage engine. Exportable to USA. Body good. Chassis, bulkhead need attention. £1500. Brickendon, Hertfordshire, 07542 257318

Defender 90 300 Tdi king-cab (1994). 100,000 miles. Rebuilt & resprayed. Original engine, box, axles and chassis. Lifted, cage, winch. Twin batts, split-charge. Simexes. £9500 ono. Wolverhampton, 07583 027038 01/16

Defender 110 Tdi Crew Cab (1998). Total professional rebuild of chassis up, built to the highest standard, mostly new parts. £11500 no VAT. Elite Services, Taunton, Somerset, 01823 412331 or 07971 287574 Trade

04/16

90 pick-up (1986). MOT June 16. Galv TD5 chassis. Low-miler 300Tdi motor and box. Salisbury rear axle. Lifted. Cranked arms. Dislo’ cones. Guards, sliders. EGR deleted. £4500. Stourbridge, West Mids, 07912 359227 01/16

Defender 110 TD5 Tipper 3500kg (2002). 100 miles. 4-month ground-up rebuild. Strengthened and galvanised chassis. Overhauled engine. £18995. Barwell, Leicestershire, 07976 916371 04/16

Defender 90 Tdi Hard Top (1998). County model. Total chassis up professional rebuild. Galv chassis. New suspension, brakes etc. £13500 no VAT. Elite Services, Taunton, 01823 412331 or 07971 287574 Trade

Defender 110 Hard Top TD5 (2002). 75,000 miles. ‘Red Wings’ ex-MOD bomb disposal. Wolf rims. G90 tyres. Project vehicle starts and drives, needs tidying for MOT. £3500. Nottingham, 07711 339669 04/16

Defender 90 300 TDi County SW (1986). 59,400 miles. New turbo, exhaust. Rear NAS step, tow bar, NAS lights, PAS, wheel spacers, front headlining. Chassis good. £4500. Long Eaton, Notts, 07929 037037 01/16

Defender 110 2.4 TDCi County Station Wagon (2008). 59,552 miles. ECU remap, roof rack, snorkel, steering guard, NAS step & tow bar. Carpeted. EGR replaced. £19,995. Hassocks, West Sussex, 01444 241457 Trade

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Issue 26: April 2016

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Land Rover specialists where you can pick up The Landy for FREE every month

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West Midlands

Land Rover Defender 110. One of a kind. Remapped 300Tdi, decat exhaust. Solid chassis.ARB compressor, diffs F&R. Riot-control windscreen grille on sliders. Raptor dash. £11,995. Devon, 01404 891 888 01/16

Defender 110 300 Tdi (1994). 169,705 miles. MOT due. Body straight, small hole in bulkhead. Corrosion to lower door frames. New rear crossmember. Modulars. Just serviced. £3950. Leeds, 07791 663880 01/16

Defender 110 300Tdi County (1994). 185,500 miles. 11-seater. New head, water pump, clutch, timing belt, radiator, steering box, rear exhaust section. +2”, BFG Muds. £7250 ovno. Kettering, Northants, 07837 014310 01/16

Discovery 2 TD5 E (2002). 101,151 miles. FSH. 5 seats. Manual. Alloys. Remote locking. Air con. Electric windows. CD. Tow bar. MOT September ‘16. PAS. Blue. £4000. Leicester, 01455 202293 04/16

Defender 110 TD5 County (1998). 232,951 miles. MOT Aug 16. Air-con, leather, very high spec. Very clean inside and out, drives super. £6995. Glastonbury, Somerset, 01458 834930 Trade

Discovery 2 TD5 (2002). 210,000 miles. Facelift model. MOT June. Converted to coils. EGR removed. New battery, discs and pads. 5 seats. New front axle oil seals. £2550. Seaham, County Durham, 07777 656820 04/16

