This 110 isn’t a 200Tdi anymore – but it went from being 100% Land Rover to about 1000% interesting…
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LANDY
FEBRUARY 2015
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ISSUE 12
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SERIES III WITH A HIDDEN HISTORY
Freelander, Series I or trick 90? Five experts debate the best Land Rover to have as a daily driver Full story: Page 20
When is it time to ditch your old Landy and start again? Never, if this Disco is anything to go by… Full story: Page 26 This 88” Series III is one of the last leaf-sprung vehicles Land Rover built. And it’s only ever covered about 60,000 miles. But that’s not the only thing about it that’s remarkable. Because this is a Land Rover with a hidden past. For the first 17 years of its life, it served in one of the most secretive corners of the entire Ministry of Defence…
Full story: Page 16
How best to round off a season’s trialling? The Essex LRC do it by going trialling… after dark Full story: Page 42
To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk
Issue 12: February 2015
Discovery Sport puts on 5-star crash test show The newest addition to the Land Rover stable, the Discovery Sport, has achieved a maximum five-star score following a EuroNCAP crash test. The new baby Disco, which you can expect to see starting to appear on UK roads within weeks, is home to a number of advanced safety features – including a pedestrian airbag that deploys within 60 milliseconds of impact to diminish the risk of serious injury. The airbag, which deploys from the upper-rear of the bonnet, is a first for the small-SUV sector. The Disco Sport also benefits from the introduction of Land Rover’s Autonomous Emergency Braking system. This is designed to assess the road ahead for objects or potential hazards, using a digital stereo camera located by the rear view mirror. If a threat is found, the driver is alerted by visual and audible warnings. Should he or she fail to respond and a collision is imminent, the brakes are applied automatically. The vehicle’s much-vaunted new 5+2 seating format has been thoroughly assessed to take into account all ages – and even the third row features retractor pre-tensioners. Murray Dietsch, Director of Land Rover Programmes, said: ‘The vehicle safety team worked tirelessly to ensure that the Discovery Sport delivered levels of safety never before seen in
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Seen here in yet-to-be-crash-tested form, the Discovery Sport bristles with the safety kit that guaranteed it a 5-star showing in the EuroNCAP test. It’s also made from the strongest steel around – and gives drivers the high-command seating position that’s at the heart of every Land Rover’s built-in safety standards the small SUV segment. We have introduced some cutting-edge safety technologies such as the all-new pedestrian airbag and an innovative Autonomous Emergency Braking system, in addition to our tried-andtested Land Rover safety systems. ‘All of our products are tested to stringent in-house safety standards
that go significantly beyond the legal and consumer testing standards. As a family vehicle, safety was really a key motivator when designing this car. We are proud to have made no compromises on this.’ In addition to its many high-tech safety features, the Discovery Sport protects its occupants by the even
better established technique of being very strong. Its high-strength steel and boron body shell can bear more than 4.5 times the vehicle’s own weight on its roof – and inside this ultra-modern safety cell, driver and passengers alike are protected by a full range of airbags. That’s in addition to familiar systems like ABS, DSC and traction control – as
well as less common safety aids like Reverse Traffic Detection, Emergency Brake Lights and Lane Departure Warning. Most of all, though, the Disco Sport gives you a superior view of the road around you – which is the single biggest reason why Land Rover’s vehicles are always among the safest in the business.
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Issue 12: February 2015
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the show where your
All-new Great British Land Rover Show • 26 April 2015, Donington Park • FREE
THE GREAT BRITISH LAND ROVER SHOW is a major new indoor event for 2015. Held at Donington Park on 26 April, it’s going to be a massive one-day supermarket of all things Land Rover – with great deals on offer from a wide range of well known Landy specialists. And that’s not the only attraction in this springtime festival of Landies. We all like to stick our noses into other people’s vehicles – and whether your preference in Land Rovers is for old or new, classic or modified, the show’s going to feature an exhibition of great trucks belonging to genuine owners – people just like you! So if you’re the owner of a Land Rover to be proud of, here’s your chance to enter it into the Donington display. All you need to do is fill in the form on these pages and send it in –
we do have a limit on the numbers, but we’ll fit in as many good Landies as we possibly can! What’s in it for you? Well, you’ll get a free all-day pass into the show – and having your truck in the display is the ONLY way to get in without paying before 12 noon. We’re offering free passes for the afternoon to people who pre-register, but entering your Landy into the display is your key to getting in free when the doors open at 10am – meaning you’ll be one of the first to get your hands on the bargains! With stand space already well on the way to selling out and an ever-growing clamour for tickets, both free and paidfor, the show is going to be a busy one. All the better for showing off your Land Rover – so take your chance to make it the star attraction!
To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k
Issue 12: February 2015
landy is the star…! We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk
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ENTRY after 12 midday • Special displays of classic and modified Land Rovers Name: Address: Phone: Email: Vehicle: Description of vehicle (info, history , mods etc):
I attach a photograph of my vehicle
I have emailed a photograph of my vehicle to tor@assignment-media.co.uk
When emailing pictures, please include your name and phone number in the message
If you prefer to email your whole application, please include all the information requested above, along with a photo of the vehicle, to tor@assignment-media.co.uk
Closing date for applications: 23 March 2015 Successful applicants will be notified by 3 April 2015
To register your Land Rover online, or for more information, visit www.greatbritishlrshow.com
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Issue 12: February 2015
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Welsh lanes set for brighter future as peace breaks out in Powys
Powys Byway Users Group reconvenes after local authority and motor vehicle user groups agree to end legal battle and join forces on better rights of way management countywide In a welcome move away from the increasingly hostile tone of the rights of way debate in the UK, Powys County Council has joined forces with motor vehicle user groups, represented by the Green Lane Association (GLASS) and Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF), to form a new working group. The agreement brings to an end an expensive legal battle over the management of rights of way in the county, and will see the reconvention of the Powys Byway Users Group (PBUG). The PBUG will bring together representatives of the main user interests – as well as GLASS and the TRF, it will include the Ramblers
Association and British Horse Society – as well as others representing land managers and the county council itself. The group will regularly review and try to reach agreement on working arrangements for byway management in the county. Councillor Harris, Powys County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Countryside Services, commented: ‘The formation and functioning of this new group is an important step forward in managing byways in the county, and its work will be very important in planning and supporting the maintenance of these routes in the future.
Jaguar Land Rover has opened a new Education Business Partnership Centre (EBPC) at its Castle Bromwich plant. The advanced facility, subject to a recent £250,000 investment by JLR, was opened by Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Dr Vince Cable MP. The Castle Bromwich EBPC, one of five around the country, will partner Birmingham Metropolitan College in a bid to encourage the next generation of students into engineering. More than 85,000 people have visited since the first education centre opened here in 199. Inside, interactive iPad stations help students complete modules after touring the facility. A host of cutting-edge miniature robots can be manipulated with control technology to demonstrate how production lines work.
‘It is also hoped that the joint work of this group will provide the basis for working relations across the range of interests and views that this subject brings.’ A GLASS spokesman said: ‘This achievement facilitates a significant improvement in the conservation of green roads. It provides a useful
framework for the constructive management of the green road network, which will benefit all interested parties.’ The agreement comes at a time when anti-vehicle campaigners’ efforts to achieve a total ban on all green laning have prompted a series of controversial bids to hijack the government’s
‘The automotive sector is incredibly competitive and needs more engineers,’ said JLR’s Mike Wright, ‘which offers an excellent opportunity to young people. It is critical that Jaguar Land Rover attracts the next generation of engineers and innovators to help our business achieve its ambitious plans for growth. ‘The new high tech Castle Bromwich EBPC demonstrates our commitment to education and will play an important role engaging and nurturing future talent from local schools. The courses on offer help youngsters develop key employability skills and world of work awareness which will prepare them for a rewarding career on Jaguar Land Rover’s industry-leading apprenticeship programme.’
Deregulation Bill as it passes through parliament. No-one expects any fanatics to be appeased by the prospect of peace breaking out in Powys – but the local authority’s willingness to pursue best practice provides a promising template for intelligent green lane management for the rest of the country.
To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk
Comment
There are many serious questions mankind has to ask itself as our stewardship of the planet puts us ever more awkwardly at odds with ourselves. But none is more pressing than the need to put the brakes on our willingness to destroy every other species on the surface of the earth. Does that sound OTT? It’s not. The human race has proved that we’ll happily wipe out any other living thing if there’s something in it for us. Poaching, over-fishing, hunting for vermin, habitat loss… anything that gets in our way gets trashed. That’s why it’s great to see Land Rover recognising the work done by the world’s conservationists. The company has long been associated with animal welfare on a grand scale, and its support of the Tusk Awards reinforces the notion that its vehicles can be used to do a world of good. There couldn’t be a more natural fit than the sight of a Defender at work in the hands of a wildlife vet or conservation worker. Many will remember Land Rover’s association with Born Free, and see its vehicles as a symbol of humans’ respect for wildlife in Africa. But conservation is becoming more and more of a battle – increasingly, a political one. Those who care about animals are increasingly at odds with powerful interests whose influence spreads far and wide – and standing up to them doesn’t necessarily add up to good business, however well suited it is to your product. I very much hope that Land Rover won’t be cowed by the governments and criminal gangs (there’s some crossover there) who threaten the wildlife of Africa and beyond. It might cost the company favour in some of its most lucrative markets, but I believe its credibility is more important than that. So too is the whole point behind conservation. Land Rover is an icon because its vehicles are the perfect way to see the world – but if we don’t put more into looking after it, there’ll be nothing left to see. Alan Kidd, Editor
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Issue 12: February 2015
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Portland Open Software Tech Centre is LR’s first overseas R&D facility Mike Trott Throughout its history, Land Rover has been famous for putting its vehicles through rigorous testing in every
continent and climate the world has to offer – yet its research and development facilities have always been located back home in the UK. But that’s just changed, with the opening of Jaguar
Land Rover’s new Open Software Technology Center. ‘Center?’ Yes, Center. Because this £2m high-tech research and development laboratory is based not in Blighty but in Portland, Oregon. Inside the 15,000 sq.ft building work approximately thirty employees specialising in infotainment – of whom 16 are veterans of the software engineering industry. The facility is fully equipped for software development, testing and innovation – and, lest we forget that this is a car manufacturer we’re talking about here, it also features a six-bay vehicle workshop. ‘Our new Open Software Technology Center will create many more opportunities for Jaguar Land Rover to collaborate with some of the most innovative and ground-breaking technology companies in the world,’
commented Director of Research and Technology Dr Wolfgang Epple. ‘Not only will the Portland team augment the skills of our 240-strong team of infotainment engineers in the United Kingdom, but they will develop and lead research projects with
large and small technology companies up and down the West Coast. We want to help guide the technological direction these innovators are taking as they help us develop exciting new in-car experiences for our customers in the future.’
The latest example of the kind of software products the Portland facility will be working on is justDrive, an app designed to enhance connectivity while reducing the danger of becoming distracted while driving. Developed by CloudCar, this allows drivers to plug their smartphone into the vehicle and take control of its apps via and mixture of touchscreen control and verbal commands. ‘The apps are enhanced for in-car use,’ explains JLR’s Dr Wolfgang Epple, ‘so it is exactly like having your smartphone installed in your dashboard. The launch of justDrive moves the driver from task-oriented, app-specific touch-based use of individual apps to full control of all chosen content through plain natural speech or touch interface.’ The boffins behind justDrive say the new voice recognition system is among the best in the world, allowing the driver to use more natural dialogue than the traditional ‘radio... on!’ You can ask justDrive to play a particular song or dictate an SMS or tweet and have it checked before sending. If you need directions, you can just ask for, say, the nearest service station and the app will do the hard work for you. ‘While our aim is to significantly enhance the driving experience through unprecedented levels of connectivity, we also want to reduce driver distraction,’ continued Dr Epple. ‘Using speech as a key enabler, together with justDrive’s simple and clean user interface, means we only show essential information to help create a safe, non-distracting driving environment.’
To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk
Issue 12: February 2015
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In London, the Duke of Cambridge presents the Tusk Awards as Land Rover honours leading lights of the African conservation world
Land Rover, along with conservation charity Tusk and HRH the Duke of Cambridge, have recognised the next generation of game-changing conservationists at a major annual awards ceremony in London.
Stars turned out to show their support for the wildlife charity – singer Katherine Jenkins, adventurer Charley Boorman and England rugby captain Chris Robshaw were but a few – with the Duke delivering the two awards.
This year’s winner, Madagascar’s Herizo Adrianandrasana, was presented with the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa. Sponsored by Land Rover, this recognised the remarkable dedication he has shown to his work on the island. Focusing much of his attention on getting local communities to participate in conservation management, Herizo’s programmes cover seven different forest and wetland sites with a total combined surface area of 3500 square kilometres. He was also awarded with a £15,000 grant – which will help provide further resources as he continues his work as an up-and-coming conservationist. Jaguar Land Rover’s Mark Cameron said: ‘We’re humbled to join the Duke of Cambridge and Tusk in giving these remarkable emerging conservationists the recognition they deserve, and financial support to continue and develop the incredible work they are already doing in Africa. With shocking
new statistics about the loss of our wildlife being released every day, it’s more important than ever that we all support the efforts of charities such as Tusk and we’re proud to be able to do so.’ Land Rover’s relationship with the Tusk Awards stretches back over 15 years, when it first supported the Lewa Marathon in Kenya. Solihull’s vehicles have supported the Trust’s conservation work since then, and Land Rover ambassadors including Bear Grylls and Charley
Boorman showed their appreciation prior to the awards by wearing bracelets made by the Mamas of the Enkiito Village in Kenya.
