Thread: '83 Classic or P38 decisions decisions. Should i or shouldn't i.. HELP!!!

If I were you Jeremy, I would snatch the guy's hand off at $1500, take a look over it, and then drive it. If you don't like it, list it on here, and someone will be interested at that price for sure.

I've got an '83 and it's at about the limit of what I can handle with just a carport and a bit more time than most to rebuild it. A P38 just plain has too many electronics for me, especially way up here. I believe that's why they depreciated so much, so quickly.

There's no doubt that it would be comfier and have lots of nifty extras, but you'd just have to be prepared to fix the gadgets as time went on.

You '83 sounds great. Now, these older Rangies have hit about rock bottom in the car world, which is what always happens with an older model when there are a lot around and nobody wants them. In about a decade, there won't be many around at all and then suddenly they'll be collectable. Put the effort into yours and you'll find that you'll be glad you did, especially if you're enjoying it so much already.

It's a car, it'll need work, and you'll probably get sick of it, but never mind that too much if you like the thing. You can't expect a 30-year-old car not to need a lot of attention, so remember what you're getting yourself into.

With such a low mileage, you should be able to rebuild the carbies. They should be Solex/Stromberg CD175 items. There's not much to them and the throttle shafts and so on should be fine. No doubt the dizzy vacuum unit has perished and you may as well replace that and hook up the advance again. And I hope you put engine oil in the gearbox and transfer case!

Originally Posted by sheerluck

If I were you Jeremy, I would snatch the guy's hand off at $1500, take a look over it, and then drive it. If you don't like it, list it on here, and someone will be interested at that price for sure.

Well I go and check her out then haha

Originally Posted by Davo

I've got an '83 and it's at about the limit of what I can handle with just a carport and a bit more time than most to rebuild it. A P38 just plain has too many electronics for me, especially way up here. I believe that's why they depreciated so much, so quickly.

There's no doubt that it would be comfier and have lots of nifty extras, but you'd just have to be prepared to fix the gadgets as time went on.

You '83 sounds great. Now, these older Rangies have hit about rock bottom in the car world, which is what always happens with an older model when there are a lot around and nobody wants them. In about a decade, there won't be many around at all and then suddenly they'll be collectable. Put the effort into yours and you'll find that you'll be glad you did, especially if you're enjoying it so much already.

It's a car, it'll need work, and you'll probably get sick of it, but never mind that too much if you like the thing. You can't expect a 30-year-old car not to need a lot of attention, so remember what you're getting yourself into.

With such a low mileage, you should be able to rebuild the carbies. They should be Solex/Stromberg CD175 items. There's not much to them and the throttle shafts and so on should be fine. No doubt the dizzy vacuum unit has perished and you may as well replace that and hook up the advance again. And I hope you put engine oil in the gearbox and transfer case!

Thanks for that Davo.

Okay they are Solex hey. Well that's even better..

She runs like a dream now though mate. It actually really flies for a little bitty 3.5L V8 haha.

I agree with you on the age of her.. 30 years so I'm going to have to expect things.

Well I didn't know it took engine oil in the gearbox!

The transfer I can understand but how does 15w/40 go with the slip properties within the oil go on the syncros after time?

Oil changes and breather extensions are next because I've done about 1000km in her and age hasn't missed a beat. So now I can throw some motion lotion at her.

I tend to agree with you on the price in the future. I can easily hold on to her for a long time now...

Here is a pic

The 83 you'll be able to keep going forever with a shed of spanners and tools.
The 97 you will need to spend several times that $1500 on diagnostic gear to keep it going for the next 10 years.

Both have their place. But long term I see the P38 being the ugly stepchild for landrover enthusiasts and collectors. The classics are a given, the L322 (2003 onwards) was born when diagnostics became standardised. The P38 you could say broke too much new ground for it's own survival.

This one is easy .......... get the modern one and stick the old classic onto a club permit and keep it garaged and in good order .... A 45day logbook is $67.00 in Victoria. You could use the classic for 45 (or 90)days a year for next to nothing. That's what I've done with the range rover classic I've just purchased

seeya
Shane L.

Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

This one is easy .......... get the modern one and stick the old classic onto a club permit and keep it garaged and in good order .... A 45day logbook is $67.00 in Victoria. You could use the classic for 45 (or 90)days a year for next to nothing. That's what I've done with the range rover classic I've just purchased

seeya
Shane L.

Yeah Shane i was thinking of putting it on club rego!

That sounds like a good idea.

But after what the guys above said about P38's i'm not gunna go near it haha

Any body here got club rego?

Thanks

Jeremy