Thread: 2 or 4 door problematic?

Hi Jezz84,

You are right about the 2 Door Classics - they are what their maker intended .... something of great charm and beauty although getting hold of a good unmolested one these days is a challenge.

Depends on what you want to spend on a 2 door and if you're prepared to rebuild one or wanting something thats drivable straight off.

Not sure (where under the water you are) but there's a 2 door going on Gumtree (unregistered) in Perth with spare motor for $500.00c.
I's rough ....but a platform to work with if you really want a 2 door and willing to put the time in to rebuild it to road worthy status.

Some on this forum say you can pay up to 10K for a 2 door classic, but I'm not so sure .... my 2 door I bought in 2003 and its in very reasonable nick cost me $1.5K, but that was 10 years ago (how time flies) and it was from a landrover lover who's misses said he had to many toys and one had to go ....lucky me

I'd say something around 5K would get you a 2 door, but finding one is the issue ...you'll pick up a 4 door classic cheaper and again there's a nice 93 vogue in Perth on Gumtree going for $4k with lots of spare's

Just one last word.....whatever you buy be it a two door or 4 door classic, every time I get in mine (weekend drive) you can't wipe the smile off my face and that's now been going on for 10 years and I'm sure it will be the same for you.

Good luck with your search .......

Cheers

Baggy

There are several drawbacks to the 2-door compared to the 4-door. The doors themselves are big and heavy; getting out of the vehicle when facing downhill, the doors will nearly pull you out of the car, then you just about need a winch to close them. Facing uphill, the overweight doors work against you in the opposite way. In carparks, you need a meter each side of the car to be able to open the door enough to get in and out. Getting anyone in and out of the back seats is a pain in the neck, especially if you have small children and have to climb in yourself to buckle and unbuckle them. My first rangie was a 1984 2-door, my subsequent 3 Rangies were all 4-doors and I never for one instant wished to go back to a 2-door.

I'd been looking to get into a Classic RR for a little while.
Finding a 2 door worth having has been a challenge.
There seem to be ones sellers are asking $20k+ and others which are $1000 and requiring at least $5-6k to make them roadworthy.

Perhaps fortune smiled upon me a few weeks ago, buying a '75 from Canberra. Sure there's some work to do with the interior and a couple of electrical non operables, otherwise it's not a bad thing, in my biased opinion.

The 1,000k drive back home went quite well apart from a bonnet which refused to latch strongly, despite my best efforts.
Travelled well on the highway, starting out at an indicated 90kph, then gradually became braver and sat on 110kph. At 110 it seemed to sing and felt very comfortable. Certainly noisier than the later ones, but you have to recall what 1970's cars were like to appreciate its relative sophistication.

I'd certainly agree that it would be better if you are intending not to seriously use the back seats, ingress and egress being something of a chore, or maybe I'm getting too old. They sure do have huge doors.
For my use, 2 doors are perfect, I'd never have a use for the rear doors.

Something will probably wipe the smile off my face, but right now I'm grinning.

Hope you're able to find one which suits your needs.

Cheers,
Richard

Hi Pod,

I understand where you are coming from if you have young kids, getting in and out of the back of a 2 door is no easy feat, let alone being an adult and it would be a pain

I would have liked to see how the queen used to exit one as I know Im not a pretty sight when I get out of the back seat from my 2 door, however exiting the vehicle in a car park has never been an issue for me in parking bays.

Fortunately for me my 2 door is for my driving pleasure only and rarely has occupants in the back seat

From a purest point of view the two door was as Charles Spencer King intended in his original design and it does look better than the 4 door - but thats my own personal opinion.

Still ....if I had to carry kids and other occupants on a regular basis the four door is the way to go no arguments from me there.

Good unmolested 2 doors are rare with many having been chopped and even fewer with their original interiors in tact.
I took part in the 65 years of Landrovers run here in WA (Kelmscott to Whiteman Park) and there were only two (2) 2 two door RRC from the 150 odd vehicles that took part.

I believe that 2 doors are one of the few classics that are actually appreciating in value, becoming rarer to find (without rust) and if you want to own one you need to start looking for them now.

PS I'm taking my one with me to the grave ....although I have'nt told the missus yet

Cheers

Baggy

Originally Posted by Baggy

Hi Pod,



Good unmolested 2 doors are rare with many having been chopped and even fewer with their original interiors in tact.
I took part in the 65 years of Landrovers run here in WA (Kelmscott to Whiteman Park) and there were only two (2) 2 two door RRC from the 150 odd vehicles that took part.

I believe that 2 doors are one of the few classics that are actually appreciating in value, becoming rarer to find (without rust) and if you want to own one you need to start looking for them now.


Cheers

Baggy

Baggy, hope you don't mind the snips to your original post.

2 doors with original interiors, yeah that's a toughie. Mine is pretty much toast and will be replaced.

There will come a time when the survivors are sparingly used, sadly.
Value alone does that.
Rarity can take the price of parts to a whole new level.

Some 2 door parts are certainly rare and priced beyond what most would consider reasonable or affordable.
For example, try finding interior trim parts...

4 door parts on the other hand, at the present, are affordable and plentiful for the most part.

Did I mention I really like mine? ;-)

Hi Jackafrica,

Please post some photo's of your new baby.
A lot you said is very true, and once you own a 2 door .... they grow on you very quickly.

Simplicity is one of its great attractions with a lot of the mechanicals can be done by yourself and since owning her I've learned to turn a spanner or two although I would class myself as a novice mechanic.
My 81 2 door has the stock 3.5 V8 with twin 175 carbies and is rare in that it was converted to a 3 speed auto (H/Duty Borg Warner 35) by Winterbottom Faulls (the then landrover agent) in Perth for a farmer.

As you say trying to find interior trim can be a hassle but fortunately the internet has some uses and there are sites in the UK and AU which can prove to be useful in 2 door restoration although I havent used them myself just yet.
Sites in UK are offering interior trims and carpets available in original colours but as you say it depends on what they want to charge and what we consider resonable to pay for our labour of love.

My baby is done on very much a shoe string budget, based on the allowance that SWMBO and I give each other, with many items on my wish list having to be saved for, still it is a labour of love.

I've attached some photo's that I took not long after I purchased her.

Either way I'm sure jezz84 will enjoy his classic experience when he gets one.

Cheers

Baggy

Baggy,
Without stealing the thread, here's one pic of my newly acquired '75




Note the original dealer sticker on the window, complete with '70s stylised script and 6 digit phone number.
The rear number plate frame bears the same name.

Still has original tool kit with only one missing tool. even the Lucas accessory plug is there.



Of course there are other things missing, the result of 38 years.




Engine bay is mostly original

Looking good 'richo... That red one looks remarkably straight..... I wonder if it's never been off a sealed road to be that straight.

The fact you have managed to get the tool kit and such a bog standard car is quite remarkable. I would have thought early vinyl interior would be colour matched and repaired by a local upholsterer for a reasonable cost.

The 4spd would have to be spinning over at 4000rpm at 110km/h woudln't it

seeya
Shane L.