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Discovery

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Issue 26: April 2016

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Discovery Tdi auto (1995). New MOT. Ready to off-road or green lane. HD bumpers, guards, sliders, winch, Terrafirma shocks, BFG All-Terrains. Removable tow bar. £2900 ono. East Preston, West Sussex, 07796 234181 01/16

Discovery 1 V8 (1994). 125,500 miles. 4-speed auto. ARB bumpers. Winch. Insa tyres. Terrafirma 2” lift. Terra s/damper. Dislo’ cones. Diff guards. Body lift. Snorkel. £3000. Totnes, Devon, 01803 224365 04/16

RR Sport

Range Rover 2.5 DSE (1999). 165,000 miles. 10 months’ MOT. Cream leather interior. All good tyres. Owned for the last 8 years. Reduced to £1695 ono. MUST GO. Bedfordshire, 07790 662064 01/16

Range Rover 4.2 V8 LSE Auto (1994). 66,000 miles. Lots of work last year. Major service, new stainless exhaust, cats, bushes, and waxoiled. New headlining. £13995. Nuneaton, Warwickshire, 02477 679953 04/16

Specials

Discovery V8i bobtail (1995).137,000 miles. MOT Sept. Professionally bobtailed. 4” lift. Cage, winch, bucket seats, winch. Rev counter and speedo not working. £2200. Widnes, 07703 754655 01/16

Range Rover Sport SE TDV6 (2007). 184,000 miles. MOT May ‘16. Air-con, cream leather. Heated, electric seats. Cruise control. Parking sensors. £8995. Axminster, Devon, 01297 553074 04/16

Range Rover Vogue V8 auto (1992). Full Service History and a full year’s MOT. Two previous owners. Drives superb and the bodywork is in excellent condition. £6995 ono. Essex, 01255 860292 03/16

Range Rover Hybrid (1972). 100” wheelbase, Series II 109 body shortened to match. 200Tdi, R380 Defender ‘box. Bronze Green respray. Full MOT. £9999. Selston, Nottinghamshire, 07791 461223 04/16

Discovery 2 TD5 ES (2002). Auto. £35,000 spent on it. Remapped 200bhp. ARB lockers. Detroit rear diff. Bumpers, guards, sliders. OME susp. 6-pot brakes. £9950. Leeds, West Yorkshire, 07774 025764 04/16

Range Rover 3.9 V8 Vogue (1990). 150,000 miles. MOT June. Ported heads, SS valves, RS head gaskets. Spares: auto box, transfer box, back axle. As featured in The Landy! £5995. Worthing, West Sussex, 07957 414844 01/16

Range Rover Classic 3.9 Vogue auto (1995). 105,000 miles. FSH. MOT Aug (no advs). One of last Classics. Air-con. Recent light recommission. Sound underneath. Sensible oﬀers invited. Salisbury. 01980 610411 01/16

Series I 86” V8 Truck-Cab. 76,126 miles. Rover V8, SIII gearbox Engine tuned and bored to 3.9. New seats. Chassis and bulkhead both patched but still very strong. £7995. Whitchurch, Staﬀs, 07811 698250 12/15

Range Rover

Parts

Discovery 1 300Tdi (1995). 97,700 miles. 12 months MOT. New brake cals and pads. Britpart lift. Terrafirma s/damper. Mud tyres. Extended arches. £2600 ono. Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, 07857 409825 04/16

Defender Wide Arch Kit. Fits 90, 110, 130 or Series. Paint flaking so will need respraying before use, but no cracks or splits anywhere. All offers considered. £75. Long Eaton, Notts, 07929 037037 01/16 Series I parts. Front and rear axles, gearbox, front wing, grille. Call for prices. Motherwell, 01698 264937 01/16

Discovery 300Tdi Auto (1995). 130,000 miles. Professionally bobtailed, full ext/int cage. Lifted. 35” Bighorns. Guards, sliders. Twin batts. Buckets. Just serviced. May part-ex. £3500 ono. Tonbridge, Kent, 07801 569003 01/16