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Issue 12: February 2015
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Land Rover leads the way on driverless cars Mike Trott Land Rover has placed itself in the forefront of the push towards driverless cars, following a £10m government award to a consortium in which it plays a leading part. The group, UK Autodrive, combines many of the UK’s most forwardthinking local authorities, academic establishments and high-tech and automotive businesses – including, of course, JLR. The £10m was the prize on offer to the winner of a competition named ‘Introducing Driverless Cars’ – with Land Rover and its colleagues delivering the winning tender. For a country to introduce autonomous vehicles requires a major overhaul of its traditional transport infrastructure, and the technology will be put in place on roads around Coventry and Milton Keynes to allow real-world testing of driverless cars and self-driving ‘pods.’ These cities are part of the UK Autodrive team, whose members matched the government’s funding award to invest a total of £19.2m behind what will be a threeyear scheme.
Feasibility studies produced by UK Autodrive will consider the implications and challenges of introducing driverless cars – in terms of their social and economic impact as well as the technical hurdles they face. The group’s findings are likely to provide insights for other vehicle manufacturers, cities, commercial operators, legislators and insurers. Tim Armitage, UK Autodrive Project Director, commented: ‘The UK Autodrive consortium brings together world-class expertise that will help the UK position itself as a leader in the development and adoption of autonomous driving technologies. ‘As well as developing and testing the in-car, car-to-car and car-toinfrastructure technologies that will be required to drive cars autonomously on our roads in the future, the project will also place great emphasis on the role and perceptions of drivers, pedestrians and other road users. The Low-Speed Autonomous Transport System (L-SATS) will provide the first commercial scale demonstration of a solution for last-mile urban mobility which will have global significance.
‘Our plan with the practical demonstration phases is to start testing with single vehicles on closed roads and to build up to a point where all road users, as well as legislators, the police and insurance companies, are confident about how driverless pods and fully and partially autonomous cars can operate safely on UK roads.’ The main focus of JLR’s input will be in two key areas. Firstly, the development and testing of Advanced Driver Assistance technologies using a semi-autonomous Range Rover as the guinea pig and the two aforementioned cities as its wheel. Full autonomy is not the aim, but for a vehicle to be capable of autonomous operation for a period of time. JLR’s second focus will revolve around the Human Machine Interface (HMI) strategy and development of lightweight self-driving pods. ‘To successfully introduce driverless cars,’ explained technology boss Dr Wolfgang Epple, ‘we actually need to focus on the driver, as well as pedestrians and other road users. So we are researching the Human Machine Interface to ensure all road users understand, accept
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We don’t have a picture of the driverless Range Rover in action, as the system hasn’t been put in place yet. But if it looks anything like this early experiment in autonomous vehicle technology, the government is going to want its ten million quid back and support these new and exciting technologies. We need to give everyone the confidence that a car or pod driving around with little or no human input is a safe, viable and rewarding experience. ‘The new advanced driver assistance technologies we are working on will ensure the excitement and enjoyment
of driving will not be taken away. While the car will be able to drive itself if the driver chooses, our aim is to assist and enhance the driver – and ultimately offer levels of autonomy to suit the driver’s mood or needs on and off-road. Our vision is to offer a seamless choice of an engaged or autonomous drive.’
Kudos for Land Rover as automotive supply chain bigwigs vote JLR their most trusted customer Jaguar Land Rover is the most trustworthy original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in the motor industry. That was the conclusion of a study carried out by global information and analytics provider IHS Automotive based on ratings from suppliers across the automotive sector. Using the ‘SuRe’ index, which assesses profit potential, organisation, outlook, pursuit of excellence and trust, HIS dials into the opinions of senior and middle managers from automotive suppliers working directly with the world’s car makers. Jaguar Land Rover came top in two of these – trustworthiness and profit potential – with the company also noted for its treatment of its supplier and its response towards supplier technology.
Overall, Jaguar Land Rover clocked a total score of 602 on the index for 2014 – the company’s best ever result, representing an improvement of 11.7% year on year. That score is also 98 above the average mark awarded in the SuRe index this year. It has been well documented recently that JLR is continuing its prosperous trend under parent company Tata, and now supports more than 190,000 jobs in the UK supply chain. ‘Jaguar Land Rover has ambitious plans for growth,’ commented purchasing Director Ian Harnett, ‘which will see the introduction of new and refreshed product lines. Our ability to deliver these products to market lies with the ability of
our suppliers to deliver quality components in volume. The suppliers’ view is testament to the responsive manner in which we work, and we are proud to have achieved the highest ratings ever in the history of the OEM study on suppliers’ view of Jaguar Land Rover’s long-term outlook.’ • JLR reached out further to its supply chain recently with a special event designed to help them understand how best to hone skills and recruit for their businesses. With the Royal Academy of Engineers predicting a shortfall of 200,000 skilled engineers by 2020, quality staff will be in serious demand – not just for Land Rover itself but for the companies that build the parts and systems it uses.
The likes of Jaguar Land Rover’s successful ‘Inspiring Tomorrow’s Workforce’ traineeship programme were highlighted to suppliers, demonstrating how training and work experience at the company’s factories have helped 16-24 year olds build the foundations for their future careers. This course, run in partnership with Birmingham Metropolitan College, is now also open for JLR’s suppliers as they look to further the prospects of the younger generation. Suppliers also learned more about Jaguar Land Rover’s apprentice programme, which currently sees 620 young people working in its six sites around the UK. JLR’s Ian Harnett commented: ‘Jaguar Land Rover has ambitious
plans for global growth which will see our vehicle volumes increasing over the next few years, providing many opportunities to our supply chain. By sharing our best practices in training and developing future talent, we hope to give them a crucial insight into how Jaguar Land Rover addresses these challenges which will help them strengthen their capability and support their business growth.’
To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk
NEXT MONTH
A RARE CLASSIC Running a rarity is just a dream for many of us; but having a bona fide Range Rover Carawagon as your daily drive is more like a fantasy PLUS
A nicely sorted 90 that turns out to be on leaf springs… and a 130 that’ll make you change your views on which Land Rover is the coolest of them all! Paul Walton and Andy Scarr had a little sideline in buying tatty Land Rovers, sorting them out and punting them on for a few quid more. But then they took on a tired old Lightweight – and as fate would have it, the ideal customers turned out to be none other than themselves
NEXT MONTH’S LANDY IS PUBLISHED ON 26 JANUARY You can pick up your copy of our March 2015 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 Alan Kidd Assistant Editor Mike Trott Admin and Editorial Assistant Gemma Pask Art Editor Samantha D’Souza Contributors Dan Fenn, Olly Sack, Gary Noskill, Paul Looe, Vince Pratt Photographers Steve Taylor, Harry Hamm, Anthony Singer
Advertising Sales Manager Ian Argent Tel: 01283 553242 Advertising Production Tel: 01283 553242 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 omissions nor
the consequences of actions made as a result of these
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Alu-Cab is one of those companies that started with one product and has grown into associated areas. That one product was aluminium canopies, so it stands to reason that they know what they’re doing in this area – and the latest addition to the range imported to the UK by XS4x4 is designed to fit pick-up and double-cab versions of the Defender 110 and 130. ‘They may not look as flush as their fibreglass competitors,’ says the company with a laudable level Also new from Alu-Cab, this time in its range of storage drawers, is this exceptionally tidy installation for the Discovery 3. The company makes its drawers from, you guessed it, aluminium, and this means they’re light in weight as well as being strong, tough and durable. Being designed in South Africa with heavy-duty off-highway use in mind, the drawers and in particular their runners are built to withstand the sort of dust and water that gets everywhere after a while - as well as the sort of water that hopefully won’t but you never know. All this while carrying their maximum load, which, given what expedition driving is, won’t exactly be on the featherweight side. The tops are made from 12mm waterproof ply and lined with a heavyduty nylon carpet that won’t turn out to have worn through first time you unclip the ratchets on the tool box you strapped into place on top of them. The drawers themselves, meanwhile, are secured by lockable self-latching stainless steel catches, and can be removed altogether for cleaning or use away from the vehicle. Alu-Cab offers drawer systems in short (750mm), medium (1230mm) and long (1420mm) sizes, and as you can see from these pictures of the Discovery installation you can put them together in various sizes to create whatever storage set-up you require. xs4x4.parts
of honesty. ‘But that is where the comparison ends. In every other aspect, aluminium canopies win hands down.’ That’s quite a boast. But the company says its products will last longer than GRP, with no weathering or cracking, while providing major weight savings against steel. It’s strong, too: ‘One of our customers has an aluminium canopy that has been involved in no less than three road accidents – all roll overs,’ says Alu-Cab. ‘Yet to date, it’s still in use and as strong as ever.’
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With full-length side doors providing a unique degree of access to every part of the load bed, and canopy designs allowing you to bolt on everything from storage cupboards and kitchen units to gas bottle and jerry can holders as and when you need them, these canopies score high marks in terms of practicality. They’re strong up top, too, with roof crossmembers allowing you to load items directly on to it – that even goes for roof tents, too, which can simply be bolted into place.
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If you run 4x4s as part of a business and you’ve been given environmental targets to achieve, it’s also worth noting that being made from pure aluminium, these hard-tops are 100% recyclable. Not that there’s much evidence to suggest that this will be happening any time soon – people who buy Defenders
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plan to keep them, and for that reason alone these canopies seem very well suited to Land Rover’s biggest and best. Alu-Cab’s canopies tend to cost more than the plastic equivalent, but they look like a classic example of getting what you pay for. xs4x4.parts
Castor-correction has become a very well known issue since people started lifting Land Rovers and realising their steering now had all the control of a drunk newborn foal on ice. Most people address this by fitting off-the-shelf radius arms or getting in there with the gas axe and welder, but the latter in particular is a very involved job requiring no small amount of know-how. Anyway, Britpart has just come up with an alternative solution. New to the market, these new Castor Corrected Swivel Balls are a direct replacement for Land Rover vehicles which use the FRC7065 swivel housing. Supplied as a handed pair, they have their mounting holes repositioned to give three degrees of additional castor. ‘The swivel housings are from an OEM supplier,’ says Britpart, ‘and then machined to our specification.’ They come in a kit with all the bearings, seals, plates, shims, washers and uppers you’ll need to fit them, as well as a couple of sachets of grease, and a bit of shopping around should get them on their way to you for about £300 including the VAT. www.britpart.com
To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk There are lots of reasons to love the Land Rover Defender. But there are lots of reasons to hate it, too, and one of them is the scissor-style bonnet stay that’s left so many owners swearing loudly. The guys from Megasquirt know that very well, because they’ve been victims themselves. Countless times, they say. They’re not fans of the later TD5-style prop, either. The solution? Use a pair of gas struts to hold the bonnet open. Easy. And now the solution’s even easier than ever, because Megasquirt has started offering it as a kit. This is suitable for Defenders, and pre-Defender 90s, 110s and 130s. You can use them on right or left-hand drive vehicles, and as well as the rams themselves the kits come with all the mounting spacers, fittings, bolts, washers and so forth that you need to install them. That’s if you’ve got a vehicle with standard wings, at least, in which case the job will only take about 20 minutes. If you’ve got challenge-style wings, it’s a little more involved as you’ll have to weld a set of mounts in place, but the kit doesn’t any more so it’s still a good-value way of protecting yourself. All the brackets in the kits are passivated for rust protection and looks, and the rams have quick release fittings to allow for bonnet removal. They can be fine-turned for bonnet height, too. The kits cost £39.95 all in, which is a trifle to pay for the luxury of still having your head on. www.megasquirt-v8.co.uk
Repositioning the ECU on an old V8 is a very common mod when you’re prepping the vehicle it’s in for offroading. Britpart is now supplying an OEM-branded Ignition Module Kit, which allows you to do the same thing for the ignition by moving it away from the distributor to make it less prone to being knocked out by water. It’s suitable for the Disco 1 and Range Rover Classic, and ought to cost in the region of £50 once the VAT’s added in. www.britpart.com
You don’t need to have a dog for a dog guard to earn its corn. All you have to do is be that guy who just chucks his high-lift and ground anchor in the back of his truck and goes off-roading without lashing them down, and you’ll constantly be within one wrong move of depending on the mesh barrier behind your head to save your life. Britpart’s latest unit is for the Defender 110 SW and Ute Wagon, and it bolts in securely to leave precious little room for loose objects to get you – whether they’re of the canine variety or not. It costs about £150 with the VAT, which is more than a bungy net but less than a new head. www.britpart.com
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Issue 12: February 2015
News
4x4 Tyres sounds like a company that sells 4x4 tyres, and it is. But where there’s a tyre there’s a wheel, and where there’s a cool truck there’s every chance there’ll be a set of even cooler alloys from one of 4x4 Tyres’ latest ranges bolted on to its hubs. First, there’s the Challenger Alloy. This is a shinier sibling to the Challenger Steel, which 4x4 Tyres launched a couple of years ago, and it’s well set to repeat that wheel’s success. It comes in a 16x7” size, with an et10 offset – perfect for the Defender, Disco 1
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and Range Rover Classic, says 4x4 Tyres, which of course means it’ll also bolt up perfectly to any coiler, resto or indeed Suzuki that’s been rebuilt using the axles from one of these models. The Challenger Alloy comes in a choice of Gloss Black, Anthracite or Silver, and at £115 a piece including VAT and delivery we can see them flying off the shelves. The same can be said of 4x4 Tyres’ other newcomer, the Sawtooth Alloy, even though this is more expensive at £150 a corner. It’s modelled on the
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wheel of the same name that’s become synonymous with the contemporary Defender at its most stylish, and again it comes in a 16” size. This time, offset is et20, and you can only get it in Gloss Black and Anthracite, but once again it’ll bolt straight on to a Defender, Disco 1 or Mk1 Rangey Cool wheels for sure, and the good news is that 4x4 Tyres will be able to sell you the rubber to wrap around them too. But then, you’d guessed that anyway, hadn’t you? www.4x4tyres.co.uk
Some of the interior treatments you see people inflicting on Defenders have to be seen to be believed. Sometimes this is just because of how clever, stylish and beautifully finished they are, but normally you’re more likely to just find yourself wondering why in God’s name anyone would do something so unutterably tasteless to an innocent truck. Premiership footballers aside, most of us would sooner not drive around in something that feels like a floating brothel, so Bespoke Cars’ interior for the Defender comes as a welcome relief. It’s not what you’d call understated, but it does manage to be at least a bit restrained and comes over a lot classier as a result. Bespoke’s interior packages give you the option of having various parts, from door cards to dashboards, retrimmed in high-quality leather. You get to choose the spec and colour scheme, and just which parts of the cabin get the treatment. And while we’re talking of leather, Bespoke’s Custom Sports Seats are trimmed in just that – to whatever spec, colour, trim, stitching pattern and so on you want. So that’s unique, unique and unique. What price do you put on individuality? Bespoke puts £1595 on it in the case of the seats, while leather bits for around the cabin start at £395. www.bespokecars.co.uk
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Thunderpole’s latest CB radio, the T-800, is designed with easy operation in mind – whether you’re off-roading with your mates or using it as a work tool out on the road. This compact radio includes AM and FM channels, multiple bands in the UK and eight for Europe, an LED display and signal meter. The microphone is multifunctional and you can switch between auto and manual squelch. The T-800 has a 12V input and 4 Watt RF output, and with dimensions of 115 x 38 x 150mm it’ll sit quietly in a corner – until you belly out and your mates start getting all over the airwaves at you for it, of course. At £54.99, anyway, even a compact unit is a lot of CB for your money, and when it comes from Thunderpole it’s got a leading name behind it. www.thunderpole.co.uk
Anti-theft bonnet hinges are, sadly, something that every Defender owner needs to think about. Mud UK’s new units aren’t the first, but they do the job and they cost a fraction of what you’d have to shell out on making things right if a pond-life got away with yours. Suitable for any 90, 110 or 130, these Bonnet Security Hinges are made from stainless steel and finished in a satin black powder coat. They connect with anti-tamper fasteners, using antitamper shear nuts and bolts to keep thieves at bay. New bushes are supplied for within the bulkhead curl hinge, too, and the hinges come with a full installation kit including instructions. At £85 including VAT, you’re looking at a sound if slightly depressing investment. www.mudstuff.co.uk
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Issue 12: February 2015
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CHEMICAL
‘A series vehicle should be kept standard. it’s the best way’
BROTHER This Series III is unusual for many reasons. As well as dating from the tail end of leaf-sprung production and only having done 60,000 miles, it’s had a load of money spent on turning it back into a truck to be proud of. But what really makes it stand out is its first ever job – in the secretive world of the MoD’s chemical weapons establishment at Porton Down…
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hemistry. It was one of those subjects at school that just… was. I would never look forward to it, but nor would I groan with dread as I would for, say, textiles. Yes, I was made to sew. That said, chemistry is probably one subject people will always remember because of the surroundings in which you were taught it – the lab. A laboratory is a lot more interesting than a classroom, after all. It feels unique and mysterious, full up with weird and wonderful devices and substances.
