End of an era ...
Mid 'Sixties, E Dispersal Scampton on nights. Me barely 18 with a newly minted licence & airfield driving permit. Supper time! Probably a dozen in the back, at least three up front with whoever was straddling the gear lever stirring it in synchronisation with movement of my left leg and cries of "second", "third" etc. We generally reached the Mess in good time (and made it back).
Join Date: Sep 2000
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There was a beautiful dark green LWB one, with a white roof on the MT at St Athan. V8 engine - we used to use it as a bit of a hack when I was there for a short time on the At Home Day team.
I have free access to my neighbours 90 for towing my trailer. Just a great piece of kit. And this morning, I'm off to the old RAF Jurby where the Motor Museum is hosting an 'End of Defender" event. 150 landys expected.
I have free access to my neighbours 90 for towing my trailer. Just a great piece of kit. And this morning, I'm off to the old RAF Jurby where the Motor Museum is hosting an 'End of Defender" event. 150 landys expected.
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Perth - Western Australia
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Dreadful things. Rode like a dray, broke axles faster than I could change my shirts, so gutless they couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding, shocking brakes, noisy, and just plain agricultural.
Rolled over at the first opportunity with an inexperienced driver. Door seals had more gaps than a comb.
I can remember the legend about the Toyota and Landrover representatives having a get-together and the talk turning to dust-sealing of their respective vehicles. The Toyota reps poured scorn on the LR dust sealing.
They all agreed to have a test.
The Toyota people locked a cat in their 4WD, and they all went away, and came back an hour later - and the cat was dead - suffocated.
The Landrover people locked a cat in their Landrover, and they all went away, and came back an hour later - and there was no sign of the cat - it was gone!
LR bodies were totally rust free - but the chassis rusted instead. The first you knew of this was when the chassis broke in half. The chassis held corrosion-inducing moisture and mud in at least 20 points along it.
Unless you carefully pressure-washed the chassis regularly and ensured it was dry, it would corrode - horribly - and you couldn't see the corrosion until the chassis fractured on you.
The worst of any vehicle manufactured for total inaccessibility of components. If the cooling system got rusty, the welch (freeze) or core plug at the rear of the block corroded through and dropped all the coolant on the ground.
Guess where that plug was located? Yep, right against the firewall! You had to either remove the engine or cut a hole in the firewall to replace the plug. Guess how many LR's are running around with a patch plate on the firewall??
In the Australian Army, LR was King. The AMF bought them because no-one in the Defence Dept knew what a good 4WD looked like - and besides, they were BRITISH! - so they had to be good! - What Ho, Chaps!
In 'Nam, the AMF actually utilised a 106mm recoilless rifle in a SWB LR! It worked O.K. up to a point - until you started to give the 106mm a good workout - and then the LR started to fall apart!
LR Gunbuggy
The Defence Dept didn't really care what LR running costs were. They bought them because the British Defence Agencies used them - and us Aussies had to have compatible equipment, old chap!
Couldn't have the disastrous experiences of WW2 repeated, could we! We had 117 different vehicles during the War! What a schemozzle for Logistics that was!
I am utterly amazed that the Landrover has actually lasted this long in production. I'm sure it was because Defence Agencies kept buying them because it was a tradition - nothing else.
Despite all that, I bought my 1st Landrover in 1967 - a 1960 Series II - and it did sterling service for the largely paddock work it carried out. We didn't know any better back then, anyway!
And guess what - I still have a complete, excellent condition 1979 Series III LWB diesel panel van sitting on blocks in my workshop!
It's just awaiting the motor to be re-installed, so I can take it along to vintage motor shows - and show off just how primitive 4WD-ing used to be!
Rolled over at the first opportunity with an inexperienced driver. Door seals had more gaps than a comb.
I can remember the legend about the Toyota and Landrover representatives having a get-together and the talk turning to dust-sealing of their respective vehicles. The Toyota reps poured scorn on the LR dust sealing.
They all agreed to have a test.
The Toyota people locked a cat in their 4WD, and they all went away, and came back an hour later - and the cat was dead - suffocated.
The Landrover people locked a cat in their Landrover, and they all went away, and came back an hour later - and there was no sign of the cat - it was gone!
LR bodies were totally rust free - but the chassis rusted instead. The first you knew of this was when the chassis broke in half. The chassis held corrosion-inducing moisture and mud in at least 20 points along it.
Unless you carefully pressure-washed the chassis regularly and ensured it was dry, it would corrode - horribly - and you couldn't see the corrosion until the chassis fractured on you.
The worst of any vehicle manufactured for total inaccessibility of components. If the cooling system got rusty, the welch (freeze) or core plug at the rear of the block corroded through and dropped all the coolant on the ground.
