Thread: Series 1 purchase advice

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!

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.

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

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

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

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

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