Words and pictures Mike Trott There’s the hydrochloric acid, for example, that’s capable of making you look like a zombie’s breakfast. Copper sulphate so blue it looks like the ‘stuff ’ Walt and Jesse have been making for the last few years in Breaking Bad. And everyone always enjoyed taking a splint to a Bunsen burner, like a caveman who’s just about to have a warm meal for the first time in his life. The point is, my expertise never went very far in this field. ‘Stating the obvious,’ I hear you say and yes, you’re right. There are far more people out
there who’ve been exposed to the world of chemicals (in every sense of the word, innocent and otherwise). And, while we’re at it, that’s the case in the world of vehicles, too. What a coincidence that we have one just here. This is a particularly rare Series III, having only been registered in 1984. It’s interesting, however, not just because it’s one of the last Series IIIs ever made but because, for the majority of its life, this Landy resided at the Ministry of Defence’s Porton Down
At a glance, this is a Land Rover whose front end comes on like that of a 90. Seen from side on, however, aside from the extended wheelarches, all the visual cues point to its Series heritage – and when you look harder, the split windscreen confirms this
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Issue 12: February 2015
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Above: The Landy dates from half a decade after the Stage 1 V8 came into existence, and almost 20 years since Land Rover North America became the first to put that engine into an 88, but when it left Solihull it was powered by the good old 2.25 petrol. The original engine stayed in place until just a couple of years ago, when one of the vehicle’s three civvy owners replaced it with a 2.5 naturally-aspirated diesel. Less thirsty? Yes, a little. Noisier? Yes, a lot. Worth it? Hard to see how on a Landy that’s still, even now, only done 60,000 miles in its whole life Below: Here’s one, as they say. Take a look at the larger document here and you’ll see reference to a Chris Perfect Components power steering conversion. Did the Ministry fit such a thing to this Land Rover, only for it to be taken back off again when the diesel engine went in? (In which case, there’s another reason why the 2.25 should have stayed put.) Or could it be that some Army clerk needed to scribble down a set of contact details and this was the nearest thing to a piece of scrap paper he had to hand? Yet another mystery from the secretive world of Porton Down… chemical weapons research establishment near Salisbury. Having been constructed during the First World War, when chemicals were first introduced into battle, Porton Down became one of the most important locations for military research over the following decades. Military personnel would participate in experiments – often nerve-agent trials – and the focus would shift from defence to attack depending on the state of global affairs at the time. When this 88 was built, the Cold War was still in full deep-freeze and the USA and USSR were still
flexing their muscles and rattling their sabres at every opportunity. Imagine the type of duties this Series III would have had, then, once the MOD got hold of it in ’84. If you’re old enough, you may have seen it trundling through the Wiltshire countryside with ‘authorised personnel’ carrying out who knows what sort of operations. The Cold War has long since thawed out (hopefully never to return), though the Land Rover remained in service until 2001. Since then, it has been through the hands of three private owners and had some operations of its own.
‘A lot of money has been spent on this over the last few years,’ says Jonathan Churchill, the current owner of both the vehicle and a company, Churchill 4x4, which many people turn to if spending money on bringing old Landies back to their best (and better) is on their agenda. ‘Around £25,000 has been spent on it in fact. It now has a new galvanised chassis, along with an engine swap from the original 2.25-litre petrol to a fully reconditioned 2.5-litre naturally aspirated diesel.’ This retired scientist has also been fitted with a reconditioned gearbox, and even its grey complexion is shining from a respray. It’s got a couple of other nice features too, like a deluxe bonnet that curves over the top of a smart-looking grille. For a vehicle that is now 30 years old, it’s still only clocked up 60,000 miles. Obviously, the new diesel engine has done still less – only a few thousand since being fitted, in fact. This has made it a little noisier inside the cabin, something Jonathan and I both agreed on. Or we would have, if we’d been able to hear each other. ‘I like the Series III,’ continues Jonathan. ‘If it’s a petrol especially, it can be a nice, usable Land Rover. It was never as sought after as the Series II/IIA Continued overleaf
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Despite having been through three pairs of hands since leaving the MoD, the Series III is in the enviable position of still having a complete set of paperwork to go with it. Not all of this is particularly meaningful from a used car point of view, but as a record of an individual Land Rover’s journey through life it’s priceless
and by 1984 the 90 and 110 had come along, so they were just getting rid of the last of them. ‘They’ve spent about £7000 on this diesel engine with the aim of getting a bit better fuel economy. I’m not sure it was really worth it though, to be honest, seeing as it hasn’t done many miles since. ‘A Series Land Rover should be kept standard, in my opinion. It’s the best way.’ Some elements have remained just that, though. The interior hasn’t been refurbished the way some of the truck has and remains a used, but well looked after environment. Rather stereotypically, I can envisage the truck carrying a bunch of scientists, all dressed in white lab coats, obviously, across the windswept reaches of Porton Down itself. As with all military vehicles, of course, the paperwork was kept to the highest standard and every little detail was recorded. In its 17-year career, this is a truck which collected a fair bit of baggage. The original purchase invoice can be found within those ancient looking folders, as can the Vehicle Record Book, maintenance records and mileage log, all of them kept by the MoD. Full service history? How quaint. The Cold War may be long gone, and good riddance. But despite the changes that have been made to it, here is a Land Rover which can take you right back to those eerie days of military need and itchy trigger fingers. It’s a vehicle you’d be proud to be seen in whether you’re running about your daily doings or exploring its old stamping ground on the green lanes of Wiltshire. And I’m pleased to confirm that it’s free from any zombies left over from a nuclear experiment gone wrong. That’s what comes from sending all those years on the inside of a big chemistry lab, see…
It may have seen 17 years in the service of the MoD and another 13 owned by three different people on civvy street, but you’d never think it to look at the 88’s interior. It’s not concours, and not is it trying to be anything it’s not, but its condition is startlingly presentable for an old ‘un. Lots of lavish attention has done no harm there, resulting in a new coat of paint to go with the tell-tale silver of a galvanised chassis
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For a daily driver, it’s got to be a Landy… Issue 12: February 2015
Most of the vehicles Land Rover builds these days are intended just to be everyday cars. But everything the company has ever built, however focused it might be on off-roading, has been used that way at some point. So, which is the best Land Rover to use as a daily driver? And what if it had to be the only Land Rover you ever owned? We asked five experts from around the scene for their views
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ost Land Rover enthusiasts have it in them to appreciate at least something about every kind of vehicle Solihull has turned out over the years. Each appeals in its own way, of course – the performance and ride quality of a modern Range Rover are unlikely to be threatened by those of a 109, for instance, while the charm of a Series I is untouchable by, well, anything – but it tends to be that if Landies are your thing, you’ve got a thing for Landies. The very fact that you’re reading this means you’ve probably got a Land Rover of some description in your life. Actually, there’s a pretty strong chance that you’ve got several.
Words Mike Trott Pictures Steve Taylor, Mike Trott and Land Rover
The modern breed of Land Rover owner might be a wealthy familyman who’s spent fifty grand on a Discovery or Range Rover Sport he uses as a daily drive, and lots of traditionalists fail completely to identify with that. But are we really so different? Plenty of dyedin-the-wool Landy owners have spent at least that much on their trucks – it’s just that they’ve done it over meany years, most of it has gone on parts rather than vehicles and instead of one gleaming Disco we’ve got two, three, four or more examples of Solihull’s best work parked up around the place. Most importantly, the dyed-in-thewool traditionalist uses a Land Rover as his daily drive too. It’s just that on any
given day, the Land Rover in question is whichever one from his collection actually happens to be working. What if, though? Two words which lead in to so many great questions. In this case, we’re asking a couple. First, what if you could have any Land Rover you wanted as your daily drive? And second (and this is the naughty one), what if you could only have one Land Rover: would it still be the same one? We asked the great and the good of the Land Rover world, and the breadth of different answers we got was more than a little surprising. Almost as great as the breadth of tempting vehicles Land Rover has built, in fact. Which goes to show that we might all share the
same taste in vehicles, but it’s different for all of us too.
THE LANER
We start with an authoritative voice in the form of Dale Wyatt. Dale is the Green Lane Association’s Wiltshire area rep and one of the most active individuals in the fight to save Britain’s rights of way – and he’s been through a number of Land Rovers in his time. His daily hack is a Freelander 2. One of the most economical Landies available, it’s comfier than a Defender and less of a Chelsea cruiser than something like a Range Rover Sport or Evoque – though of course it’s not a patch on a proper Landy off-road.
To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk ‘It does all I want and is much more refined than the Freelander 1,’ Dale says. ‘So yes, it’s probably best suited to the task – not that I’ve experimented too much with alternatives.’ As you’d expect from a GLASS rep, though, this isn’t his only Landy. It’s what the others are that might startle you. One is a 1957 Series I – and the other is a 1984 Bowler Tomcat 100” with the 4.2-litre V8 from the Range Rover LSE. And while his Freelander might tick the right box as a daily driver, that’s not what Dale would keep if he could only have one Landy. ‘If I was only allowed one Land Rover,’ he says, ‘I’d have to keep the Bowler – if that’s Land Rover enough! Totally impractical, of course, but I’d always have a smile on my face (even if it was frozen there) and an empty wallet! Fortunately I have the three, so it’s okay!’
Tireless GLASS rep Dale Wyatt drives a Freelander 2 and rates it as high as they come for daily drive duties. But if he was only allowed to keep one of his Land Rovers, he’d trade in the comfort and practicality for the raw thrills of his Bowler Wildcat 100
THE competitor
Someone else who spends plenty of time in impractical vehicles is Jim Marsden. The reigning King of the Glens has consistently been Britain’s most successful international off-road competitor over the last decade or so, and his race truck has been through a process of evolution that’s turned it into one of Europe’s best. ‘You want to know what I drive everyday?’ exclaims Jim. ‘A Smart car.’ Jim is also one of Britain’s best off-roaders for comedy value, however seriously he takes his motorsport. ‘Honestly? I drive my Defender 90 SV 200Tdi. Though if I’m driving anywhere more than twenty minutes away and I don’t want my teeth rattling out, I take my Discovery 3. It’s just the sensible option as soon as you’re doing any kind of mileage. ‘I love my 90 to bits. I’ve had it for many years and it is my favourite to
Ultra4 Europe superstar Jim Marsden would pick up the keys to his Discovery 3 for a journey of any real length. But what he really loves driving is the Defender 90 SV he rebuilt a couple of years ago after hammering it through years of winch action – though his ideal Defender would have a 6.2 V8 engine and auto gearbox!