Discovery TD5 ES Auto (2002). 167,000 miles. MOT April. Facelift model. Runs on biodiesel. Lifted. New brakes, air bags, ride height sensors. Never off-roaded. May px. £4900 ono. Barrow-in-Furness, 07470 309186 01/16

Defender parts, from a 2002 110. TD5 engine, R380 gearbox plus transfer box (may split), rad and intercooler, PAS box, front axle and swivels, rear axle casing, front and rear diffs, radius arms, all halfshafts, propshafts, steering wheel. Call for prices. Bury, Lancs, 07973 561006 01/16

Galvanised roof rack. With ladder and fittings. Size 109” x 58”. Suitable for 110. Excellent condition. £150. Rossendale, Lancs, 01706 227406 01/16

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Range Rover Classic parts. New fuel tank, £75. New CSK chrome front bumper, £150. Staﬀs, 01889 574945 01/16 Range Rover Haynes Workshop Manual. 1970 to 1980. 225 unmarked white pages. Original, published 1982 (not reprint). £7.75. Kent, 07989 951895

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Issue 26: April 2016

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All four on the ground! Words: Richard Mercer Pictures: Nev Brindley

wenty-one drivers braved the threat of blizzards to turn up at Worrall, near Sheﬃeld, for the inaugural trial of the new season for Buxton and District Land Rover Club. And there was a taste of things to come when unloading proved to be the first obstacle, as towing vehicles scrambled for enough grip just to get parked! The new season started with a number of changes. The first, which relates to scrutineering, is that vehicles now have a log kept of all of their faults. This encourages members to repair their vehicles in preparation for the next trial – and allows the club to maintain higher safety standards. Anyway, onward to the competing! The sections, which had been set out with new orange and white flags, glittered in the hazy winter sun on the site’s upper bank. All the competitors were aware of the herculean task this had proved for those setting out in atrocious weather on the Saturday. It proved that successful trials require a team eﬀort from those doing the setting out and marshalling – and that the drivers are always indebted to them. During the drivers’ briefing, the second change was announced. Drivers now have to negotiate ten driven sections with twelve gates. This gives fifty percent more driving potential over last season for drivers of all standards,

with a split being used to separate the standard vehicles and specials at the lower-numbered gates. With that done, two groups set oﬀ to opposing ends of a grassy flat bank, almost clear of trees and other obstacles. Despite surprisingly dry conditions on the upper bank, the innocuous first section proved entertaining, with

many drivers being caught out by the undulating ground. This set the tone for the day, with sections set to challenge and frustrate all levels of driving skill. One section, after lunch, included the obligatory steep ascent requiring full commitment from driver and straining engine. This raised the age-old discussion as to

the relative merits of the Tdi and V8: surely there is only one winner? One stalwart of the club decided to see if he could make better progress on his roof than on four wheels. The outcome was a forgone conclusion. Help was quickly on hand, though, with the usual friendly words of encouragement from his fellow competitors! Four-wheel drive was resumed with a smoke-screen accompaniment from the exhaust. A short squall of hailstones reminded us all how fortunate we had been with the weather. Then suddenly we were pulling the last set of canes and all too quickly we had finished a most

enjoyable day, driving ten challenging and varied sections. Vehicles were loaded up and we all gathered around to await the results. A combination of silly hats and happy faces waited patiently until the final result was announced, with Mick Muir and Dave Billings sharing honours on points – but Dave winning the top spot on sections cleared. What a fantastic start to the new season! Everyone in the club is looking forward to our next trials – and BAD extends a warm welcome to friends from other clubs, too. Full details can be found on Facebook and at the club’s website at www.badlrc.co.uk.

