How do you use yours?

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Hi All,

I'm seriously considering buying an 80" S1 (to keep the Defer 110 company:)), have to admit though I haven't got the space or equipment to do a restoration so it will need to be a good'un! I do however have the skills and for the most part tools to do run of the mill maintenance.

I've been reading posts in this section for some while and it strikes me that there is some excellent resto work going on... I think that's a good thing.

BUT, I see a real lack of people actually commenting on how, where and when they use there S1's. So there's the question...

How and when do you use yours?

Show n shine
Daily to the shops
Checking the paddock fences etc
Club events
Something else perhaps

What are they like to live with (apart from oily, slow & don't stop too well?!?).

Thx
Jon

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[Cobber]

While mine is a S2a, as opposed to a S1 - the question is probably just as valid :D

I use mine a couple of times a week, or every day if my 'modern' is in for a service or something. I don't mind taking it to the shop, on the occasional tip run or just to go about by business in town. I have to admit though, I have to plan where I am going to park though because of the turning circle ;) otherwise, I take it off road for a drive from time to time - I even took it camping for the Finke Desert Race weekend last year where it proved brilliant, except over the severe corregations (stop rattling!). The third seat came in handy for saving a sticken (out of fuel) motorbike and it's rider too. Everyone thought I was mad (especially those who know I have a modern 4WD!) but in the very next breath just about everybody thought it was great I had the old girl out there ...

I guess the simple answer to your question is this: I'd rather use the Landy over the modern, so I use it for just about everything. :BigThumb:

[dennisS1]

As my S1s are all on club plates they are not used for work, but with the current Vic club rego I use at least 1 very week to just drive, yes I go on club trips or to shows etc. but mostly just take the dog and or wife for a run down the river or a drive into the desert or town on the weekend for a coffee etc. Yes they are slow and a bit heavy but as the Mahindra add says toughen up and have fun.
Dennis
PS. don’t want this to sound like an add or my post may be moved but PM me if you are looking for 80" fully restored.

[Landy Smurf]

when I have mine done. I will use one as a show and shine and mainly on road trips. The other I will use for going 4x4.
I know 2 other people who have s1's and one guy uses it for around the paddocks. The other guy uses it as his daily driver as he doesnt drive far to work

[BigJon]

Mine is currently used to fill up space in my back yard. One day I will make it driveable, then I will drive it. There will be no full restoration turning it into a trailer queen.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Thanks all... Good to hear that they are / will eventually be (!!) used and not just kept for the show n shines. Don't get me wrong that has its place, but I do believe they should be used & enjoyed for what they are and do what they do best:)

R
J

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[numpty]

Only one of mine (Leon) is registered, but when I was united with him, he was used regularly to just head off to the shops or to take a jaunt into the bush.

I'm tired of him being 600 k's away and will be making every effort to bring him "home" some time this year, so he can be used again.

Those who know Leon are aware that he is not restored, just a nicely worn example of the marque.
Perry

[Avion8]

Hi Jon,

I have a 1951 80" that I use a few times a month just to drive around the local dirt roads, also goes to the shops. several times a year a group of us oldies take our series 1's on some serious off road trips. Last October we completed the Holland Track, a run of approx 1600kms (over 9 days) & most off road.

Also visit the local car shows as a group like the British Car days in Gin Gin, & we also have a couple of fishing trips a year up to Lucky Bay. Just relax in the sand dunes, & cast a line, and if your real unlucky you might snag a fish.

In the past this group has completed the Canning Stock route & also a run to the geographic centre (Lambert gravitational centre) of Australia, so anywhere is a possibility.

Also great fun keeping the 80" clean, serviced, & attempting to stem the flow of oil leaks. On the last trip rear diff, & front right tractor seals both sprung significant leaks, diff fixed but need to pull tractor joint apart & install new seals.

