Buying County

[diamond]

As mentioned in a previous post I'm thinking of buying a friends County. Is there anything specifically,mechanically I should check out.This car is basically a one owner(Dad passed to son) and body wise is in very good condition for it's age.It is a V8 on gas,relatively new conversion and otherwise everything appears sound.Anyone got a rough idea of price range?

[JDNSW]

As with any older Landrover, price is very dependent on condition. Gas largely removes the stigma of having a V8, which is a plus.

A plus is the non-airconditioned type with vents, but if fitted with factory air, make sure it all works as designed - it is a bit of a nightmare to fix, particularly if it has been allowed to deteriorate over time.

There are only the usual old landrover problems with this model - rust in chassis and bulkhead. There are likely to be quite a few relatively minor niggles, but if everything works without strange noises, not anything very expensive. Check for leaking power steering, as this will be fairly expensive, also check all the suspension bushes and the ball joint on top of the rear axle, and of course, all the usual things like tie rod ends. Any non standard modifications will, of course need proper paperwork, but your post suggests these are minimal.

With the overall financial situation, plus not having seen it, it would be very difficult to give a figure. But somewhere round $5000 if it really is in good shape would be an indication. A really outstanding example might be a bit higher, but would be difficult to justify considering the prices newer D1 V8s are going for.

John

[LoveMyV8County]

Price may depend on which state you live in - eg. a shortage of vehicles like this in WA can make $1K or $2K difference. They hardly ever come up for sale here!

I drive a 1985 County on gas. I think it is a fantastic machine and perhaps the pick of the 110 range for value for money. LPG makes it cheaper to run than the diesels despite poor fuel economy and the V8 sound is awesome and more car-like in commuting. Being pre-Defender you still have galvanised capping on the rear and thicker gauge steel in the chassis. Parts are cheap and the motor is easy to work on.

Mine has vents plus aircon - best of both worlds.

Get it checked so you are aware of any identifiable faults, negotiate the price accordingly (V8 fuel consumption is a bargaining tool) and enjoy it.

Yes, Discos are better value for money but you can't go past the traditional Landrover utility and rugged style.

Chris