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St Valentine’s day mass-action Words and Pictures: Andy Wilson

ove (of competing in Land Rovers) was definitely in the air on Valentine’s Day. That’s when members of Dorset Land Rover Club and Hants and Berks Rover Owners’ Club got together for the second running of their now-annual Interclub RTV Trial. This year’s event – held again at Mannington – was hosted by the Hants and Berks. Inevitably, it featured lots of ‘home’ vehicles, along with a good leavening of those from the Dorset LRC. There was also a sprinkling of trucks representing the Somerset and Wilts LRC – with altogether no fewer than 30 vehicles competing over 11 sections of 12 gates each. The site at Mannington has very varied terrain. There are deeply rutted twisting sections through woodland, steep, sandy sections in the quarry area and – especially with all the wet weather before the event – plenty of water to contend with. The original twelve sections which were laid out on the Saturday were reduced to eleven, because one of them had become undriveable due to the depth of the water that had accumulated! All provided plenty to challenge the wide range of vehicles competing – from very original leaf-sprung Series vehicles to truck that were about as modified as ALRC regulations allow. The winner of the standard class was HBROC’s Neville Dewdney, driving a 90, who managed to accrue a miserly 15 penalty points. In the SWB modified class, Alex Moore of Somerset and Wilts LROC recorded a brilliant 9

penalty points in total, going clear on five sections. Top DLRC driver was Jason Macdonald, who came second in the standard class with 25 points, while DLRC’s Trevor Harmer led the way in the LWB competition with 26 points. At the end of an enjoyable, sunny (if cold) day, HBROC Social Secretary and RTV supremo Joe Stacey thanked

the drivers, marshals, course-setters and spectators for coming to the event and then presented the trophies to the winning drivers. Rog Pardy, Chairman of The Dorset Land Rover Club, in turn thanked everyone from HBROC for organising such a well-run event. And everyone started looking forward to getting back together again for more RTV action next time!

Issue 26: April 2016

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Issue 26: April 2016

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Doorstep Dorset

Words and Pictures: Geoﬀrey Dyson

or the Solent and District Land Rover Club, Dorset is but a short drive away. So it would be rude not to pay the county a visit every once in a while! And on the first Sunday of February, that is precisely what the Hampshire-based club decided to do. Storm Imogen may have been busy battering the British Isles, but this Land Rover club wasn’t going to be deterred in its quest for fun. Meeting up in the village of Bere Regis, a total of 15 members arrived

in time for the day’s activities to begin. Within the mix stood a collection of Series IIIs, Defenders – both short and long wheelbase variants – plus a smattering of Discoverys. Following all the usual housekeeping, the 15 would be split into three groups to make a trio of healthy convoys. While the lanes were far from dry, the solid bases they provided made navigating them a relatively easy task. Throughout the day, the club endeavoured to cross three fords. The first of these to negotiate would be crossing the River Piddle at Briantspuddle… you couldn’t make it up!

Safely through, the second ford would produce a bit more chaos. Once the second group arrived at the crossing near Moreton, they could see a stationery Td5 Discovery, sat very neatly in the middle of the River Frome. It belonged to the first group, but rest assured, they hadn’t just deserted the driver. Quite the opposite in fact, as laughter and photograph-taking seemed to be taking priority. Said driver had marooned himself in the river and his engine had stalled… murmurs about electronics resonated throughout the onlooking crowd. Tom, the stranded fellow who was getting acquainted with the

Adventure

aquatic wildlife, managed to crawl out on to the roof before the end of a winch rope was floated towards him and the rescuing part of the event could commence. It had been a little deeper than expected and afterwards, rumour from the first group was confirmed that the Series III had also needed assistance, especially with it being the only Land Rover without a snorkel. Naturally, the planned re-crossing was abandoned. But that just gave the troops further chance to enjoy the lanes and explore more of Dorset’s hidden treasures. Lanes led the groups through pretty villages and ham-

Workshop

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lets, such as Milton Abbas, Okeford Fitzpaine and across the River Stour to Child Okeford. A steep venture lay ahead on the approach to Compton Abbas, before heading towards Tollard Royal. From there the convoys took in part of the Ox Drove – although as a section of this long lane is subject to voluntary restraint, everyone stayed away from the affected area. Finally, the SADLRC’s Landies dropped down into Sixpenny Handley to round off the day’s laning, and their first event of February. When Dorset can deliver such lanes, let the storm rage on!