Just picked up a 1955 107" that completed the above mentioned long trips & amazingly has no oil leaks. The 2.0 ltr goes much better than the 1.6 & it will cruise at 100kph on the flat, where the 80" is flat out at 70 kph. It has also had the worm & nut steering box replaced by the later recirculating ball & what a difference. I'm seriously thinking of this mod for the 80" if I can't find a new nut or steering box.

Cheers Nigel

[dennisS1]

Rant.
Time for a few comments, hopefully moderator wont ban me or the like.
Everyone is entitled to do whatever THEY like with their S1 or any other car, in my opinion any S1 Land Rover saved from the scrap yard and used is a great thing.
My idea of restoration is to get it a close as possible to the way it left the factory except certain safety features. Then to use it the way Land Rover intended. To have it indicated that I am destroying patina or creating a trailer queen is someone others opinion that I don’t agree with.
When I read that someone doesn’t intend to a full back to original restoration on their S1, I don’t feel the need to tell them it is a pity they don’t do it right.
Not too sure about other states but SA and Vic has some extremely nice restored S1s and on many occasions I have watched them compete and participate where many a Defender and Disco driver wont. Yes we may transport a 48 to an event, logistics of driving 7 or8 hundred Ks at 50.
Dennis

[The ho har's]

You've seen my 80" Jon doing what it was built for, ENJOYING:D no not back to original:o:D and not going to be any time soon:twisted:

yes it goes to all British day and shows, and does like to odd club trip, people do ask if it is military:confused:;) just a lovely vehicle to drive:D

Mrs hh:angel:

[Larry]

Our 80" is on historic rego, so we are limited to what & where. We've been to show & shine days, but prefer to use it for what it was designed for - off road!!:D:D:D

[Summiitt]

My 52 80in is on full rego and used regularly on my farm, I am mechanically sympathetic with it but still havnt found any track I won't have a go at, and normally succeeds in going anywhere. Drive it to the shops or the tip once every couple of weeks and it always gets people's attention, I've done a lot of work mechanically on the vehicle but personally would never do a full resto as I just love going bush in it and could cope with scratches or the risk of dents after all that work..

[mick88]

Whilst not a series one I have a series three 88" as my daily driver. Not as old as a series one but still 39 years old (1974 model) and it's a great machine to get about in. We have two late model jap 4wd's but prefer to go away on holidays in the series three. It's such a buzz. I commute to work in it daily, a distance of approx 13 kays each way and enjoy every miniute of the journey. Due to the fact that I use it as a daily driver the need for maintenance is increased, needless to say if I am not in it, I am crawling around under it!
Series Land Rovers...enjoy them, they are a lot of fun and pleasure.

Cheers, Mick.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

You've seen my 80" Jon doing what it was built for, ENJOYING:D no not back to original:o:D and not going to be any time soon:twisted:

yes it goes to all British day and shows, and does like to odd club trip, people do ask if it is military:confused:;) just a lovely vehicle to drive:D

Mrs hh:angel:

Indeed I have Caroline. Thanks.

It puts a genuine smile on my face when I see people using these things as they were intended.

Dennis is right when he says everyone can do what they like with their own vehicle. I personally dont care if they are original and in need of some TLC or concourse condition, so long as they are used and loved by the owners then that's fine by me.

When I finally decide which one to buy, I'm hoping I can shoe-horn our two Golden Retrievers in the back and take them around the area for some good & different walks. Who knows Caroline, there may even be an extra 80 at the next XBG:)

Jon

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[wrinklearthur]

I have three series ones now;

Engine less 1953 80" Hard top.
'HECter' 1955 86" Hard top, 2 litre.
'Monty' 1958 88" Hard top, also engine less.

I have a 2.25 Ltr diesel that could go in the 80" = a fun bush machine for spotlighting, etc.

'HECter' just needs a lot of TLC, some paint, brakes and will then go onto special interest registration plates, after restoration to it's working livery and setup as it was when originally owned by the Hydro Electric Commission of Tasmania. 'HECter' is the most likely to get completed.