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Dealing in some of the very best classic Land Rovers means Mark Griffiths knows what he’s looking at when it comes to old ‘uns. He also knows what it takes to get them from A to B on the back of a trailer, though, and that’s why he runs a Discovery 2 TD5 as his everyday car. Its automatic box and cruise control are must-haves, and each is a reason for not running a Defender; if he did have to go with a ‘proper’ Land Rover, he says, it would be a late-letter one drive. They don’t make them, but my ideal vehicle would be a Defender 90 County Station Wagon with a 6.2-litre V8 and six-speed auto box.’
THE salesman
‘The ultimate daily drive? Now there’s a question!’ exlaims Mark Griffiths, Sales Manager at the world-famous Land Rover Centre in Huddersfield – the company which recently sold the first
ever Range Rover in production after owning it for a quarter of a century. ‘For me personally, my daily drive is a Discovery 2 TD5. I do about 30,000 miles a year delivering Land Rovers around the country and for me it is the perfect vehicle. ‘It’s comfortable and reliable (it’s a TD5 auto with cruise control) and, more important, it has a 3.5-tonne towing capacity. So it’s well on top of
the job of towing a trailer as well as long-distance work.’ So job done, the Discovery wins for Mark, yes? No. A Disco just doesn’t hold enough pedigree. Mark tells us that if he had to choose a ‘proper’ Land Rover for every day it would have to be a late-model Defender. He is of course an admirer of the classics too. ‘I love the Series Land Rovers, but I think you have to use them in context.
If I had room for more vehicles at home, my ultimate Series would be a late IIA pastel green pick-up.’
THE engineer
Andrew Poulson, proprietor of Spinney Engineering, doesn’t like anything from after 1998. Any vehicle with more electronics in it than his wristwatch is not worth mentioning, he thinks. But he also reckons he knows what most people would choose as an ultimate daily drive. ‘I’d say most enthusiasts’ first choice would be an off-road prepared 90, with the seven seats, lift kit, snorkel and a winch or two,’ says Andrew. It certainly does sound like a great option but, if anything, that just throws another cat among the pigeons. Andrew himself would take a long-wheelbase option for his choice. ‘Mine would be a 110 Hi-Cap pick-up in Keswick Green, with big wheels and tyres.’ If you could only have one Land Rover, well, that wouldn’t be a bad choice either, would it?
THE teacher
David Mitchell, the proprietor of Landcraft 4x4, has owned an example of virtually every Land Rover ever made. He’s also the most senior expert on this panel of ours, with more than forty years of off-road driver instruction under his belt, and since buying his first Series I as a 17-year-old in 1966 Land Rover is the only make of car he’s ever owned.
‘I thought about this last night,’ says David reflectively. ‘And my personal choice would be the Range Rover Sport for everyday use, like the one I had at Land Rover Experience a few years back.’ Hmmm, what was that we were saying about the difference between modern owners and traditionalists? But wait, there’s more… ‘My most fun Land Rover is the Series I 80” I own,’ continues David. ‘I can use it in special rallies or events in the summer, and if the weather is nice, I can take the top off. I’ve been lucky enough to use it around the Landcraft site on our adventure days as well. ‘But then for off-roading I’d take the 90. And if I had to choose just one vehicle, I’d take the Range Rover Classic 300Tdi manual I used to have. It was one of the last Mk1s ever made and it could do everything – it’s the best all-rounder.’ So, then, that’s two questions, five Land Rover experts and ten different answers. A bit like going into a pub just before closing time and asking a group of sloshed lags for directions to the bus station – the obvious difference being that this mish-mash of opinions is the result of sober reflection rather than drunken guesswork. What patterns do we see emerging from all these different choices? Well, there’s not an L322 or L405 Range Rover in sight (nor a P38, remarkably). In fact, the most modern examples of
Spinney Engineering’s Andrew Poulson would choose a 110 Hi-Cap as his one and only Land Rover. But he reckons most enthusiasts would opt for a 90 Station Wagon with lifted suspension, a snorkel, at least one winch and all the other kit that goes into prepping for off-road fun these days
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Landcraft’s David Mitchell bought his first Series I in 1966 and hasn’t owned anything else but Land Rovers ever since. Having used a Range Rover Sport for a spell when he held a Driving Experience franchise, he rates it as the vehicle he’d choose above all others as his daily drive. But his nomination for the Landy he’d go with if he could only have one? A late-productin Classic with the 300Tdi engine and auto gearbox. Bet you didn’t see that one coming… Land Rover’s output are conspicuous by their absence; Jim’s Disco 3, Dale’s Freelander 2 and David’s old-shape Range Rover Sport are all prime examples of the new breed, but none are as cutting-edge as the current models that replaced them. It’s also clear to see that while most of our Land Rover experts would choose to do their daily running around in the sort of vehicle Solihull built to excel on the road, if you push the point and
force them to decide on one single vehicle they move back towards the visceral seat-of-the-pants appeal which is what makes Landies so addictive in the first place. The conclusion to that? It’s fine to let your head rule your heart in this world of dull care, but spirit triumphs over sense at the end of the day. Being a Land Rover fan is all about the emotional appeal of a vehicle that’s truly special – comfort and practicality are
all very well, but passion is one thing you can never turn your back on. To cut to the chase, when you leave your house in the morning you can walk past that classic or modified Landy on your driveway and climb aboard the comfy modern one instead. But if you had to choose one to let go forever, you wouldn’t be able to bring yourself to let go. Owning a Land Rover is for every day… but being possessed by one? That’s for life.
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Issue 12: February 2015
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‘i’ve been told i’d be better off getting a new one. but i’m hanging on to it – because it’s a damn good old car’
Words Gary Noskill Pictures Anthony Singer
There are times in a project when it’s better to just scrap it and start again. But when people told Jack Peters he’d be better off doing that to his old Disco, he wasn’t having any of it. Then again, he was already used to proving them wrong…
*When did you last read an article about the Mk1 Discovery that didn’t at some stage go on about how their bodies rust out? Well, this is not going to be that article. It is, however, the story of how the rot that seems to curse every old Discovery sooner or later can be seen as an opportunity rather than a problem. You have to look pretty hard, but that’s what Jack Peters did way back at the start of what was to become a long-standing project. His Disco was a family car for a while after he bought it for £4000 at around its tenth birthday. But then its sills rotted out. ‘Rather than putting ordinary sills on it, I used 100x60mm box-section, a couple of millimetres thick. So it’s like the original size sill with a rock slider built on to it.
‘That started the ball rolling, got me going doing bits and pieces. You could say I started with the rotten bits and built it up from there. I’ve always mucked about off-road, but this was the first one where we’ve gone out and bought tyres and so on.’ Tyres? Hardly the stuff of an epic project, at least not on their own. But 265/75R16s are a pretty big leap in size on a truck that left the factory on 205R16s – and he made it with a suspension lift of just 2”. ‘Everyone told me it wouldn’t fit,’ remembers Jack. ‘But the only thing it needed was a little off the back of the arches on the front wing, and with the original bump-stops it just tickles the arch at the back. I don’t know if I should have done it, but I’ve never had any problems!’
As it was, he only lifted it by accident, having fitted a set of heavyduty springs and DeCarbon shocks to help it carry heavy equipment for his work. The result was that when unladen, it sat just high enough to accommodate the taller rubber. The tyres were turned by a standard 200Tdi engine which, in its first four years as Jack’s property, went through two head gaskets, needed a head skim and lunched its timing belt. ‘All the pushrods were bent into an S-shape,’ he recalls. ‘So I straightened them with a concrete block and a hammer, and they’ve been in there ever since – two and a half years, no problems whatsoever. The block actually moulds itself into the shape of the rods!’ The only modification to the engine, a snorkel, was made from a bit of
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Issue 12: February 2015
The 200Tdi is a wonderful thing, but in the first four years after Jack had bought the Disco its engine had needed two head gaskets and a skim, as well as turning its timing belt into a bag of scrap. That can mean curtains for the engine itself, too, but Jack just bashed the pushrods straight with a hammer and chucked them back in – and three years later it was still going strong!
leftover plastic pipe Jack found on a building site. The LT77 gearbox was as trouble-free as they normally are, though it came out when the clutch disintegrated – at which point he took the chance to split off the transfer case and renew all the oil seals. Further everyday maintenance jobs have included the handbrake (‘new shoes, adjust it again – it’s neverending’) as well as new swivels and a new steering box. The axles remained standard, though: ‘It’s been more of a fun car than spending megabucks.’ Then there’s the stuff he’s made himself, which in addition to the sills include a steering guard he measured out and templated in cardboard before getting the sections cut out in 5mm steel plate. ‘I’m not one for believing that it’ll weigh the front of the car down,’ he says. ‘There’s more significance in it being protected than in being weighed down with a wee bit of steel.’ The fellow Discovery owners in his manor who’ve since asked him to make copies for them would no doubt agree. This is the sort of imagination – and willingness to get your hands dirty – that marks out a good budget builder. An element of luck helps too, and here someone was definitely smiling on Jack
when he arrived home with his new wheels and tyres in place. ‘My next-door neighbour was admiring the tyres, and I said my next purchase was going to be a winch. And he looked at me and said “a winch?” And then he said “come with me”, and there sitting on his doorstep was a winch – which he gave me for free!’ This might make you grind your teeth, but it wasn’t just any old winch, either: it was a Warn 8274. ‘Needless to say I had to strip it down and clean it out. A lot of people have commented that it sits a long way back on the Discovery, but basically it just bolted up and sat well in out of the way. The cage it’s in is welded on to the chassis at different points. At the front crossmember, there’s an L-bracket that was bolted up to the army Land Rover it came off, and it fitted up pretty well – a few modifications, and it was welded straight up to the chassis.’ Jack trimmed the front bumper with a Stilsaw so that it would fit around the winch, which sits just in front of the radiator. ‘I‘ve tried to keep it looking like a standard Discovery, rather than giving it a big winch bumper. I was quite chuffed that everybody thought it was good, because I just stuck the winch in a hole!’
It says something that he managed to make a Disco look so close to standard with such a big winch up front, but that’s this truck for you. It’s nothing too showy, not trying to be a worldbeater – just quietly getting on with the
business of proving people wrong when they say you can’t do it that way. Not that that ever put anyone off, and even by the time the Disco had got to this stage Jack still had people tutting at him for it. ‘People have told me I’d
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be better off getting a new one, that I should swap my bits and go at it again. But I’m hanging on to it, because it’s a damn good old car. I know what I’ve got, and I know what it’s capable of. I think I must be a Land Rover freak!’
