I think I want a II/IIA. Don't I?

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Originally Posted by harryj

Would the brake be happy to 'dance the pedals' with the non-synchro gearbox though ??
If not, go for a very late 2A, the last of these had the synchro.

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Luckily the missus is a very good driver and hates autos. I don't think she'll have any problems with a crash box once she's used to it.

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Originally Posted by harryj

Would the brake be happy to 'dance the pedals' with the non-synchro gearbox though ??

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you mean the pedal in the middle and on the left have a use other than when starting off or stationary?

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Originally Posted by Johnno1969

Yep, absolutely. A Series IIA in good condition and well maintained (which doesn't mean having to constantly work on it) is reliable and fun. In twenty years I have never had a "I wonder if I'll make it" feeling. I just get in and go to where I'm going.

Now I have said that, of course, I may just have cursed my car.....

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Cursed it? You've turned it into a million separate pieces. You haven't got in and gone anywhere in over a year.

Hi Duncan

Welcome aboard to the forum.
The 2A has circled the earth, crossed it and with it's predecessors' the series one was the first motor vehicle, a majority of the worlds population, first laid their eyes on.

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Originally Posted by jakeslouw

Why specifically a 2A? For the looks?
Or do you really enjoy the weak gearbox and 3 main bearing engine?
If the former, I reckon a 2A 88" body on a D90 chassis could be a beautiful hybrid.

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A standard SWB on it's original 6.00x16 tyres can, with a little preventative maintenance, turn the mileage counter over that many times that it's actual distance travelled is lost in time.
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gday duncan;

go for it .!! i had a series 2 (59) given to me, but just about had to rebuild it, everything was loose and falling off. once i went through it all i have driven it everywhere as it was my daily driver and still is after 5 years. i just alternate between the defeer and the shorty. big difference in confort, but, sure do get lots of looks driveing topless around town and going to the beach fishing. would'nt get rid of it for quids. off the road at the moment to re-fresh the complete front end and a couple of other mods. just do it and you won't regret it. sorry so long winded, cheers and happy landying.

Thanks for the welcome fellas,

Since posting this I've been looking around and as there's not a heap of 2a about I had a look at early S3s as well.
S3s don't do it for me - too much plastic I think!
And the S2 central dash brings back quite a few memories of learning to drive as a kid, pulling the toggle to starve the engine of fuel to stop.
So the hunt will continue.

Ideally I'm looking for a runner, but I've seen a few where they've been sitting for a few years but say 'was running when last used'.
Is it as simple as connecting a new battery, or do the piston rings tend to seize in the bores after a period of time?
And if I go for an earlier S2 are there issues with having positive earth wiring. I'm presuming you'd be stuck with having a generator rather than upgrading to an alternator?

Hi ozdunc, welcome to the world of Landy's.

Point 1) "was running when last used" usually means that was the second last time they tried to start it, the last time it wouldn't start.:(

Point 2) Sticking rings can sometimes be loosened by adding a little diesel down the spark plug holes and gently hand turning the engine. (This has the added benefit of producing lots of lovely polution from the exhaust pipe if she does start)

Point 3) Changing electrical system polarity is easy, disconnect the battery and use jumper leads to "repolarise" the generator by touching the terminals on the generator "wrong way round" for a couple of seconds, that will force the generator to "motor" and repolarise the magnets inside it. Then reconnect the battery as negative earth. I've done this sucsessfully on many an old British vehicle myself. Or, better still, simply buy a new alternator and fit it. (Luckily, the "smoke" fitted inside the wiring system doesn't care which way it travels around the vehicle)

As for S3's, they have the best of the upgrades from the earlier models, (sorry, unashamed S3 fan myself) it's not a big job to fit a custom ali or even steel dash etc if you really want to.

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Originally Posted by wrinklearthur

A standard SWB on it's original 6.00x16 tyres can, with a little preventative maintenance, turn the mileage counter over that many times that it's actual distance travelled is lost in time.
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And if you upgrade to 7.50x16s it will last a lot longer as the engine won't rev as high ;)

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Originally Posted by shorty943

Point 3) Changing electrical system polarity is easy, disconnect the battery and use jumper leads to "repolarise" the generator by touching the terminals on the generator "wrong way round" for a couple of seconds, that will force the generator to "motor" and repolarise the magnets inside it. Then reconnect the battery as negative earth.

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Yes to above, but don't forget to swap the wires around on the gauge terminals.
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Originally Posted by Ozdunc

G'day folks,

This is my first post so go gentle:).

I'm thinking of having a mid life crisis, and rather than go for a sports car and/or wild women, I was thinking of getting a 1968 IIA SWB.

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Hello from Brisbane.

I wouldn't spend too much time rationalising about it. Rather I would just do it. 68 SWB is a great choice if you can find one.

Oddly enough I found myself in a similar position to you last year and gave my wife about 30 minutes notice that I was buying a Series 3 SWB sight unseen on eBay. As it turns out I survived and, despite the odd issue that an inspection might have resolved, it's working out well so far.

There's a lot of truth in the statement that "foregiveness is easier to secure than permission".

Cheers,