So what do you think??

Wow!!! Some great responses - thanks heaps.:)
Firstly, Scallops: Your S1 is a real beauty and was an inspiration to get me looking specifically for a S1. Absolutely gorgeous.:cool:

Chazza: You've summed it up nicely although I have a rapidly growing list of questions. One for now though - what sort of price do new fenders come in at with freight from the UK? I buy a bit of stuff from France for my Rallye bike and the price of freight is horrendous. Do they ship the fenders as a single item or do you rivet them up when they get here?
I doubt the owner will allow me to try and get the engine running before purchase, and I suspect he'd be very unwilling to change the price if I got it running because he'd then be able to tell every other person that enquires that the engine is a runner - at the expense of my effort. Also it's a fairly long drive to get to so I don't really want to travel too often to it - that's why I took a fair few photo's. (Only selection posted on the thread).

ellard: I love your comment "they always look great parked in the back of a shed".:D

JDNSW: That's kinda the way I'm thinking about it. Also be a shame to see it head away with some of it's local history over here. Of course it'll be stored with me for a while before I get a chance to get too serious with it. Maybe I'll even have forgotten what it cost me by the time I start??;)

ERASER: See above. I'll be watching your resto too. Nice to have one with some real history huh!:cool:

spudboy: I don't think anyone is going to say it's a special and rare beast. The closest I'll come I think has already been said in that it's an 80" and has the truck cab which is fairly rare. According to the current owner it was the sister vehicle for the one that was used for the queen when she was here in 1954. I haven't yet done anything to try and chase that angle as it's a bit "removed" to call it providence for this vehicle.:(

Another question for those "in the know". Both sides had a "strap" screwed to the front fenders from the top to the bottom. You can see it in the photo below just below the windscreen hinge.
[IMG]http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...n/PB070012.jpg[/IMG]
I haven't seen the same thing on any others that I've stumbled across in my searches. Is this an "owner modification" for some reason or could it actually be original?
Cheers
JayBo

Hi there

It is an owners modification - not orignal.

I have never inquired regarding wings/guards but did look at hoods and restoration kits (Upholstery) yesterday and it is a good time to purchase from the UK with Australian dollar being strong.

All the best

Wayne

Heya JayBo - You don't necessarily need to get all your stuff from England - here is a place in Victoria (with free freight to anywhere in Australia) - look at all the stuff he has for your potential S1! ;) :)

Land Rover Parts from 1948 - 1958 Series One Landrover Parts - I 1

Here is the link to the panel man but I bet the freight would be a killer,

wadsworthpanels.co.uk

I am going to have a go at making some soon,

Cheers Charlie

My opinion is that it is quite overpriced. $1000- tops $2000 is my idea. If there is a lot more chassis rust than first appears you may be looking for another chassis. Whatever, is is a ground up restoration and you will spend at least $15,000, maybe a good bit more.

At $4500 you may find yoursel;f with a very expensive parts car.

Heya JayBo - although I'd say it is overpriced, it is a nice example on an 80 inch. If you are going to be doing the work yourself, then you'll save money there.

In order to maybe give you some idea of what others here have paid for their vehicles, let me share this with you.....

My vehicle was also overpriced, I suspect :angel:- I payed $6500.00, but he wanted $7500.00....

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/5071/dsc0003iu.jpg

but I could drive the vehicle around the farm it came from (they had to drag me out of it) and straight onto this trailer to take her home. The chassis had been fully restored (zero rust - good as the day it was made), and the gearbox (reconditioned apparently), steering etc - all very good. Engine is Rover - always starts first pop. Has door tops and a fairly new tilt. All the panels are / were in great condition. Very minimal rust on the firewall (there is none now!). So I could see why he expected a wad of cash for her. I think your seller should appreciate that if these types of things have not be done to the vehicle, then his price is probably unrealistic.

Having said that, in the end, it's not exactly everyday a Series 1 80 inch comes up. I kind of hope you buy it, but I would also hope the seller is willing to come down some on his asking price. Maybe if you turn up with 20 $100.00 notes (with maybe a few extra in your back pocket) and put them on the bonnet he'll see things differently.

Good luck. :)

Sorry but i have to agree that your little 80" was way over priced! I just sold a 1953 80" that was rust free and totally original even had its factory hard top with perfect panels for $2,000.

Your 80" should look great after your but a few hours of Blood, Sweat & Tears into her.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lost Landy

Sorry but i have to agree that your little 80" was way over priced! I just sold a 1953 80" that was rust free and totally original even had its factory hard top with perfect panels for $2,000.

Your 80" should look great after your but a few hours of Blood, Sweat & Tears into her.

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Heya Lost - sorry for my mix up! :angel: :)

I don't think JayBo has actually bought the 80 (yet!) either.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Scallops

Heya Lost - sorry for my mix up! :angel: :)

I don't think JayBo has actually bought the 80 (yet!) either.

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No purchase ... yet. I'm trying to get a bit of an idea of what bits are relatively available and what bits are rebuildable. Then I'll figure on a value and see if the guy will move on the price. Interestingly, last night I dug out an old magazine dated 2002 that looked at second hand purchase of Series Land Rovers. It had ball park value ranges and described what vehicles and what conditions would fit into the ranges. The $2k to $4k range slotted in Series 1's in restorable but rough condition. That was back in 2002.

For me the big crunch is still with those front fenders. It seems to me they are too bad to be repairable and a relatively costly item to replace. I've now added to my concern with those "straps" over the back of the fenders - wondering what possessed a previous owner from screwing those on. What was falling apart to require that and why?

Still thinking....