Thread: How do you use yours?

While mine is a S2a, as opposed to a S1 - the question is probably just as valid

I use mine a couple of times a week, or every day if my 'modern' is in for a service or something. I don't mind taking it to the shop, on the occasional tip run or just to go about by business in town. I have to admit though, I have to plan where I am going to park though because of the turning circle otherwise, I take it off road for a drive from time to time - I even took it camping for the Finke Desert Race weekend last year where it proved brilliant, except over the severe corregations (stop rattling!). The third seat came in handy for saving a sticken (out of fuel) motorbike and it's rider too. Everyone thought I was mad (especially those who know I have a modern 4WD!) but in the very next breath just about everybody thought it was great I had the old girl out there ...

I guess the simple answer to your question is this: I'd rather use the Landy over the modern, so I use it for just about everything.

As my S1s are all on club plates they are not used for work, but with the current Vic club rego I use at least 1 very week to just drive, yes I go on club trips or to shows etc. but mostly just take the dog and or wife for a run down the river or a drive into the desert or town on the weekend for a coffee etc. Yes they are slow and a bit heavy but as the Mahindra add says toughen up and have fun.
Dennis
PS. don’t want this to sound like an add or my post may be moved but PM me if you are looking for 80" fully restored.

when I have mine done. I will use one as a show and shine and mainly on road trips. The other I will use for going 4x4.
I know 2 other people who have s1's and one guy uses it for around the paddocks. The other guy uses it as his daily driver as he doesnt drive far to work

Mine is currently used to fill up space in my back yard. One day I will make it driveable, then I will drive it. There will be no full restoration turning it into a trailer queen.

Thanks all... Good to hear that they are / will eventually be (!!) used and not just kept for the show n shines. Don't get me wrong that has its place, but I do believe they should be used & enjoyed for what they are and do what they do best

R
J

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Only one of mine (Leon) is registered, but when I was united with him, he was used regularly to just head off to the shops or to take a jaunt into the bush.

I'm tired of him being 600 k's away and will be making every effort to bring him "home" some time this year, so he can be used again.

Those who know Leon are aware that he is not restored, just a nicely worn example of the marque.
Perry

Hi Jon,

I have a 1951 80" that I use a few times a month just to drive around the local dirt roads, also goes to the shops. several times a year a group of us oldies take our series 1's on some serious off road trips. Last October we completed the Holland Track, a run of approx 1600kms (over 9 days) & most off road.

Also visit the local car shows as a group like the British Car days in Gin Gin, & we also have a couple of fishing trips a year up to Lucky Bay. Just relax in the sand dunes, & cast a line, and if your real unlucky you might snag a fish.

In the past this group has completed the Canning Stock route & also a run to the geographic centre (Lambert gravitational centre) of Australia, so anywhere is a possibility.

Also great fun keeping the 80" clean, serviced, & attempting to stem the flow of oil leaks. On the last trip rear diff, & front right tractor seals both sprung significant leaks, diff fixed but need to pull tractor joint apart & install new seals.

Just picked up a 1955 107" that completed the above mentioned long trips & amazingly has no oil leaks. The 2.0 ltr goes much better than the 1.6 & it will cruise at 100kph on the flat, where the 80" is flat out at 70 kph. It has also had the worm & nut steering box replaced by the later recirculating ball & what a difference. I'm seriously thinking of this mod for the 80" if I can't find a new nut or steering box.

Cheers Nigel

Rant.
Time for a few comments, hopefully moderator wont ban me or the like.
Everyone is entitled to do whatever THEY like with their S1 or any other car, in my opinion any S1 Land Rover saved from the scrap yard and used is a great thing.
My idea of restoration is to get it a close as possible to the way it left the factory except certain safety features. Then to use it the way Land Rover intended. To have it indicated that I am destroying patina or creating a trailer queen is someone others opinion that I don’t agree with.
When I read that someone doesn’t intend to a full back to original restoration on their S1, I don’t feel the need to tell them it is a pity they don’t do it right.
Not too sure about other states but SA and Vic has some extremely nice restored S1s and on many occasions I have watched them compete and participate where many a Defender and Disco driver wont. Yes we may transport a 48 to an event, logistics of driving 7 or8 hundred Ks at 50.
Dennis