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‘i like taking them out on a test drive – they’re so much lighter and really fly along. I think they’re amazing’
It’s a long time since the Wolf started to become an A1 choice among used Land Rovers. They cost big money to buy but, with so much about them that’ll save you grief later, a good one is a top investment When a vehicle from decades past sticks in the public conscience, it’s normally because it was either stupendously good or woefully bad. The original Mini, for example: and the Austin Allegro. Names play a part, too. Take the Nissan Sunny – a contradiction by
Words Mike Trott Pictures Graham Blakeley name and a contradiction by nature. The Skoda Superb actually IS superb, but that doesn’t make the name sound any less ridiculous. And the less said about the Ford Probe, the better. The Americans have a decent track record when it comes to naming cars – get aboard something called a Charger,
Viper or Thunderbird and you can be pretty sure something exciting is about to happen. The word ‘Hummer’ sounds like an adjective for a bad attack of wind after ten pints of bitter and a dirty curry, but even if that’s not a pretty image it’s plenty appropriate as an analogy for that vehicle…
Left: One of the defining differences between the Wolf and earlier military Defenders was under the bonnet – where, instead of the old naturally aspirated 2.5 diesel, you find a 300Tdi. The MOD had the option of using the Td5 (and some Wolf-spec trucks bought by the German government in 2003 did have this engine), but took the view that its increased reliance on electronics would make it a liability to maintain in the field Right: One attraction of this particular Wolf against most others is that the pioneer tools mounted on its bonnet have managed to survive the demob process without disappearing
Which brings us to iconic 4x4s. ‘Defender’ turned out to be a great name for the thing that used to just be called a Land Rover, for starters. But when they needed a name for the super-duper, bottom-kicking and world-conquering version of the Defender the Army asked them to
build, they needed something with a bit more panache. ‘Invader’ might have helped with export sales to a few countries, but probably wouldn’t have carried the right message. There’s a lovely rumour which says that during a meeting somewhere in Solihull, an engineer on the project
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warned that they needed to handle the project with care lest it come back to bite them. ‘Maybe we should call it the Wolf, then,’ someone quipped. True? Who cares. Back when the Wolf was developed, the Army’s Land Rover fleet was getting distinctly past its sell-by date. The 2.5 nat-asp engine is strong and dependable, but a bit on the ancient side, and these 90s and 110s weren’t built to be any more squaddy-proof than the ones being sold to farmers. The Wolf brought Army Landies into the Tdi era (leapfrogging the 200 and going straight to the 300) and put Our Boys aboard a fleet of trucks that had been strengthened in all the right places. It was much, much more appropriate to its purpose at the time – but time never slows, and since then the need for greater protection against roadside bombs and the like has seen it replaced by newer, purpose-built military creations. As a result, over the past decade or so these hardened combatants have been relieved of their military duties and told to go and find a life away from danger. To help them along the way, companies such as Agri-Plant SV (Special Vehicles) act as a sort of occupational therapist – a middle man, if you will, between the realms of the MOD and civilians. Agri-Plant’s Graham Blakeley is one of these middle men, and he recently introduced us to one of his latest patients, this Wolf 90. ‘We gets loads of surplus MOD equipment, including a lot of Land Rovers,’ says Graham. ‘This being a Continued overleaf
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Above: If you find yourself despairing every time you see the interior of a Defender from the Td5 era onwards, what do you reckon to the opportunity to climb aboard this one every morning in the knowledge that you’re its first registered owner? You’re looking at a proper Landy here and no mistake Right: Another advantage of buying a Wolf: unless you’re planning on using it for full-on motorsport, you won’t have to shell out on a roll cage. It’s as strong up top as it is underneath, this truck Wolf, though, is better than standard. I think they’re amazing. I like taking them out on a test drive – they’re so much lighter and really fly along. ‘If I had one of my own, I’d probably change the colour to nighthawk black. I like the history behind them, but they are particularly sought after and consequently cost a fair bit.’ Graham and his colleagues took delivery of this Wolf last March, straight from the MOD, and had
it checked over and prepared by a specialist before giving it their own final inspection. ‘We steam cleaned the vehicle and Waxoyled the undercarriage so it is in the best possible condition for the new owner. It is as yet still unregistered, and as such the new keeper will be its first registered owner.’ You could look at is as a passing-out parade for military vehicles – carefully dressed up and readied for their next
adventure. Agri-Plant moves on other vehicles too, including tippers, dumpers and dozers, excavators, cargo trucks and even tanks. But with Landies like this around, you’ll struggle to notice any of that. Lest we forget, the Wolf is by no means just a standard 90 with a chic name. A strengthened chassis and stronger axles make it well worth the premium, and when you combine 300Tdi power with the kerb weight of
something like a Mercedes C-Class you’ve got a truck that can go places in every sense. Reaching the magic ‘ton’ figure isn’t unheard of; in an old 2.5 nat-asp, that only happens if you’ve driven off a cliff. Back in the mid-90s, when the original MOD order was placed, Land Rover was about to replace the 300Tdi with the Td5. But the Army wasn’t up for the more modern engine. When you’re playing chicken with RPGs, you’d rather not have a light come up on the dash saying ‘computer says no…’ As it happens, the Td5 has proved since then to be extremely reliable, but sometimes the ease with which a thing can be fixed is paramount. ‘We have the original CAST certificate issued by the MOD,’ continues Graham, ‘which covers all the vehicle data, chassis number and so on. The date into service for it is 01/04/1997, so registering it for the road would put this on a P-plate.’ Back then, some rudimentary sums using government figures on the value and size of the Wolf contract suggest that the Army paid about £21,000 apiece for these special Land Rovers. As always, 90s would have been worth a little less than 110s, but you get the idea. We’re talking about a 30% price premium over what a standard 90 cost at the time – and that doesn’t include the sort of discount you get when you order 8000 trucks in one go! That illustrates the cost of the work that went into making these Landies a cut above your average Defender. And when you consider the sort of prices people still ask for very ordinary old
Tdis and early Td5s, a good Wolf is a classic case of ‘spend it once, spend it right’ – even at the five-figure prices they tend to command. This one has 116,000 miles under its wheels, but most of the time these supremely overengineered machines will have been used on fairly untaxing patrol duties – and let’s not forget that vehicles under the keep of the Ministry of Defence are maintained to the highest standard regardless of cost. ‘This Wolf may have been involved in reconnaissance missions,’ says Graham. ‘Certainly nothing to do with the Royal Marines, though, as it doesn’t have the aquatic kit on. ‘It still has the original explorer kit, though – which usually goes missing – including shovel, pick axe and the sling attached to the bonnet.’ Some versions of the Wolf were designed for tropical environments and others for winter surroundings – it’s essential to know what you’re getting if at all possible, and with its engine pre-heater and heated windscreen the latter could make a worthwhile choice if you’re planning to buy a Land Rover for everyday use. Either way, the Wolf is Land Rover at its best. Shrugging off what the world throws at it, it can adapt and survive in different climates – and as a predator, it’s right on top of the food chain. As Defenders go, this is not your average rank-and-file infantryman. Strong and smart, highly trained and honed for action, it’s more like James Bond. No wonder it’s the pick of the exmilitary crop for everyone who knows a good truck when they see it.
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Issue 12: February 2015
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PILING ON THE
‘i like to dream up ideas and see if they can be achieved’
POWER
Gareth Raynor can’t have been a very happy man when his old Range Rover blew up. But when somebody offered him a 200Tdi 110 for the old truck’s scrap value, his frown turned upside down. Not that it stayed a 200Tdi for long… Words Gary Noskill Pictures Steve Taylor
W
hen you’ve got a Land Rover that you love, and it blows up, that tends not to be ever such a good thing. But when Gareth Raynor’s old Range Rover did just that, his misfortune turned out to be a passport to something better than he could ever have dreamed of. This happened at a time before rough old Defenders were sent flying upwards in value by the appearance of the DC100. Even then, though, Gareth got lucky – when someone offered him a 200Tdi 110 for the scrap value of the
Rangey. It won’t shock you hugely to hear that he said yes. He knew the 110 would never be as comfortable as his old Range Rover. But it was going to be far cooler. He had a plan, you see. This involved an engine. There’s nothing wrong with the 200Tdi, but Gareth had always been a fan of the 5.7-litre Chevrolet V8. His mate Ian had done something similar in his 90, and Gareth put a good one right at the top of his shopping list. Fitting the mighty great Chevy unit under the Defender’s bonnet turned
out to be far easier than you might expect – of course, having already done it once on Ian’s truck made it that much easier – and it ended up mounted a little further back than the original Tdi. This meant a custom exhaust, but you’d have expected the job to need one of those anyway. The engine was bolted to a fourspeed auto box (later replaced with a five-speed LT77 manual, chosen both for its strength and its remote oil cooler), and away Gareth went… straight into some water. Cue one engine rebuild and a waterproofing programme.
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There’s a 5.7-litre Chevy V8 under the bonnet (below left), a tidy bobtail job and a +2” spring and damper lift with twinned front shocks controlling the extra weight of the bigger engine (below centre). All fine things (unless you’re an ALRC scrutineer), but some of the most interesting features of this particular 110 are found behind its cab. The rear stays for the full-length exo roll cage double up as supports for the radiator and spare wheel, and underneath them is a tidy storage system in which a pair of bespoke lockers are winkled away beneath a layer of aluminium plate. Lockers on each side of the load bay have pop-up lids which, in a particularly neat touch, sit open on gas struts. Classy and practical – and it only cost a few quid to make This involved fitting twin snorkels to keep the big engine supplied with enough air (they look cool, too), as well as a Real Steel insulation sleeve on the HT leads. Gareth moved the ignition coil inside the cabin, too, where it was housed in a roof console to keep it as far from harm as possible. If the water gets this far up, the driver’s going to drown, so a spluttering engine is unlikely to concern him. Aside from that little incident with the water, Gareth also put a hole in the
110’s original fuel tank. Rather than messing about with guards, he simply replaced it with a Series III unit on the basis that this is a smaller target. The tank’s lower capacity wasn’t an issue as the truck had been converted to run on LPG, with twin gas tanks giving him a range of 250 miles. LPG is a lot cheaper than petrol, but with a 5.7-litre V8 shifting something this big, bluff and heavy from A to B with 35” mud tyres on the road and an enthusiastic driver behind the wheel,
you’re still not talking about a cheap car to run. The Chevy is a very reliable engine, though, so it’s cost-effective in other ways – and anyway, who cares about the dull stuff when getting about is this much fun? So, we have a 110 with an engine that goes beautifully and sounds lovely. But as you’ll have spotted, there’s more. Whereas Ian had his Chevy in a 90, Gareth soon realised that though the 110 had fallen into his lap somewhat, he was a big fan. ‘I think the 110-inch
wheelbase is more forgiving than that of the 90,’ he told us. ‘It’s a lot better over choppy ground, and I think it can really help to get you out of trouble.’ But let’s talk about the 110’s rear overhang. In standard form, this gives it a departure angle of 34.5 degrees rather than the 90’s 53 degrees, and it didn’t take long for this to rattle Gareth’s teeth when he dropped off a ledge and landed on his back chassis. The solution? Simple. Lay into it with a grinder until the back body finishes a couple of inches behind the rear wheels. The problem? Simple. The hard-top is now too long. The solution? Simple. Lob the hardtop and turn it into a truck-cab. Another reason for doing this was that as well as being a toy, Gareth used his 110 as a daily driver. That meant four hours each day – and when you’ve only got an old-school Land Rover heater, a truck-cab takes a lot less keeping warm than a big old van.
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Providing cover for the rear tub, in went a pair of bespoke storage lockers, hidden under a layer of aluminium chequer-plate – an idea Gareth came up with as a means of keeping spare parts and valuables secure. A locker on each side of the load bay was fitted with a pop up lid – a system that looked tidy, worked well and only cost a few tens of pounds to make. ‘I’m not a big fan of expensive bolt-on components,’ Gareth told us. ‘I like to dream up original ideas myself, and see if they can be achieved in the workshop.’ Surrounding it all, he fitted a full external cage which covered the rear tub as well as the cab and ran down to a set of custom rock sliders. As normal with exo cages, its everyday job was to rub against trees, but come the crunch… Holding it all up was a +2” spring and shock lift, with the extra weight of the Chevy engine controlled by twin front shocks on mounts from Qt Services. Gareth used rose joints wherever possible in the suspension to add flexibility, and swapped out the front axle for a stronger Salisbury unit. The vehicle was late enough in the 200Tdi era to have been built with disc brakes all round, so the factory-fit Salisbury at the back was left well alone. Further mods included heavy-duty bumpers at both ends, but Gareth explained to us that he wasn’t bothered about bolting any winches to them. ‘I generally go off-roading in company. If I get into a pickle, one of my friends will be on hand to rescue me.’ So, here’s a 110 built by an owner with the imagination to do things his own way. Will it come as any surprise to you to hear that he rigged it up with external speakers so everyone else could enjoy his stereo too? Thought not. Though for most petrol heads, no music could sound better than the noise that came out of this 110’s exhaust pipes when Gareth put his foot down. He may not have intended to buy a Defender when his Rangey bit the dust, but he sure did embrace the opportunity that came his way. And what a truck he created in the process.
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‘the home-brewed camper look makes great use of the series iii in long-wheelbase form’
From pricey new trucks to old classics, Land Rover camper vans take many shapes and forms. The best of the lot are often the home-made homes-fromhome – and this neat 109” Series III is a fine example Mike Trott Land Rovers have been described as a great many things. Trusty workhorse, favourite toy, lifelong companion, man’s best friend, man’s wife’s worst enemy... you know the kind of thing. But ‘boat’? Less so.
Recently, though, we came across this rather unusual 109” Series III. It was relatively standard from the outside; the brushed-on black paint job wasn’t what you would call authentic, but if that was the furthest it had been taken from standard, we thought, it’s done pretty well.
Inside, however, things were less familiar. The front of the cabin remained typically Landy-esque, with the large steering wheel and primarycoloured transfer levers alongside a knurled overdrive control – but out back, a previous owner had converted it into a mini home-from-home. You open the rear door of this 1981 Series III and immediately arrive into a lounge/bedroom combo – which, if we’re honest, has a bit of a passion wagon vibe to it. You’d have to say it’s a warmer environment than the rear of Left: At a glance, the 109 doesn’t look like the prettiest thing in the world. A hand-painted overcoat in matt black tends to have that effect, see. But its beauty is definitely in its function Right: Not sure if we’d still describe this as a ‘hose-out’ interior but, when you’re fitting out your old wagon as a camper van, how far wrong can you go with a bright red carpet? The cab is generally pretty standard, save for the addition of a control lever for an overdrive
most Series Land Rovers, though, even if the all-black colour scheme makes it feel rather sombre inside. Or maybe it’s just nice and cosy. Light a few candles, and away you go… Anyway, whether it’s a love machine, a way of bonding with your truck or just a better option than erecting
a feeble tent every night, the homebrewed camper look makes great use of the Series III in long-wheelbase form. This is a two-berth Landy. I say ‘berth’ rather than ‘bed’ because, while I was in the passenger seat, the man behind the wheel (NSV Autos mechanic Ken Harper) described it as a
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The camper area isn’t exactly going to suit every taste. But it’s definitely homely, and impressively flexible, too – by night it’s a bedroom, while by day it’s a lounge. The storage units look pretty tidy, too, though you wouldn’t want to be having a kip in here when someone up front throws it into a hard left-hander… ‘boat.’ You were wondering where that was going to crop up again, weren’t you? ‘I much prefer the power steering in my Renault, to be honest with you,’ Ken jokes. Mind you, this was happening as he was swinging the 109 through a set of those road chicanes you come across every now and again to keep your speed from building up. Not something that tends to be a problem in a longwheelbase Series III. ‘It gives it a lot of character though, that’s for sure,’ continues Ken. I’m sure he couldn’t fit the same set-up in the back of his Renault, either. The bed slats fold up to create a sofa for extra seating, which is in addition to a bench on the side, and there are a couple of sockets should you wish to plug in, say, a TV. Would this be the ultimate green laning weekend tool? Well, it’s recently gone on to a new owner who will find out in time, but before that NSV Autos made sure it was in peak condition for its next adventure. Prit Virdee, the owner of NSV Autos, said: ‘We’ve redone the brakes and its had a fair bit of welding done. It’s also been steam-cleaned, with the chassis having now been painted black.’ The love boat also received a full
service and reconditioned injectors. That counts as suitable TLC for a truck that only shows 46,000 miles – a figure which, despite being very low indeed, Prit has found to be genuine. The idea of this Land Rover is hardly unique, but it sure is great. It could be the only vehicle you’d ever need, combining Series looks and character (black paint or not) with Land Rover ability and somewhere to rest your head. Providing you aren’t ‘rocking the boat’ too much, of course… That’s not what was in my mind (honest) when I found myself only moments away from bidding on this 109 when it was sold on eBay. My head stepped in with an authoritative tone before my heart had commanded my mouse finger to do anything silly, though, which is probably just as well. After all, it is only a matter of time before I add a Landy to my collection. My friends are already mocking me about the fact I don’t yet own one, actually. So if I’d have turned up one day aboard a matt black passion wagon… well, laugh as they would, I reckon they’d still have secretly respected it. This is, after all, a Landy that could be all things to all men…
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STOCKIST DIRECTORY
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Foundry 4x4 Ltd
Cast Iron Quality & Service The Old Bakery, Rear of Vale Terrace, Tredegar, Gwent, NP22 4HT
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Gumtree 4x4 “Independent Specialists in Land Rover, Range Rover, Discovery and Freelander.” Unit C17, Ditchling Common, West Sussex, BN6 8SG
www.gumtree4x4.co.uk admin@gumtree4x4.co.uk • 01444 241457
Importers, Exporters, Wholesale Distributors & Retailers of Winches & Accessories
TDS Goldfish Winches - The Best! East Foldhay, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon, EX17 6DH Tel: 01363 82666 • Fax: 01363 82782 • www.goodwinch.com • sales@goodwinch.com
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LAND ROVERS FOR SALE
Series I
Series I 88”. Has an early 2.25 engine fitted which runs on petrol and LPG. Bulkhead totally rebuilt using galvanised box-section, galv steel plate and new footwells. Not to original spec but strong and rust free. Chassis repaired where needed to make roadworthy. Parabolic rear springs with Polybushes.