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What you should do in Sudbury... Words: Sue Coulson Pictures: Ralph Coulson

or the Essex Land Rover Club, an RTV seemed the most appropriate way to start their off-roading events for 2016. Held at one of the club’s most popular sites in Sudbury, the event gave drivers the chance to polish up their skills in preparation for the year ahead – and, more immediately, for whatever the organisers may have conjured up on the terrain. Amazingly for the Sudbury site, there was little or no wind sweeping through the numerous trees as club drivers gathered in the hope they could get off to a good start for this campaign. It was a pleasant day if you don’t mind your thermometer hovering around the two degrees mark – although anything was an improve-

ment over the previous day when the Clerk of Course, Richard Wright, and his helpers had an ice-breaking challenge to see who could get their cane through the frozen ground first…

The difference in ground temperatures between the two days made the sections rather interesting. What had been frozen solid ground turned into some very slippery and squelchy sections. There were seven marked out in total and each of them definitely made the most of the surrounding landscape, while two sections were driven twice. The whole site is ideal for trialling. There are plenty of trees to brush up against if you don’t mind using that technique to pull off a tight turn, and copious amounts of mounds and hills that add heaps of spice to the competitors’ driving styles. Scoring was tight between the different classes and all the drivers enjoyed some stiff competition. The two Discoverys in the trial did find some of the ground tricky, being as they were competing on road tyres, but then giving yourself a bigger challenge can be part of the entertainment! The winner at the end of the day was Alex Howard, who finished on only 17 points. Comp Sec Keith Pocock was also on 17, but had less clears. Top leafer was Mark Neale on 34 points and first of the long-wheelbase competitors was Richard Nash with a score of 65. Some great driving and spectacles to see – what better way could there be to spend a day in the woods in the middle of January? For more information on the Essex Land Rover Club, or if you’d like to find out when their next events are, visit www.elrc.info

Issue 26: April 2016

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Issue 26: April 2016

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Slippery when wet... Words: Samantha Miller Pictures: Paul Muir

idland Rover Owners Club’s first trial of the year turned out to be a slippery one, with conditions damp and cold. The ground looked like it hadn’t been used in a while – but that would soon change! At 8.00am on the dot, motors started to appear at the gate of the Buildwas site on this chilly January morning. Overnight, conditions had worsened from setting-up the day before and a small snowfall overnight, combined with thick mist surrounding the hills, meant the trialling would have a picturesque backdrop at the very least. The first section didn’t go too well, as the ground had completely changed from the day before and after the first couple of motors battled through, competitors were sent to start section two while the first was ‘tweaked’. This was going to prove interesting too, as there was a large hillclimb from the number ten gate up to the ninth. A total of 18 competitors had signed up for the event. That included Midland Rover Owners Club members as well as drivers representing the Cheltenham and Cotswold Rover Owners Club. Moving on through the sections, there were a few more alterations needed throughout the day – one being after Dan Fasham proved that one of the start gates was out of reach!

Clubs

By the afternoon, however, the sections were flowing more smoothly. It’s remarkable how the changing conditions can make you reconsider what was acceptable on a setting-out day… The trialling was just reaching its climax when the site had a visit from the BBC, who were doing a documentary on the Defender and wanted to capture some footage of what they do best. They also wanted to talk to members about what it is about Land Rovers that makes us smile. It was short and sweet, and after an hour they had departed the site, leaving all our drivers to form an orderly queue for the jet wash. Alex Garton started the year off well, winning the SWB coiler class on 14 points. Keith Wooldridge, who came first in his class, finished with 26 points; sadly, he was the only SWB leafer, but he did come 8th overall, which was pretty impressive. The LWB coil and leaf class win went to Paul Muir, who also drove to 1st overall with a total of just 12 points. A big thank-you goes out to all who helped lay out on the Saturday and marshal on the Sunday. If you are interested in laying out a trial, or learning what it involves, the club would be delighted to have you tag along on a set-up day and see what it’s all about. For more information, contact Richard Parry at trials@mroc. co.uk or visit the club website at www. mroc.co.uk. Midland ROC’s next trial is an RTV at Eastnor on 26 March

