Thread: What made you buy you 1st Land Rover

Well, my old man had one when I was young after spending an uncomfortable childhood going on holidays in the back seat of an MQ Pootrol. Dad had always wanted one, but raising myself, my sister, paying off a house and the cost of even a second-hand one was too expensive, so when the prices dropped, Dad bough an 81 2 door. great vehicle, learnt how to drive 9got familiar with the notch LT95 4 speed box).

Gopt my license at 17, bought my first one (76 2 door rust bucket ), flogged the crap out of it and enjoyed doing so and learning how to fix it (apprentice wages don't allow for 'professional' repairs). Got plenty of help and spares on the cheap from Rover care in Slacks Creek. Previous owner Mike Hall was brilliant, much like Rick & Debbie at Ricks 4WD to be honest, always helpful.

I have owned another 4 Rangies after that (84 4 door, briefly a 93 Discovery, 93 Rangie, 83 Rangie and the 87 I currently have, plus about 4 others I have wrecked).

On the lookout now for a 2 door for a restoration project (something different), trying to find one with little to no rust is a challenge in itself

Trav

Originally Posted by D110V8D

I was looking at 4x4's for my first car and I saw a 78 Game model on the cover of Just 4x4 magazine.

This one?



Ron

I first drove one in 1965 when I was a trainee technician with OTC. We used them on all of our radio stations for getting to the aerials (spread over several hundred acres). As trainee techs we had a ball thrashing the Landies across paddocks.

I've liked them ever since. I also loved the Range Rovers but knew I'd never be able to afford one.

Then about 10 years or so ago I got suckered into buying a share in a car trailer. The EA Falcon we had wasn't legal for towing it so I bought a Toyota FJ55 Land Cruiser - this one:



One day whilst my wife was in hospital I saw an advert for a diesel SIII Landie set up as a camper and went to look at it - and fell in love. I went to the hospital and told Elisabeth but she said "No!" until she could see it.

The day she was released, I took her to see it but it had been sold. She asked "Are there any other Land Rover places around here?" I took her to Trivett Classic (or was it still called Asquith and Johnstone?). They had a lovely '83 RR manual there. We took it for a drive and bought it - this one:



Not long after, Elisabeth broke her left foot and couldn't drive the manual with the LT95 and heavy clutch. So we bought this one-owner auto that had been bored and stroked by John Davis Motorworks to a 4.6:



This we drove for 5 years until 4 years ago when I bought the P38A.

Of course, I also bought the County - another love - that classic Landie shape.

And I was right all along - I also loved the Range Rovers but knew I'd never be able to afford one.

Ron