Am I crazy?

[SimonM]

Hi guys and gals ;)

I currently own a disco and a defender but have always wanted a series, and have found a swb series three ute for very cheap and reasonably local. It looks quite rough but the wife is happy for me to throw another landy in the shed. Quote "even if you buy it and don't do anything to it for 10 years - who cares" :D.

Now I have never restored a car before and my mechanical knowledge is slowly growing but again my wife says - "you didn't know how to build boats either but you are doing it" ( I am building a plywood canoe) :D.

Am I crazy?

[Sleepy]

Yes, totally:p

But dont let that stop you. I had bugger all of an idea either (and still only advanced to "backyard hack")
Do it. You'll have a ball tinkering around, and (like many of us) you can always sell it if you get sick of it and buy something else.
My only advice is to steer clear of rust. Mechanicals can be fixed and or replaced, rust in chassis/firewall needs a lot more talent to tackle.
There are plenty around so dont be too worried about passing on this one.
Personally I would go for a Series 2 88" because I like the all metal dash but the series 3 are still fairly simple.

Oh, and dont do it as an investment. You will spend more than it is worth.

Good Luck - plenty of help here if you need it.

[SimonM]

Thanks Sleepy. Sometimes you just have to follow your crazy ideas :D. It certainly helps my wife loves landies too.

[tangus89]

crazy about landys ;)

[Sleepy]

Yes, I have been critiqued by people I know...."Why do you waste all your money on those old jalopies?"

They then go on to tell me about their $3000 golf clubs.

Some people play golf......;)

[SimonM]

Crazy about Landies - certainly not alone on this forum.

The thing is I rarely drink, don't smoke, don't play golf, have a slight kayak obsession but would rather spend my money on building kayaks and driving, tinkering with Landies.

Best news is that our accountant has told us today that my Defender expenses are 100% claimable, and if I get a series ute it may be as well :cool:.

[tangus89]

land rovers look better with kayaks on them.

[SIImad]

Yes--Definately, and to want a "Series" you are absolutely certifiable!!:D

Go for it! the Series Landys are a lot of fun and very forgiving if you make a mistake doing repairs or restorations;) They are great to go bush in, and unlike a Deefer or Disco you dont have to worry about scratching the paintwork and paying a huge bill to fix it afterwards.

Cheers!

AJ:)

[Sleepy]

land rovers look better with kayaks on them.
kayaks look better with land rovers under them;)

[banjo]

YES DO IT

Series are so easy to keep work on & repair.I'm on my 9th & i expect i'll do a few more..I've never had a shorty but it would be nice..series 3s do have alot of rust in the baulkhead as they have the big dash to hold water BUT there are some good ones around the one im doing now was in great condition compared to my last one..the green one as my avitar it had so much rust i replaced the front dumb irons half the rear cross member & most of the passenger side where the door attatches to & most of the bottom of the footwells..
Yes i would have to say go for it..

[SimonM]

Given the balanced arguments presented I am now on the lookout for a series of some sort. To fund it I think the camper trailer will have to go :D.

Now to research the differences between series 1,2, 2a, and 3. 2a's seem to get a good wrap from a couple of people I have spoken to.

[Gavo]

What canoe are you building?
I interested in doing a sea kayak

[SimonM]

What canoe are you building?
I interested in doing a sea kayak

The one I am finishing is a Touring Pirogue for some fishing from JEM Watercraft - Canoe Plans, Kayak Plans, other Boat Plans (http://www.jemwatercraft.com). The next one is a Merrimac canoe from Jem also, for family fishing.

I also have also bought the plans for a Cirrus sea kayak from Wooden kayak designs by One Ocean Kayaks (http://www.oneoceankayaks.com), for some ocean paddling.

But ... some skin on frame sea kayaks are also drawing me in and a strip built or two.

I love to talk sea kayaks and canoes :D.

What are you looking at building?

[SimonM]

I had a look at a local 1955 Series 1 yesterday. It had a fair bit of rust in the chassis, and rear crossmember which at this stage is a bit beyond my restoration skills. Stil it was very tempting.

The search continues.

[Series3 GT]

Go for it mate you should definetly get one. I bought my first one (a 1970 IIa) when I was 11 and I learnt so much from it. I just bought my second one last year (a 1976 series 3) when I was 14 and I love them. The IIA is a normal landie but the series 3 is going to be turned into a 100" V8 and that is a big task and nether me or my Dad have restored a car before so it's a big leap but a Series is a forgiving project because they are made of metal (except for the plastic dash in the series 3) and the are just bolted together, so go for it.

[SimonM]

Go for it mate you should definetly get one. I bought my first one (a 1970 IIa) when I was 11 and I learnt so much from it. I just bought my second one last year (a 1976 series 3) when I was 14 and I love them. The IIA is a normal landie but the series 3 is going to be turned into a 100" V8 and that is a big task and nether me or my Dad have restored a car before so it's a big leap but a Series is a forgiving project because they are made of metal (except for the plastic dash in the series 3) and the are just bolted together, so go for it.

Thanks mate. I just have to find the right one. That Series 3 V8 sounds interesting, not really my style but it would turn some heads I am sure.

[Series3 GT]

It may take a while to find the right one but you'll know when you've found the right one because it'll be in your budget and roughly in the condition your expecting. As for the V8 it will be a big project, I just found a Range Rover within my budget with the mighty 3.5 V8 but it took a while to find because quite a few pop up from time to time but there's something not quite right with it or you can't get it for the price you'd like but this one is perfect for the job.

[Xtreme]

Last Tuesday morning one of our members bought a 1950 Series I from the Coffs Harbour area - listed on eBay at 6:30am, sold at 7:10am ................................... and all he wanted was the door tops.
:o