Items still to do include front springs, speedo cable to fit, some rear area windows which are cracked and hard-top painting, plus carpet inside. For sale as is, only because I have other projects to complete. £7000. Kendal, r.g52@operamail.com
Series I (1956). Petrol engine. Restored approximately six years ago, fantastic condition, any viewing welcome. £10,000, 07973 131603
and crack tested, timing belt changed, electric fan. Viewing essential. Must go to a good home. £6500 ono. Call Mat on 07908 582133 or email gondolamat@aol.com Series I (1955). Completely rebuilt with a Buick 3.5 V8 engine. Estimated to have cost £20,000 to build. Very fast, noisy, road-legal. Tax and MOT exempt. Leighton Buzzard area. £7750 (firm), 01296 668339
Series II Land Rover 109 200Tdi. Twin tanks, body-off refurb, chassis checked and no welding required, HD military style crossmember,
new bespoke bumperettes, 3 coats of Shutz to chassis, tub and wings, galv bulkhead and front panel, Defender front wiring loom, professionally wired rear, new LED standard style lights, high level brake light, LED camping/reverse lights and internal strip lights, Pioneer CD, Toro overdrive, P38 PAS box on 12mm plate welded to chassis, safari roof, 5 General Grabber 235/85R16s, head skimmed
Land Rover Series IIA (1969). 2.25 petrol. 48,389 miles. This is a beautiful marine blue Series IIA 88” soft-top. In excellent condition, fully serviced recently, newly repaired starter motor and
10 months’ MOT. No need for road tax! Essex. £3000 ono. 07966 242402, eccure@gmail.com
Bulkhead very good with new footwells in the past and nice, correct dashboard. Smiths heater and correct heater ducts around wiper motors. Correct Lucas wiper motors that work albeit not very fast, as usual! Rare early hard-top. Correct early tailgate and ‘cat flap’ rear upper door. Correct square front valance. Paintwork new (matt finish), extremely presentable. Hard top still in original paint. Engine very quiet and goes well – has had extensive overhaul at some point, including conversion to run on unleaded, with documentation to validate. Loads of history. £4600. Essex, 07843 074904
Land Rover Series IIA 6x6 (1965). Registered as an 88” wheelbase and converted to 6-wheel-drive at manufacture. Currently a project, but I have run out of time. Chassis in good order but front spring hangers have rusted at the front. Engine compression is good. I am confident the engine works well, and wired some of the lighting up which works. Haven’t tried the clutch, but have bled the brakes and they work. Requires the following to complete: windscreen, windscreen motors and wipers, doors, front lights, roof. I do not have the V5, but the chassis and engine number register it as a Series II. I also have a large selection of spares which I can sell with the vehicle. Needs to be towed away. Once complete, this is a unique Land Rover and would be worth a high price. £1800. Kingston, Surrey, 07810 55398
Series III
Land Rover Series II (1961). 88” 2.25 petrol on original engine. Selling due to lack of use. Genuine Series II (not IIA!) originally registered 8 June 1961. Service history back and MOTs to 1998. Garaged throughout previous ownership. MOT 27 October 2015. Seat belts fitted.
Land Rover Series III 88” (1980). 2.25 petrol. Less than 2000 miles in last six years covered (backed up by VOSA). MOT end of March 2015. Webber
carb. Starts first turn of key, runs superbly. Clean under bonnet. Bulkhead completely solid. Brand new driver and passenger doors (driver’s door bottom needs painting). New seat belts fitted, nearly new Defender rims and Michelin tyres. Brand new grille. Headlight bowls painted correct marine blue. FWH fitted. Transfer box works fine and gearbox is great. Includes a VGC deluxe centre seat. Currently a truck cab – included in sale will be a 3/4 canvas tilt and sticks, and a full hard top with windows and rear door. Also a set of Series III rims, but they are pretty rough. Not concours, but a great Series III – you can use every day and tinker away to your heart’s content! £3450. Cannock, 07913 340661
Land Rover Series III 109” (1984). 2.25 Petrol, ex-military FFR, refurbished. 45,000 kilometres on clock. MOT June 2015. 2.25 petrol on Solex Zenith carb (runs very smoothly, as do the gearbox and transfer case). This One-Ton 109” spent 14 years in northern Norway. It was factory fitted with the CJ Williams Arctic Heater, which is still installed and operational. It has 24v electrics and a kilometres-per-hour speedo, with miles in subscript. The vehicle also has an oil temperature gauge and oil-cooling radiator, which are not commonly fitted to civilian Land Rovers. The car has its original heavy-duty chassis and Salisbury rear axle. It can take a full-size spare wheel on its bonnet or rear door. The vehicle has twin fuel tanks, and a selection of other military-specific components were removed during its restoration. These have been dry-stored and will be available to the buyer if desired. The vehicle has a custom interior with a pair of reclining bucket seats, new inertia reel seat belts and clasps, Mountney 15” steering wheel and tailored soundproofing carpet. It also has two rows of custom-made bench seats mounted lengthwise in the rear. £8995. Swansea, 07824 158634
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Issue 12: February 2015
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GUMTREE 4x4
gauges not currently working. £4450, offers welcome. Essex, 07918 673915
90 Series III 88” (1983). Galvanised chassis. Reconditioned MOD 2.25 Petrol engine on 20,000 miles (MOTs to prove genuine mileage). Comes with heaps of receipts. Series IIA gearbox, Fairey overdrive, freewheeling hubs, 265/55R16 BFGoodrich TAs on steel 8-spokes. Parabolic springs, swivel housing gaiters, Kenlowe Fan, halogen headlights. Cat 2 immobiliser fitted. Very reluctant sale as I know I will never own a Series III to this high spec again, which saddens me. Depending on sale price, I may include a spare tailgate and another tyre. Solihull. £4000 ono. Email jwmason@live.com.
Land Rover Sandringham Six. 6x6 Series III Stage 1 V8. 139” wheelbase. Unfinished project, 95% complete with all parts needed to finish. Factory built and original – one of only about a dozen known to survive. I’ve had it for about 7 years and have rebuilt it from the chassis up. It’s road registered with a V5 in my name. I also have the proper wide one-ton wheels which have been shot blasted, primed and will be painted green, plus six new 7.50 x 16 Extra Grip tyres (it’s currently on slave wheels). I have a total photo library of every stage of the rebuild. To finish, it just needs brake shoes and wheel cylinders fitting (new parts supplied) and all the lights refitting and wiring connected. A back body of your choice needs to be sorted; they were fitted with either flat beds with sides (I can put you in touch with a fabricator who will make you one) or a lengthened normal Land Rover body (again the same guy can do this for you). The chassis has the correct mounting points for both as they were factory built with either. £8500, Bridgwater, Somerset. 07590 487885
Lightweight
Series III 88” Lightweight. Runs and drives as well as any Land Rover I’ve owned. Recon 2.5 engine and gearbox, solid chassis and bulkhead. 5.5J wheels, deluxe seats and head restraints. Centre cubby, parabolic springs, rear lined with marine ply, new doors and door tops. Wipers and
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SpecialiStS in land rover, range rover, diScovery, freelander and all 4x4s servicing, repairs, conversions, rebuilds & chassis replacements. performance and off road modifications. established in 1981, located in mid-sussex
tel: 01444 241457
Land Rover 90 Truck-Cab. Isuzu 2.8 TD engine. 12 months’ MOT. Thousands spent on this off-road ready truck, but now have to sell due to other commitments. 2” lift, 265/75R16 Insa Turbo Special Tracks, front hoop roll cage handbuilt by professional garage, two 8” brand new spots on front, Optima Red Top battery, new alternator, all bushes replaced for MOT, disc brakes all round, diff guards front and back, steering guard, bucket seats, home made snorkel, rear dislocation cones, new handbrake shoes, new front pads. With also throw in two new suspension turrets, new plastic PAS fluid reservoir and farm jack. May part-ex for Disco 3 or 110 Double-Cab. £2200, offers welcome. Hampshire, 07733 101949
Land Rover Defender 90 (1990). 3.5 EFI V8 Automatic with LPG. Ibis White. Upgraded front end giving up-to-date look. Engine and gearbox changed for a Range Rover V8 10 years ago, converted to LPG at same time. Last owner ten years. Recently fitted with 235/85R16 Sahara offroad/winter tyres, 2012 Defender XS seats; remote-control 5-ton winch, new HD battery and alternator, leads, plugs, distributor cap, new heavy-duty towbar. TD5 steering wheel included but not yet fitted. Solid all round, rot-free chassis and bulkhead, with Boost alloys and 2” suspension lift. Not used off-road in the time I’ve owned it. Serviced and tuned in the summer so is running and driving without fault, apart from fuel gauge is temperamental. £4650. Cumbria, 07540 537673 or 01539 446898
Land Rover 90 200 Tdi (1989) off-road monster. Thousands spent on getting it to where it is now. 5” lift with Protrac double-cardon front and Dave Mac extreme wide-angle rear props. 15x10” modulars with VGC 35x12.50R15 Cooper Discoverer STT tyres. Full-width Allisport
info@gumtree4x4.co.uk
intercooler, diesel pump turned up (not too much), turbo turned up 0.9 bar so still safe. Built using recon diffs and engine (had done about 20,000 miles when I bought it, now on about 40k). Chassis in good condition with recent crossmember. Bulkhead has had corner repair panels riveted on at some point, but is solid. Tubular turrets, front/rear dislocation cones, 3-dgree radius arms, cranked rear trailing arms, HD steering arms, diff and steering guards, rock sliders, 13,000lb winch on tubular bumper, Safari snorkel, 100W spots, disc brake rear axle, TD5 heated seats (need wiring), extended wheelarches, Mountney steering wheel, recent new HD clutch, radiator, alter-
nator, belts, ignition, oil cooler and lift pump. I have only been off-roading a handful of times as I prefer to look at it than ruin it! PAS box leaks a bit, main beam doesn’t work, gearbox crunches a bit into 3rd but mostly just on the motorway. Overall she is in good condition. £6500. Oxfordshire, 07908 480114
Defender 90 200 Tdi (1993). Hybrid T28/T25 turbo, K&N
air filter, Allisport full-width intercooler with silicone hoses. Full 2” stainless exhaust. Kenlowe fan with in cab control, X-Lite spots on roof bar, snorkel with full wading kit. Winch bumper, fitted with Superwinch. 2” longer shocks with 2” lift, bigger bump stops and full Polybush kit. Adrenaline front and rear castor correction radius arms. Big brake conversion with braided lines and front drilled and grooved discs. QT rock slider diff guards, fuel tank guard, tree sliders. Split charge system, bucket seats, Mud-UK radio/CB centre console with Carling switches for fan, rear work lights, interior lights and splitcharge. £4500. Warrington, 07879 883348
Land Rover Defender 90 300 Tdi (1997). Rebuilt on galvanised chassis with mint bulkhead and 99% brand new nuts and bolts. £1000s spent! Axles, tank guard and rock sliders also galvanised. All new suspension, with +2” shocks and Adrenalin 4x4 turrets, rear shock mounts, HD steering bars, adjustable panhard rod, dislocation cones and spring retainers. TDCi exhaust and bonnet, extended bump stops,
Advertising your Land Rover for sale is 100% FREE for private sellers. Just call Gemma Pask on 01283 553242
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fully Polybushed. Snorkel. Reconditioned diffs and new brakes, timing belt, crank seals, track rod ends and heavy-duty clutch (including fork). Full service. 17” Predator alloys with Cooper ST 33x12.50s on 30mm spacers. Swing-away spare wheel mount (not fitted but included in sale). This Landy has had a full police inspection by a specialist. She has her original tag in the window and brake servo, and I have the original log book from day one. I’ve done 1000 miles in her and she drives faultlessly, but a new house is forcing a very reluctant sale. Sheffield. £9999.99. 07547 111442.
Defender 90 Heritage. Much loved but rarely used. Heavy tow pack, non-smoker, very well kept, good for insurance, reliable. Four owners. MOT Oct. Part service history. Manual sunroof, air conditioning, MP3 player, leather trim, folding rear seats, spare wheel (full), PAS, traction, alarm, immobiliser. £13,000. Call Pete on 07834 763919 or email pete.barlow@salixrw.com.