'Monty' could be --- well --- ! The full Monty, --- flash paint job, soft top, 300TDi tweaked a little, R380 LT230, with 3.5 diffs and disc brakes.

Dream on Dad.
.

[andy_d110]

When I finally decide which one to buy, I'm hoping I can shoe-horn our two Golden Retrievers in the back and take them around the area for some good & different walks. Who knows Caroline, there may even be an extra 80 at the next XBG:)

Jon

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Jon,

If I can fit an 85kg Newfoundland in my 86", you should be able to fit your retrievers into an 80"

Good luck with the search, whatever you get you will enjoy and develop the series grin.

Andy.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Jon,

If I can fit an 85kg Newfoundland in my 86", you should be able to fit your retrievers into an 80"

Good luck with the search, whatever you get you will enjoy and develop the series grin.

Andy.

Thanks Andy,
85Kg... Thats a big dog. Our two are about 35kg each and they arent particularly small!

Thanks.
J

[123rover50]

Inspecting flood damage

[Landy Smurf]

^what seat backs do you have on that one?
do you use the rear belt pulley pto for anything?

[Cobber]

Inspecting flood damageI love that it's unrestored and still in use :BigThumb:

[123rover50]

^what seat backs do you have on that one?
do you use the rear belt pulley pto for anything?


I made my own seatbacks and seats.
I have an IHC grinder much like yours I imagine.

Keith

[series1buff]

I have a 1950 model , I bought it around 5 years ago . It looks rough as , the bodywork is rooted . The original 1600 motor is down on compression , 2 cyls are at 90 psi . But I use it around here for collecting and moving firewood, moving dirt, moving stones. As a tractor . pulling other vehicles around .

It has been so useful, I cannot be without it now. I fixed the water pump , new points , cleaned the spark plugs and she runs sweet . I sometimes sneak down to the neighbours place in it , 3k away :wasntme:

Mike

[123rover50]

Made up the belt today, so chucked some cobs in to try it out.:D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/03/660.jpg

Keith

[Landy Smurf]

that is what i am hoping on running on mine as that is exactly what my grandparents use to do. fingers crossed it is still in repairable condition

[series1buff]

pics of my little helper

The steering wheel has seen better day , but the horn still works as do all of the lights , the petrol gauge works, the charging system works too :D

Mike

[B.S.F.]

Off to spray lantana. I have had this car for about 17 years. Only use it around the place ,it's not registered. .W.

[101RRS]

Off to spray lantana. I have had this car for about 17 years. Only use it around the place ,it's not registered. .W.

I have one of those Bull Bars - must have been a standard model at the time.

They weigh a ton though.

Garry

[Xtreme]

Off to spray lantana. I have had this car for about 17 years. Only use it around the place ,it's not registered. .W.

So you've got the Series 1 with the round white fuel tank - they must have only been fitted for a short time as I've never seen one before! :o :wasntme:

[B.S.F.]

The bull bar is alloy,it came off a S2 which means it's a few inches wider than the car. Perfect for charging lantana.Probably not much heavier than a bumper bar full of mud. .W.

[B.S.F.]

So you've got the Series 1 with the round white fuel tank - they must have only been fitted for a short time as I've never seen one before! :o :wasntme:
I think Ampol Esso or Golden Fleece used to be the agent for those tanks.

[Landy Smurf]

I had often thought about just putting a plastic jerry can in a old leaking s1 fuel tank so at least it would look the part

[wrinklearthur]

So you've got the Series 1 with the round white fuel tank - they must have only been fitted for a short time as I've never seen one before!

And it's grey !

[series1buff]

Collecting firewood . The short wheelbase is a advantage , manouvering among the trees

[mfc]

I use mine to cause self inflicted injurys and mental torment.... but looking to use it for wood etc the odd shoping trip and for runs up the forestry roads towards wallhala{back door realy}

now im not going to think car for at least the next 12 hrs