Would you take the risk?

[M00nd0ggy]

Hi

I am looking for a project Series 2a SWB and have found one in Cooma that seems to be reasonable on Gumtree (http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/cooma-2630/cars-vans-utes/1962-land-rover-series-2a-4x4-coupe/1016853039#). Problem is that I live on the Gold Coast so giving it a visual inspection is a bit hard to do.
Has a few detailed pictures, one showing rust in the bonnet panel but other that I would be getting it sight unseen.
Panels look reasonable and looks pretty stock to me but I am only new to the Series world.
I would appreciate any help/advise you could give.
Also any suggestions for transport companies would be great as well.

Thanks

[Landy Smurf]

To be honest most of them are always worse then they look. for every bit of rust you can see there is normally alot more you cant see. I would wait for one that is near you as there is normally a fair few up that way.

[stevep]

it doesn't look too bad - but looks like it needs some work & repairs. Looks to me that someone has added / changed the rear cross member at some time so there might be some problems with the chassis - see if you can get some more photos of underneath. Also that rego number is not too old for Canberra - see when it was last registered. Then again it might not come off that car.
And it has a heater - you won't need that - you could sell that for $200 or more.:D
get the chassis number & use it to check that it is a 1962.

regards
Steve

[Sitec]

At that money, its gotta b a gud start! Paid more than that for SWIMBO's Ser 2 but it was 10kms from home, and it is ex military. If u can get it home cheap, then you'd be restoring it so no prob! Just look into the cost of putting an interstate vehicle back on the road. Good luck!

[sheerluck]

Getting it home cheap will be the kicker. I transported a car from Brisbane to Canberra a couple of years ago and it was $700 depot to depot with CEVA. Add to that the cost of transport to/from the depot, and it becomes an expensive exercise.

If you have the time and a trailer, that's only cheap way to get it home.

[M00nd0ggy]

It's looking that way, just had a quote for $1100 to get it back!
Thanks everyone for the advice.

[garrywlh]

Let us know how you go.

It's always going to be a risk, especially if you can't physically check it out. And even then its a risk! Have you spoken to the owner? Did you get a sense that he was being honest with you? I agree about asking for some more pics, especially around and under the chassis.

And transportation costs are almost inevitable if you don't have your own gear. Of course, you can, if you want, hire a car trailer if you're up to a few days of towing. You can even hire a ute with a tow bar if you don't own one. There are a couple of options in SEQ. Costs are there, but a bit cheaper than a transport company (which normally won't transport loose bits and pieces for you anyway).

Anyway, a risk, yes. But only you can decide whether it is a risk you are willing to take. Good luck with it. I'd risk it, but that's just me. ;)

Garry

[B.S.F.]

Don't buy it! Don't you think it strange it hasn't sold yet with all this publicity? .W.

[Xtreme]

I find the "PARTS ONLY - take the lot" comment interesting. Seems to indicate to me that it's not suitable for restoration. The bit of rust shown in the bonnet frame is possibly indicitive of more serious rust in those other places that it usually appears. Also the fact that the rear cross member has been replaced reinforces these thoughts.

Would IMHO definately need inspecting before purchase.

[isuzutoo-eh]

It isn't a 1962 firewall, and as others have noted it isn't an original rear cross member. So that could tell us it has had a lot of rust in it-just as the bonnet shows it could still have a lot, or it could also mean that the really problematic rust has been fixed through an earlier rebuild including firewall and crossmember swap.

[Landy Smurf]

Because it says parts only who knows there could be some parts taken off and he just has not updated the photo.I too agree that it is very cheap so if it was any good someone else would have got it by now. I have been caught out a few times by owners lying about their car, really annoys me.

[Cobber]

'Parts Only' says it all to me.

It looks as though it may have been bought as a project, that on closer inspection goes way beyond the sellers ability to do? :confused:

It's up to you, but I would walk away - there's plenty more out there.