Defender 90Tdi. Late 1994. Pick-up with Truckman top and 5-speed gearbox. Low milage, new MOT. Nice condition throughout. £4995, 01420 473470
Defender 90 TD5 pick-up. 139,100 miles. 12,000lb winch (cost £500, new 2 months ago from Gigglepin), Devon 4x4 winch bumper (£800), rock sliders, snorkel and diff breathers, diff guards, front and rear sump guards, bucket seats, light guards all round, dislocation cones, fully Polybushed. Cubby box, full chequer plate, rear bump guards, CD stereo with Alpine head unit and aux lead. Great truck with strong TD5 and solid chassis. Last serviced in January, MOT 04/15, tax 03/15. £6750. andydownes13@hotmail.co.uk
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Issue 12: February 2015 transfer lever action. 2” Britpart Super Gaz lift kit fitted. Boost Alloys (including spare) with Hankook Dynapro MT tyres. 30mm wheel spacers. Electric windows, remote central locking, heated seats, heated front and rear windscreen. Winch bumper with Warn winch, Kenwood CD stereo with aux input. Seats in good condition. NAS lights all round. Must be seen! £8295. joshbaker_uk@yahoo.com
Land Rover Defender 90. Discovery transfer box, Ashcroft rear locker. 35,000 miles on Turner engine. Allisport intercooler, stainless steel exhaust. 235/85R16 muds. MOT May. £2800, Herfordshire. 07810 366544
Limited edition 90. Over 40k worth of receipts for work carried out and professional mods. Bespoke tuning, K&N air filter, Allisport intercooler, Hayward and Scott stainless straight-through exhaust, hybrid turbo. Recaro race seats (heated), uprated roll bars, lowered suspension. Boss wheels, LED lights, Alpine sound system, Bluetooth, sat nav, uprated cubby box. Brand new 13,000lb winch and front bumper. Momo wheel, upgraded brakes. FSH. £20,950 tonyackerman2000@yahoo. co.uk
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110 2.5 petrol/LPG, C-reg. 121,000 miles, on SORN. Solid chassis, spot lights, chequer plate, rear worklight, tubular side steps, roof rack, fog lights. New alternator Feb 2013. Engine rebuild Feb 2011 including new valves, bearings and piston rings. MOT May 2014. This Landy is 27 years old and does have a few marks. £2200. cotton13@hotmail.co.uk
2014. £15,500+VAT cwdm@ hotmail.co.uk
Land Rover Defender 110 300 TDi Camper. Professionally converted to a camper van two years ago. MOT October 2015. In past two years it’s had the following: new rear crossmember, brand new rear door, brand new nearside and offside doors, resprayed black, professionally fitted Cat 1 remote alarm/immobiliser. New radiator, fuel tank, snorkel. 40W solar panel with leisure battery and USB sockets, thick Kingspan-insulated camper with comfy bed. Britpart +2” HD springs, Pro-Comp ES9000 +2” dampers, QT Castor-corrected radius arms and track rod arms, 5 alloy wheels with General Grabber 235/85R16s in good condition, front winch bumper, rear step bumper, chequer plate wing tops, LRX Hi-Force wing top vents, lockable cubby box. Great condition for age, starts first time, drives very well. Warm to sleep in, even if frosty outside. £5500. East Sussex, 07765 528528
Land Rover 110 300 Tdi Station Wagon (1989). 119,600 miles. Originally a 12-seater, converted to 5-seater but I still have the rear bench seats. Professionally converted with reconditioned Defender 300Tdi engine and LT77 box. MOT March. 35x12.50R15 M/Ts on 10j wide offset modulars, heavy-duty Terrafirma 2” lift plus 2” lift blocks and drop shocks, external roll cage, extended brake lines, snorkel and axle breathers, swingaway wheel carrier, 42” LED 240w light bar. First Four winch bumper with Superwinch Tigershark 9500, clear indicators, RDX light guards, front diff guard, high-lift jack and mounts. Pedal lock, RX8 leather electric front seats, Sparco wheel, cubby box, fire extinguisher, life hammer, Mud-UK pod with Carling switches and Midland CD. HD steering arms, newish headlights and grille, dog guard, removable alloy storage frame / sleeping platform in the rear. Solid chassis. Previously been to Morocco and back, selling due to other commitments. £5500 ono. Stockport, 07983 930550
Range Rover
Defender 90 TD5, 2002. Drives exceptionally well with lots of power, great gearchange and
Defender 110 XS Utility. Warn winch, full roof rack, steering guard, full set of Land Rover seat covers and mats, seats like new under covers. New tyres. Leather seats, heated front seats, air-conditioning, electric windows, CD stereo, traction control. MOT and tax November
Range Rover Vogue SE 3.9 V8 Auto Pick-Up. Professionally con-
verted. Tan leather electric seats, lockable pick-up cover on gas struts. Engine rebuilt with Viper Hurricane performance cam, polished and ported heads, K&N air filter. Milltek Racing stainless exhaust with tubular manifolds. 1” lowered suspension. Mountney hardwood sports steering wheel, custom headlining by Nationwide trim, 5 new Goodyear Eagle GT+4 235/70/16s on fully refurbished alloys. Bull bar and spots, rear light protection, full tow bar kit. West Midlands. £4500, 07734 599399, mikehayes_1@msn.com
off road capability – it goes everywhere. Have also got lots of spares that will come with the Range Rover if sold at right price. £5500, Chelmsford. Contact care of tor@assignmentmedia.co.uk (message will be forwarded to advertiser).
Range Rover Bobtail. F-reg. 300Tdi, 2” lift, Insa Turbos, no rot, long MOT. Has been done to a high standard. £3000 ono. 07969 045579
Discovery Range Rover 3.5 V8 (1981), bobtail off-roader. Road-legal. Professionally built to a high standard with roll cage and rear-mounted fuel tank and battery. Various spot lights and gauges, with electrics all at windscreen height to avoid being swamped. Snorkel and big knobbly tyres. Bucket seats with harnesses, rear lockers, complete roll cage and tow bar. Starts first turn of the key and drives very well. Not one of the usual poorly converted Range Rovers you see for sale. V5 and all old MOTs etc present. Frome, Somerset. £1650. 07847 612739.
Range Rover for spares or repair. Engine runs and she drives but needs a battery. Needs repair but not that bad for her age – contact for details. Would have to be towed away. Viewing 9am to 4pm weekdays as parked at a garage. £1100. Collection from A9 just outside Perth. Contact neilw@emirates.net.ae
Range Rover Classic Bobtail. 4-door with Daihatsu 2.8 turbodiesel engine and Range Rover 5-speed gearbox. MOT and tax August 15. 285 Insa Turbos on Extreme Offset 16” modulars. Front and rear ARB Air-Lockers. Hardened shafts. Cranked suspension arms, HD steering arms. New 2” lift springs and 5” shocks. From Warn 8274 with Bowmotor 1 and wide drum, rear Superwinch X9, both with remotes and in-can switches. Wide-angle props. X-Brake handbrake. Diff and steering guards, rock sliders, HD bumpers, custom internal/external roll cage. Snorkel. Swing-away wheel carrier. Gwyn Lewis front winch tray and 2.5” shock droppers. Front designed for maximum
with all the usual G4 decals, although the bonnet and door LR badges are quite faded. Comes with two extra wheels (tyres worn), Warn winch cover and remote, first aid kit, two water and one diesel jerry cans (unused), dog guard (not currently fitted), kayak mounts for roof rack, PLUS a genuine G4 Challenge selection mountain bike! Selling mainly because I fancy a change. £20,000. Northumberland, 07802 449658
Land Rover Discovery (1990). White. Very economical low-compression carb V8 on LPG. Manual. Long MOT. Superb to drive, excellent gearbox with good changes on all gears. Low, high and diff locks okay. Good chassis and rear crossmember, two-door shell very straight in good condition with no sunroof or rails. Dixon-Bate towbar with twin electrics. Bigger wheels. No luxuries or complicated electrics, just power steering and wind-up windows. 65-litre LPG tank behind rear seats (still room for our Retriever in there!) This V8 will virtually match a Tdi on running costs fuel wise, except it makes a nicer noise and is smoother. If you fancy a not-messed-about-with, quite rare Discovery, this could be for you. £1450. Bristol, 07837 302927
Discovery 200 Tdi manual. Long MOT. 100% reliable, firsttime starter. Gearbox crunches in 2nd/3rd. Very solid chassis and floor. Over £5k spent on mods including HD shocks and springs, Goodridge braided brake lines, wheel spacers, arch extensions, Safari snorkel, diff, tank and steering guards, Polybushes, 12,000lb winch, sill guards, second battery and much more. May swap for tax-exempt Series LR. £2000, 07434 398504
Land Rover Discovery 300Tdi trayback. L-reg. 3” body lift and 4” suspension lift. KAM rear LSD + electric diff locker, drop-in electric locker at front, +5” shocks all-round, Gwyn Lewis wide-angle rear prop, double cardon front prop. £9995, Somerset. Call John on 07957 658847
Freelander
Freelander 2 XS TD4 Auto (2008). Genuine 67k from new with FSH. MOT Sept 2015. Well looked after and in excellent condition. Runs perfectly with no faults and has been a pleasure to own. Excellent spec with all optional extras – looks stunning! Tyres in excellent condition. Towbar with twin electrics, parking sensors all-round, half-leather, cruise, climate, Alpine speakers, Bluetooth etc. Comes with all paperwork, manuals, service book, leather wallet and two keys. Private registration currently being removed – will revert back to its ‘08’ prefix. £10,795. Louth, Lincs, 07502 465062
Coil sprung 88” racer. V8 auto with 1971 Range Rover chassis shortened to 88” and Series I style body painted white. Professionally built to AWDC and ALRC spec. Lucas 14cux fuel injection, 3-speed Torqueflite auto box. Defender type axles. Sparco seats with 6-point seat belts and window net on left hand side. Freestyle alloys with 205x16 Bronco Diamond tyres. Done about 1500 miles since I rebuilt it. This Land Rover is loads of fun and I’m mad for selling it, but it owes me the national debt. Tring, Herts. £4500. Call 01296 668848 (w)
Parts Discovery clutch pressure plate (part #FTC575). Brand new, still in box. Herts area. £offers. 01992 465721 BFGoodrich M&S tyre. 235/70R16. Only ever done 40 miles. Offers invited. Herts, 01992 465721 Disco Mk 1 complete front end, including lamps, grilles and templates for modifying to look like a Disco 2. Offers invited. Herts, 01992 465721 Land Rover spares for sale. Truck cab, £150. Bonnet, £100. Tailgate, £20. Doors, £20. Ifor Williams canopy, £80. Roll cage (brand new), £500. Call Claire on 07554 661053
Land Rover Series I 80” tailgate rib repair section (repro). A reproduction of the centre rib from the tailgate in 1.5mm thick aluminium, for repairing an area often damaged when the tailgate is dropped on to the towing hitch. Accurately copied from an original. 13.5” overall length. Picture shows one fitted to an 80” tailgate; it may also fit other models. Hopefully of use to anyone restoring. £10, 07753 581643
Range Rover P38 GEMS engine sump rubber gasket. Hand-cut engine oil sump gasket made from industrial rubber, to fit 95-99 4.0 and 4.6 V8 with the tin sump and one front corner at 45 degrees. Ideal if you have trouble getting a seal with the liquid gasket. £10, 07753 581643
Land Rover Defender and Series rear bumperettes. Heavy-duty. For Series or Defender 90/110/130 and Puma. Made from 4mm wall 50mm diameter steel pipe, wit grip tape on top so can be used as a step. Bolt on using the same fixing points as your standard rear handles (but will not fit Land Rovers with the 2 large torx bolt heads on each side of the rear crossmember without spacers). £75, 07753 581643
Hood stick for Series II, IIA or III. Good, usable condition. Slight kink on one side but still fits fine. £20, 01538 724073
Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 E (2009). 50,000 miles. Stop-start. Recent service and MOT. Averages 38mpg on short runs. Well looked after vehicle with full service history and in great condition. £10,000. Lincs, 07941 466620
Specials
G4 Challenge Discovery 3 (2009). 105,000 miles. Used by Land Rover in the selection trials in Belgium for the 2009 G4 Challenge (the one that was cancelled). Disposed of at 2200 miles and I have owned it since. Comes
Ashcroft shafts/CVs. Please get in touch for full specification and work done. Hundreds of pics available. Offers around £10,000. 07841 193027
Recently built 300Tdi trayback. Very high spec. Only done one event since build. Custom interior, GP winches, Mach 5s,
200Tdi Land Rover engine and 90 gearbox. Engine is originally out of a Discovery but it was removed from a 90. Starts and runs okay with a little white smoke when cold. Unknown mileage. Gearbox and transfer box are original 90; the gearbox jumps out of reverse. Prior to removal, clutch didn’t slip and diff lock was working. Automator is practically brand new. Turbo has no play on the spindle and is in good condition. £400, offers welcome. Contact care of tor@assignment-media.co.uk (message will be forwarded)
Land Rover Discovery 300 Tdi cylinder head. Original Land Rover. Came from a good, running engine. Complete including injectors. £95. Contact care of tor@assignment-media.co.uk (message will be forwarded) Land Rover parts for sale. Bonnet, £100. Brand new Whitbread roll cage to fit Defender, £400. Series I half doors, £30 (pair). Ifor Williams canopy, £50. Call 07554 661053
Wanted Series I or II for restoration. Anything considered. Preferably a pre-1960 vehicle. Private buyer. Cash waiting. Steve, 07970 102651, stephen.kuzio@ live.co.uk
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Issue 12: February 2015
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A top day at Muddy Bottom! Mike Trott
Muddy Bottom is well known for its playdays, but recently I travelled down to the New Forest to watch the action as Joe Rose and his team used their site to host a punch hunt. And with the terrain ranging from rocks to swamps and reed-covered duck ponds, the 28 drivers taking part definitely had their work cut out. A huge variety of vehicles turned up both for the punch hunt and the playday running alongside it, but as always it was 90s to the fore. Joe’s son Max, 13, had already given me a tour of the site by this time in his marshalling vehicle – a Discovery, or what’s left of it, which turned out to be very handy when the punters started needing to be recovered. One of them, actually, got his distinctive orange Range Rover Classic so well bogged that it took a total of four vehicles, all of them Land Rovers, to free it from the boggy ground. In between times, some of the Landies on the site were actually competing too, many of them very capably. Credit to Joe and the team as they had set out some challenging punches – including a couple of real head-scratchers, according to the competitors I spoke to. As the afternoon had worn on, the late summer sun had done its best to turn the New Forest landscape into the Sahara, but it would take more than that to dry out the wet bits of a site whose name is very well earned.
