Series 1 purchase advice

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Originally Posted by gromit

John,

The PTO is operated by a knob under the seat (near the handbrake).
Previous owner had forgotten what the extra lever was for but mentioned that it was the first owner that fitted it.
The brackets above the tail lights look like there was something that latched into them to create a shelf. Previous owner suggested it was a mounting for oxygen & acetylene bottles (the stubby ones) although from memory the bottles are different diameters.

Could you confirm that the original LR hardtop was fabric covered ply ?

Thanks,


Gromit

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No. The original hardtop on Series 1s was made from aluminium. If that one is made entirely from fabric covered ply, I suggest that it is a copy.

If you have read any of the books by Barbara Toy (drove all over the world by herself in the fifties) there is another example of a wooden hardtop, but it did not look anything like a standard one. There was an article on her Landrover (now restored) in an LRO a year or two ago.

John

But you have yourself a unique vehicle - well done indeed.

Wayne

Have managed to track down the original owners granson.

I found rego paperwork dating back to the secondhand car dealer in Pakenham who sold it to the previous owner about 12 years ago. Called in to the dealer and he remembered the vehicle, even remembered the name of the guy I got it from. Anyway he gave me the name of the person he sold it for.
Drove to the other side of Pakenham and met the original owners granson who was blown away by the fact that I live in the next suburb to him and thet the vehicle is still around and is unchanged (just a little more worn out) than when he sold it.

Turns out the vehicle wasn't used on the Snowy project (was always a bit suspicious about this claim) the original owner was an engineer & welder. He fitted the generator, built the hardtop, installed the bed etc.etc. Cutouts on the back of the hardtop were for water containers, roofrack was designed to take a tinny for trips down to the Bemm river.

Granson offered to help work on the car (he is a mechanic by trade) and asked for first dibs if I wish to sell it. Will take the car down for him to see soon and try and fill in a bit more of it's history. Unfortunately no photos of it's earlier life......


Colin

Thanks for filling us in on the update. Much appreciated.

As mentioned above, you have a unique bit of history, in pretty much original condition.

John

Good score!

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Thanks for filling us in on the update. Much appreciated.

As mentioned above, you have a unique bit of history, in pretty much original condition.

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Same as John said - are you taking it to Cooma

All the best

Wayne

Have booked it in to Cooma (have also booked the Defender in as a backup !).
Planning a steady drive over 2 days to get there and the same on the way back. Rear main oil seal is leaking so I'll be rustproofing the rear part of the chassis during the trip.
Still have quite a bit of work to do, mainly replacing anything rubber because it has perished, wiring is badly cracked in places so will fit a fire extinguisher just in case......
Amazed that most of the oil seals I've replaced were leather, UJ's had cork seals, sliding joint on propshaft had a cork seal. The last owner used it for firewood collection and the odd welding job over his 12 years of ownership, repaired things as they broke but otherwise it is as the original owners grandson sold it.

See you at Cooma.

Colin

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Originally Posted by gromit

Have booked it in to Cooma (have also booked the Defender in as a backup !).
Planning a steady drive over 2 days to get there and the same on the way back. Rear main oil seal is leaking so I'll be rustproofing the rear part of the chassis during the trip.
Still have quite a bit of work to do, mainly replacing anything rubber because it has perished, wiring is badly cracked in places so will fit a fire extinguisher just in case......
Amazed that most of the oil seals I've replaced were leather, UJ's had cork seals, sliding joint on propshaft had a cork seal. The last owner used it for firewood collection and the odd welding job over his 12 years of ownership, repaired things as they broke but otherwise it is as the original owners grandson sold it.

See you at Cooma.

Colin

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Good to hear that you will have it at Cooma. Leather oil seals are in some ways preferable, so I hope you are not replacing them just because they are leather.

John

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Originally Posted by gromit

I always assumed the hardtop was aluminium, but it is plywood covered with fabric of some sort. The top half of the rear door needs replacing/rebuilding and several areas are soft so it will need some repairs. Any tips on restoring the hardtop ?
Gromit

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Hi Gromit,
What a great find - a working Land Rover that's still very original.

For hints on restoring woodwork and the canvas covered hardtop you can look on the Australian Vintage Caravan site:
Welcome to Vintage Caravans

particularly the Technical Stuff Board:
Vintage Caravans - Technical Stuff

For information on canvas covered plywood caravan restoration look here:
Vintage Caravans - Canvas roof

Just ask "Reddo" or "cobber" a question - these guys are the experts on bondwood vans. They had a great display at the NRMA Motorfest on Australia Day. They will certainly be interested and "Reddo" has owned Land Rovers in the past.
Regards,
Bob

NM,

Towing it behind the Defender would be far too easy....
The father-in-law who is 70 will be sharing the driving with me and it should be a great 'road trip'. We just hope that we don't spend part of it sitting in the cab of a tilt-tray heading back home.

Have booked an appointment at the chiropractor for when we get back !


Colin