Thread: The 80 inch Mulliner estate cars

Having talked to several people this week (Thanks John and Mike especially) and having emailed my brother Phil I think I can now put this story to rest.

Clearly KYM is a Tickford body and I can correct my original impression. There is no doubt the letter from Rover is genuine as Phil remembers it as well as I do. We don't think the letter survives and so far I haven't got any pictures of KYM from 1970.

So if Rover got it wrong why might that be? The vehicle in 1969-70 had a non-original 2 litre engine and I suspect that Rover identified the vehicle from the engine number not the VN. If so it opens up the intriguing idea that the 2 litre might have come from a real Mulliner wagon.

Many parts were non-original and Phil with some help from myself sourced many parts and he brought the car up to virtual original state. The last item was the engine. He sourced a 1600 engine and re-conditioned it. After installing it he found to his dismay an un-noticed crack in the block which was leaking water. He was so disappointed he just gave it all up and sold the car. I think that was the last straw in a stressful restoration job especially on a student budget.

Best regards, Paul

Paul,

Thank you for a really interesting topic to look into. Certainly you and your brother in no doubt saved a very interesting Land Rover which many people have had the pleasure to enjoy and will have for many years to come.

I know the rebuild of a Tickford can be difficult. Here is a photo of mine at the Cooma 40th in 1988 chassis R06200056 She needs one hell of a lot of work now days.

Ye looks pretty rough Mike I will give you a couple of slabs for it, and see if I can fix it up a bit.
Dennis

Originally Posted by dennisS1

Ye looks pretty rough Mike I will give you a couple of slabs for it, and see if I can fix it up a bit.
Dennis

It will take more than a few slabs to fix her now mate. She had a hard time in the 90's. She was dismantled to flat pack form and the chassis cut in two. This photo almost makes me cry. Anyway, she will be back.

Originally Posted by 260AC

.......... She was dismantled to flat pack form and the chassis cut in two. ......................

Why?

Originally Posted by slug_burner

Why?

Hi Slug,

That question will remain. The owner at the time, thought that the best way forward was to replace the chassis, due to a rough-ish Holden conversion and to also dismantle the timber frame to replace any bad timber. Don't get me wrong, I am lucky to own her and I understand what was trying to be done.

One of my projects while living in the UK is to study the best restored examples of the 80" Station Wagon here. And if that meant that she has to come back 'home' to the England be restored, then so be it. She will be back.

Originally Posted by Mooloolah-Paul

Can you remember if the large shallow dent is still in the rear panel on the left hand side?

I had a look at the picture in full screen. I cannot see a dent.

Originally Posted by muz22z

I was in the UK last month and saw KYM at the LRO show at Peterborough (13 Sept)

It is strange to see my Landrover after all these years. My brother Paul and I found KYM at the back of a garage in Hertfordshire.

I spent many years renovating KYM 725 and, other than the paint job and the upholstery, in the many publicity photographs it is very much as I sold it back in 1975.

I was fortunate to find many sources for original parts and was able to find virtually anything I needed. The ultimate prize was finding an original full grill and the small headlamps still in the greased paper wrappings. I never did find a spare wheel cover.

Well do I remember the many, many hours on frosty evenings in the North of England knocking the skin off my knuckles with icy spanners sticking to my flesh working on that car.

It took me to many places where I met many interesting people on a never ending search for original parts.

In answer to another thread, it had a semi permanent four wheel drive with a free wheel between the front and rear wheels. If the rear wheels slipped the drive would immediately be locked to the front wheels. It was important to make sure the rear tyres were harder than the front tyres so the front wheels would turn faster. It had a tendency to drag the front wheels in reverse leaving rubber tracks on the road. There was a ring in the floor to lock up the freewheel for full four wheel drive. I am sure everyone is familiar with all this.

Kym was originally a light powder green colour (like the inside of a Spitfire).

Everyone knew KYM 725 as the "Mobile Henhut"

Thanks Muzz for the picture, very much appreciated.

Amazing.

Phil