Thread: Tanami Defenders

Originally Posted by lro11

Mine is definitely a decal.The new ones will be the same landscape decal printed with separate hat and signature decals.

Looks like the first owner removed the side decals and had the Bush Tucker Man hat painted on each side.

Colin

Colin,
Do you know the history of your car could it be the actual press vehicle?

Originally Posted by lro11

Colin,
Do you know the history of your car could it be the actual press vehicle?

All I know is is was owned by someone who ran an electrical business. When I got it you could see an outline where the lettering had been removed from the rear passenger doors but that was soon polished off.
It had done a big trip, I think it had been serviced in Darwin & WA.

I got it from a local LR dealer back in '98. They thought the original owner had removed the Defender & full length Tanami side decals because it was confusing with his company name also on the rear doors. The Tanami decals were left on the front doors.
There are a couple of extra LR stickers which were added when the dealer used the vehicle for an event on the Murray River.

When I contacted the 'Defender specialist' at Land Rover even he had very limited info about what extras were on the Tanami and couldn't confirm numbers he claimed in the vicinity of 100-150.
It would have been nice to be able to track down VIN's etc. but it was basically a standard vehicle with a package of extras.

Mine has other extras added by the first owner like cruise control, dual batteries, OME shocks, long range fuel & water tanks. I've fitted a storage system in the back. Big Red compressor and a swing out rear wheel carrier.
There were boat rollers on an extension welded to the roofrack when i got it, I removed these very early on because of the added weight (plus I haven't got a boat).





Colin

My Tanami is about to get new decals I have worked hard to reproduce the decals to original as I can.
I believe the car with Les on the cover is a press car and the production decals were toned down.
Any way this is the original and the copy.

I took the Tanami for a run last week, it hasn't been used much over the last few years and is just coming up to 146,000kM so nearly run-in.....

Getting tyres replaced in a couple of weeks, I'm fitting Dunlop Road Grippers, take-offs from a Troopy, then I need to check it over before I head off on a camping trip at the beginning of December.

Over the years I haven't had to do much maintenance but I'm starting to worry about the lift pump, vacuum pump and the fact that the gearbox is still running ATF (mind you, without any issues).
Replaced the steering drop arm ball joint a year or so ago, I must check when the cambelt is due (by time rather than kilometers), there is also some play in the drive train that needs looking into.

Oil, coolant & brake fluid are replaced regularly but otherwise completely reliable but, to be fair, it's not used much but sometimes that causes additional problems.




Colin

love the plates

This ones resting down the back paddock.
Story is an elderly couple rolled it just out of town.
Local RACQ picked them up and I happened to see it on the truck when I was in town.
Went to talk to them and being shaken up they did not know what to do with the van and wagon. I said they could leave them here untill they made a descision.
Its been a couple of years now and its still here.
The A & B pillars are badly bent, the rest is not too bad but I guess its too expensive to repair.

Keith

Originally Posted by 123rover50

This ones resting down the back paddock.
Story is an elderly couple rolled it just out of town.
Local RACQ picked them up and I happened to see it on the truck when I was in town.
Went to talk to them and being shaken up they did not know what to do with the van and wagon. I said they could leave them here untill they made a descision.
Its been a couple of years now and its still here.
The A & B pillars are badly bent, the rest is not too bad but I guess its too expensive to repair.

Keith

Seems a shame, I guess it could be repaired but it would be a labour of love.....

Colin