Guess where that plug was located? Yep, right against the firewall! You had to either remove the engine or cut a hole in the firewall to replace the plug. Guess how many LR's are running around with a patch plate on the firewall??
In the Australian Army, LR was King. The AMF bought them because no-one in the Defence Dept knew what a good 4WD looked like - and besides, they were BRITISH! - so they had to be good! - What Ho, Chaps!
In 'Nam, the AMF actually utilised a 106mm recoilless rifle in a SWB LR! It worked O.K. up to a point - until you started to give the 106mm a good workout - and then the LR started to fall apart!
LR Gunbuggy
The Defence Dept didn't really care what LR running costs were. They bought them because the British Defence Agencies used them - and us Aussies had to have compatible equipment, old chap!
Couldn't have the disastrous experiences of WW2 repeated, could we! We had 117 different vehicles during the War! What a schemozzle for Logistics that was!
I am utterly amazed that the Landrover has actually lasted this long in production. I'm sure it was because Defence Agencies kept buying them because it was a tradition - nothing else.
Despite all that, I bought my 1st Landrover in 1967 - a 1960 Series II - and it did sterling service for the largely paddock work it carried out. We didn't know any better back then, anyway!
And guess what - I still have a complete, excellent condition 1979 Series III LWB diesel panel van sitting on blocks in my workshop!
It's just awaiting the motor to be re-installed, so I can take it along to vintage motor shows - and show off just how primitive 4WD-ing used to be!
Join Date: Feb 2004
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I drove all versions of the Land Rover and I have to agree it was an uncomfortable beast but the latest ones were not the same as is being suggested here. Whilst half shafts did fail regularly on the older ones it didn't stop you motoring - but they shouldn't have failed in the first place.
The later versions with coil springs and diesel engines that were reasonable did do the job reliably.
ACW
ps I am most definitely not a fan of them but felt we were indulging in our usual British bashing that is not based on facts
The later versions with coil springs and diesel engines that were reasonable did do the job reliably.
ACW
ps I am most definitely not a fan of them but felt we were indulging in our usual British bashing that is not based on facts
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Tapping the Decca, wondering why it's not working.
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Ah, sorry 'bout that. My instructions while on the drawing-board at Girling in 1973 were "Make them cheaper to make." I calculated they should be as effective as before, perhaps I was wrong. Should have been as good as British Steel's Landies I drove in an earlier job in 1970 though. They were carp though, you're right.
A superior Landie driver uses his superior judgement to avoid situations that would require the use of his superior skills.
'a
A superior Landie driver uses his superior judgement to avoid situations that would require the use of his superior skills.
'a
Last edited by aerobelly; 31st Jan 2016 at 19:54. Reason: Touch of spelling, a hint of wind-up,
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The death knell of the Defender started in the early 90s. The MoD was by far the largest buyer for the vehicle, and other traditional customers, such as the Australians had long since fallen out of love with it, when compared to a Toyota.
Before contractor leasing was in the military vocab, there was a study carried out to find out how many Defenders actually ever made it off-road (i.e. up to its axles in mud). The initial results showed that about 70% of the RAF Defender fleet was in fact, white fleet, and as a result, the MoD was overpaying for vehicles that probably weren't even the best choice for their intended purpose. Shortly after, Japanese twin-cabs started to appear on airfields.
Its a great shame -probably the best deal you could ever get, before disposals were rationalised, was an ex-mil Defender. Some were beefed-up and all were overhauled or serviced before sale. Their values have always held up and I can't seeing that changing soon.
Before contractor leasing was in the military vocab, there was a study carried out to find out how many Defenders actually ever made it off-road (i.e. up to its axles in mud). The initial results showed that about 70% of the RAF Defender fleet was in fact, white fleet, and as a result, the MoD was overpaying for vehicles that probably weren't even the best choice for their intended purpose. Shortly after, Japanese twin-cabs started to appear on airfields.
Its a great shame -probably the best deal you could ever get, before disposals were rationalised, was an ex-mil Defender. Some were beefed-up and all were overhauled or serviced before sale. Their values have always held up and I can't seeing that changing soon.
Thought police antagonist
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You can only admire his, erm, optimism here....
Iconic Land Rover Defender on eBay for £200k - BBC News
Iconic Land Rover Defender on eBay for £200k - BBC News
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I noticed last night there's an original and complete 1953 Series 1 Landy going on Fleabay Oz at the moment.
6000 miles on the clock and last registered in 2008.
Bidding is about AU$3500 at the moment with five days to run.
Might be worth a look, if you're keen.
6000 miles on the clock and last registered in 2008.
Bidding is about AU$3500 at the moment with five days to run.
Might be worth a look, if you're keen.
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I always thought the reason the 110 was a 4 wheel drive was down to the fact the turning circle was so bad, you invariably ended up off road trying to do a three pointer