‘Everyone has had a really good weekend,’ said Joe’s wife Carla, who had done amazingly well in keeping all the competitors topped up with burgers and refreshments. ‘The winners of the prizes are chuffed to bits and everyone is now asking when our next event will be.’ The answer to that? Watch this space. Muddy Bottom hosts regular playdays – and you can now expect to see more punch hunts too. It’s all at www.muddybottom4x4.co.uk.
Moran wins 2014 British Cross Country Championship as Linford takes the spoils in Freelander Challenge Gary Simpson / Songasport Land Rover’s presence in the Britpart MSA British Cross Country Championship is these days limited mainly to silhouette vehicles. But one of them has taken the flag in the race for the 2014 title, after Mike Moran won the final event of the season at Walters Arena in his AT 4x4 Indy Challenger. In the Freelander Challenge, which runs as part of the BCCC, Paul Cumpstone was the winner at Walters. Ian Linford was behind him in second, however, despite managing to damage his Freelander’s
alternator, gearbox and clutch – a result which confirmed him as the 2014 Freelander Challenge champion.
To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk
Calendar
Off-Road Playdays Boxgrove
Chichester, West Sussex
Essex, Rochford and District 4x4 Club Rayleigh, Essex
Frickley 4x4
Frickley, South Yorkshire
Parkwood 4x4 Tong, Bradford
21 December
Kirton Off Road Centre
Explore Off Road
Muddy Bottom
Silverdale, Stoke-on-Trent
Muddy Bottom
Minstead, Hampshire
North Yorks Off Road Centre Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorks
26 December 4x4 Without a Club Aldermaston, Berks
27 December Kirton Off Road Centre
Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs
28 December
Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs Minstead, Hampshire
Slindon Safari
Fontwell, West Sussex
Thames Valley 4x4
18 January Explore Off Road
Silverdale, Stoke-on-Trent
Muddy Bottom
Minstead, Hampshire
North Yorks Off Road Centre Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorks
Broxhead, Hampshire
24 January
4 January
Kirton Off Road Centre
Bala 4x4
Bala, Gwynedd
Dundry Off-Road Dundry, Bristol
Muddy Bottom
Minstead, Hampshire
Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs
25 January Avalanche Adventure
Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire
Cowm Leisure
Whitworth, Lancashire
Avalanche Adventure
North Yorks Off Road Centre
Cowm Leisure
Picadilly Wood
Future 4x4
11 January
Kirton Off Road Centre
Hill’n’Ditch
Avalanche Adventure
Slindon Safari
Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire Whitworth, Lancashire Avon Dassett, Warwickshire Mouldsworth, Cheshire
Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorks Bolney, West Sussex
Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire
Green Lane Convoy Events 24 December
18 January
UK Landrover Events
Landcraft
26 December
UK Landrover Events
UK Landrover Events
25 January
27 December
UK Landrover Events
North York Moors
Tynedale
Lost World Adventures Wiltshire
28 December Landcraft
Snowdonia (Adventure Plus Day)
11 January Landcraft
Snowdonia
Snowdonia (Adventure Plus Day) Peak District
Lincoln and Belvoir
Devil’s Pit
Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire
Frickley 4x4
Frickley, South Yorkshire Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs Fontwell, West Sussex
Issue 12: February 2015
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Issue 12: February 2015
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Clubs
Day and night trial sees Essex LRC make the most of winter
Words Sue Coulson Pictures Ralph Coulson Every year, Essex Land Rover Club winds up its competitive calendar by marking the start of winter with a Day Into Night Trial. This is run exactly as it sounds, with four or five sections which are driven in the afternoon and then, after a break for dinner as night falls, once again in the darkness. To prevent it from becoming a test of who’s spent most money on LEDs, there’s a rule on lighting. Only one
extra set is permitted, and it has to be fitted below bulkhead level. The day of this year’s trial dawned bright and crisp, with a very hard frost on the ground as the team of setters-out arrived at the site near Sudbury. It wasn’t quite as boggy as they had expected after so much rain in the latter part of autumn; maybe the frost contributed to that, but with three classes of vehicle to cater for you
definitely need to create sections that are about more than just mud, so the firmer ground was very welcome. The classes on the day were, as would be usual for an ALRC club, RTV, CCV and Tyro. The latter used completely separate sections on some of the less aggressive but still interesting ground the site has to offer. RTV and CCV meanwhile took drivers through the same sets of gates until the
very end, where the final three were more challenging for the CCV motors. All groups had four sections in the ground. The Tyros, which contained one junior and one complete novice, had the smallest group on the day, but this meant they could run each section twice before dark, giving them loads of time to work out what they were doing. That served them well, because one muddy section in particular
needed a bit of practice as the drivers went in search of the best line. The combined RTV and CCV groups, meanwhile, had some superb holes to drive through – both with and without muddy infill. The site is quite enclosed and there were plenty of tree roots on uphill sections to catch out or cross-axle any unwary competitors. This group managed to complete five sections before tea.
To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk As you can imagine, teatime at these trials is always a lovely social event. There were lots of Storm kettles in evidence to the making of hot drinks and soup, several stoves were on the go and the smell of bacon wafted through the woods. Someone even had a fire going in a repurposed Landy wheel, with a frying pan of sausages on top. What with that and a large tin of Christmas sweets going round, there really was an air of festivity – which is of course just as it should be. If you’ve never trialled at night, you might be surprised at the difference it makes. Drivers often get better scores in the dark! Not being able to see all the surrounding area seems to concentrate the mind wonderfully – well, that and the fact that the marshals are blundering around in the mud and the dark trying to watch the canes! Once the sun went down and the moon came out, it was a very cold evening and everyone who had remembered to bring them was pleased to pull on extra layers of clothing. It was also a great time for comparing gadgets – there was any number of excellent torches on show that had special focussing beams! In the Tyros, everyone managed at least one clear and junior class driver Ben Bushell, who had actually led the scoring after the first round of sections, kept up the pressure throughout to finish second to the Discovery of Chris Bovis. Jack Garwood narrowly beat his dad Richard to win the CCV, with Sue Bushell third overall in the top-placed Class 10 motor. In the RTVs, Alex Howard was miles ahead of the field in his 90 after a performance that got better and better as the day (and night) wore on. Mark Neale, who was his closest challenger, took the honours in the leaf-sprung class, and there were two retirements – with Roger Parker and Richard Mahoney coincidentally both calling it a day on the sixth section. The Day-Into-Night Trial is always a popular club event, not just for drivers but for spectators too – several club members turned up during the day to see how everyone was doing. The club gets plenty of volunteer marshals too, which isn’t something you often hear. Maybe it’s the festive spirit. Either way, this is a very friendly event, with a tangible feeling of doing something a little different as you trial in the dark. Every club should consider doing something like this – for Essex LRC, it’s the perfect way to round off another fine season’s trialling. Want to know more about the Essex LRC? For more information on upcoming events, or indeed anything else, visit www.elrc.info or drop them a line at secretary@elrc.info.
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Issue 12: February 2015
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TPORE ends the year with a festival of muddy fun
One of the things about online forums is that however much you might feel at home as part of one, the other people in it could be on the other side of the world. That wasn’t quite the case with the guys who got together to form Trans Pennine Off Road Events (TPORE), but it might as well have been – because if you want to get together once a month to spend a day hauling each other out of muddy bogs, a couple of counties away is as bad as the dark side of the moon. It’s often said that the internet has shrunk the world, and in some ways that’s true. But when you’ve still got to drive from place to place, it makes no difference at all – in fact, when the presence of forums means clubs no longer have any kind of local identity, it can mean you have to travel ten times further to meet up with the mates you’ve met online. That’s pretty much the way things were back at the end of 2010 for a couple of guys in the Chesterfield area. They were part of a forum whose membership was spread over such a wide area that they never ended up actually doing any off-roading, and felt sure there must be a better way. TPORE is that better way. The lads who founded the club stuck with the forum idea, but they aimed to keep it nice and local. It worked – in fact, it worked with such success that the club now runs ten playdays a year, and next season it’s going to start running its first full punch-hunt championship. Over the last couple of years, the club has experimented by running punch hunts on a Saturday with a playday the next morning at the same
venue. That wasn’t working out for people, however – so come the 2015 season, they’re going to put on around half a dozen stand-alone events aimed solely at the competitive element within the club. The event where we took these photos was a combined playday and punch hunt held at Holymoorside,
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just up the road from Chesterfield. TPORE also uses Padley Wood and Biggin, rotating the three venues where possible. There’s no events in December or January, and perhaps as a result they tend to get their biggest turnouts in November and February. That was certainly in evidence from what we saw. The club’s insurance, which comes through membership of the IOPD, limits it to 50 trucks on the move at a time, so there was a queuing system in operation with groups being released to go and play as others came back to base for a break. A nice problem to have, as most event organisers would surely agree. Not everyone in TPORE drives a Land Rover. It’s an all-marques club, and there were a few Japanese motors going around on the day. As is normal with even a club like this, though, if you’re into off-roading there’s one make you’re likely to choose over all others – we’d say a good 80-90% of the trucks we saw at Holymoorside had green ovals on them. There may have been a punch hunt going on, but the guys who were just there for the playday seemed to be winching as much as the comp boys. Almost everywhere we went, someone was recovering someone else. That’s Holymoorside for you – at least, it is when a group of lads like this get going on it, because they’re not for taking the easy route. Whether they’re driving, winching or hanging out and having a laugh, they’re a good bunch to spend a day with – no wonder the club’s grown so much in those four short years since it was formed. Club Chairman Paul Wood is keen to keep that momentum going, so if you’re in the Chesterfield area and up for a bit of off-road fun he’d love to see you dropping in on their forum. It’s at www.tpore.co.uk and basic registration is free – and they’ll make you very welcome, whether on the boards or in the mud.
Issue 12: February 2015
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Issue 12: February 2015
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Cobley clinches Defender Challenge with victory at Scottish Hillrally
The inaugural Defender Challenge by Bowler championship came to its conclusion at the end of November, with Edd Cobley taking the title. Travelling to Scotland for the series finale, the Borders Hill Rally provided a grand spectacle – with pressure on Cobley coming from championship rivals Race2Recovery as they looked to overhaul the long-time leader when it mattered. Cobley, however, had other ideas and finished in the style of a true champion by winning in Dumfries – while Race2Recovery, driven by Surrey’s Ben Gott, finished as runnersup after a creditable sixth straight podium of the campaign. Cobley, a Land Rover Experience instructor at Rockingham Castle, had taken a narrow one-point lead into the final round after crashing last time out in North Wales. ‘I was very nervous at the start line because it is so easy to throw these things away,’ he commented after the event. ‘I was driving very cautiously, but it paid off and I am really chuffed with the result. ‘I am honoured and proud of the team and the car, and of course what Bowler has done with the vehicle. It’s been a great championship and we have made some lifelong friends, which is what rallying is all about.’ With Cobley shaking off the opposition for the title in the seventh and final round of the year, Race2Recovery were able to seal second place in the championship with their continued run of form. The team gives people with disabilities the chance to participate in professional-level motorsport, with the Defender Challenge’s longterm aim being to provide a pathway into international events such as the Dakar Rally. Driver Ben Gott praised the performances of one of the disabled members of the Race2Recovery team after the race, co-driver Stephanie
Boddez. Boddez contracted meningitis at the age of 17, losing both her legs as a result, and now uses prosthetic limbs. ‘It’s been a brilliant year,’ reflected Gott. ‘We are very thankful to Land Rover for its sponsorship over the past twelve months. It has meant that the team has learnt new techniques, and Steph has really blossomed, helping her on the road to international rally raids in the future.’ Jag Land Rover’s Mark Cameron said: ‘We’d like to congratulate Edd Cobley on winning the first ever Defender Challenge. The series has proved to be a huge success and has showcased the unique abilities of the Land Rover Defender. ‘For Land Rover and Bowler, one of the many positives to come out of the series is that we’ve provided a platform
for teams, drivers and navigators who want to progress to international competitions like the Dakar Rally. We are delighted that three of our teams are set to tackle Dakar in 2016 and are looking forward to an expanded Defender Challenge next year, which will see the event move into Europe for the first time.’ Drew Bowler, Managing Director of Bowler Motorsport, said: ‘The first year of the Defender Challenge has reminded us all what fun motorsport can be and should be. We have had a new group of people who have come in to motorsport who have all had a good time, and it’s not cost them too much money. ‘We have taken people who might not have known how to get into motorsport, and they understand
what is involved and what is needed in terms of improvement to go and do Dakar. I am looking forward to seeing
the Defender Challenge next year and potentially seeing a broader spectrum of events.’