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Issue 26: April 2016

Calendar

Off-Road Playdays

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Dates are apt to change, so always check with the site before travelling

Thames Valley 4x4

Frickley 4x4

13 March

28 March

Muddy Bottom

4x4 Without a Club

Hill ‘n’ Ditch 4x4

Mud Monsters

Essex, Rochford and District 4x4 Club

Thames Valley 4x4

Parkwood 4x4

Aldermaston, Berkshire Rayleigh, Essex

Hill ‘n’ Ditch 4x4

Slab Common, Bordon

Mouldsworth, Cheshire Slab Common, Bordon

3 April

Frickley, South Yorkshire Minstead, Hampshire East Grinstead, West Sussex Tong, Bradford

Whaddon 4x4

Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Mouldsworth, Cheshire

Bala 4x4

26 March

Fontwell, West Sussex

Bala, Gwynedd

Frickley 4x4

Kirton Oﬀ Road Centre

Slindon Safari

Thames Valley 4x4

Slab Common, Bordon

20 March Devil’s Pit

Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire

Explore Oﬀ Road

Silverdale, Stoke-on-Trent

Frickley 4x4

Frickley, South Yorkshire

Parkwood 4x4 Tong, Bradford

Frickley, South Yorkshire

Muddy Bottom

Minstead, Hampshire

Picadilly Wood

Cowm Leisure

Bolney, West Sussex

Whaddon 4x4

Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Slindon Safari

Hill ‘n’ Ditch 4x4

Kirton Oﬀ Road Centre

Slindon Safari

27 March

Thames Valley 4x4

Cowm Leisure

17 April

Kirton Oﬀ Road Centre

Devil’s Pit

Slindon Safari

Explore Oﬀ Road

Whitworth, Lancashire

Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs Fontwell, West Sussex

Mouldsworth, Cheshire

4x4 Without a Club

26 March

Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

Mouldsworth, Cheshire Fontwell, West Sussex Slab Common, Bordon

Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire Silverdale, Stoke-on-Trent

20 March

10 April

UK Landrover Events

Landcraft

Snowdonia

Wales

Yorkshire 4x4 Specialists

17 April

17 March

26 March

UK Landrover Events

23-24 April

19 March

27 March

Atlas Overland

Yorkshire 4x4 Specialists

UK Landrover Events

Waypoint Tours

19-20 March

9 April

24 April

4x4 Adventure Tours

UK Landrover Events

Peak District

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Mid Wales

North York Moors

Yorkshire Dales

Lincoln and Belvoir

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Rayleigh, Essex

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Green Lane Convoy Events

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Aldermaston, Berkshire

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Whitworth, Lancashire

10 April Essex, Rochford and District 4x4 Club

Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

27 March

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Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Northumberland

Wessex

Wiltshire

Peak District

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More kit images at www.britpart.com/dynamat

Britpart are pleased to be the official Dynamat wholesaler in the Land Rover aftermarket.

The aluminium constraining layer is very moldable and conforms easily to all interior surfaces. The patented extra sticky butyl layer is formulated with VECTOR chemistry for the most amazing energy conversion capabilities ever. Use it on your doors, floor, roof, bonnet and loadspace for a quiet, cool and incredibly solid ride. > Create a solid, luxury car feel with a reduction in road noise. > Stop resonance & vibrations, reduces buzzes & rattles. > Improved sound. Get more bass. Hear more of your music. > For use throughout your vehicle interior, the first step to an improved Land Rover.