Thread: 1958 Series 2 worth saving ?

"Is it worth saving?" Certainly not from a financial point of view, but then hardly any cars "saved" are worth it.

However, they are very rare, and most have been converted to 2.25 and the original engine lost in the mists of time. There never were very many of them - in the early sixties I had a 1958 88 that had a factory 2.25, but I don't remember ever actually seeing one with an original two litre engine.

On the other hand, even though it is in pretty bad shape, a Series 2 is probably going to be easier and cheaper to restore than a Series 1 (for example, chassis parts such as the cross member available more or less off the shelf), and even with the two litre motor it is more practical everyday transport than any Series 1. I would be inclined to think it ought to be saved, but this will depend on your situation.

John

It would be a great shame Gromit if such a rare car was to be scrapped now, especially with the 2 litre engine!

My 1958 S2 is a rusty pile of parts, which originally I had intended to take to the tip, before the REMLR boys told me there was only 7 ex-army ones known to survive (I think that number has increased to 13 now).

Your car sounds like an absolute gem compared to mine!

Cheers Charlie

G'day Gromit

I would say that it is worth saving for historical reasons, as it is the 556 th RHD/CKD vehicle kit built in 1958 and also fitted originally with a 2 litre motor, you could replace the Series 1 2.25 ltre into the Series 2 and put the Series 2 motor into the Series1, the gearbox bellhousing differs from the 2 litre and 2.25 litre, this is an easy fix, transfer the motor AND gearbox from the Ser 2 to the Ser1, and vise-versa, as the gearboxes are the same, the bolt pattern on the bellhousing changed with the engine block change, 2litre motor bolt pattern was top bolts 11am&1pm while the 2.25 top bolt pattern is top =12noon, so it is just a straight engine/gearbox-transfer change, hope that helps

remember this is the 556th vehicle in 1958

cheers

Thanks John, Chazza & Uncle Ho,

I had a feeling that the 2.0litre S2 was unusual (John, I think I mentioned it to you at Cooma and you said then that is was quite rare).
Looks like I have another 'project' when all I was really after was a few spares. Problem is I have no undercover storage left so it will end up under a tarp for a while.
The gentleman I brought it from said that the first owner was a contractor that used it for water cartage on the Cardinia reservoir project. Another vehicle with a bit of unusual history (like my Series 1 with the home made welder).
I'd better start writing a wanted ad for the Markets section (someone on the forum has an S2 rear 1/2 chassis that should provide the rear crossmember soon).

Thanks,

Colin

Hi Colin.

My Landy is a '58 SII which originally had the 2L engine (143800259) and I am restoring it. Like yours, mine needs a crossmember and a firewall, but neither of these things are hard to find.

Go for it mate. Every Landy is worth saving.

Hi Grommit

I also have a 1958 Series 2a SWB. Chassis number 143800485.

Like others have said, I would consider keeping it together as a complete vehicle. Mine has had a 2.25 from a Series 2 LWB fittted to it and I wish it had the 2litre.

Rich

Thanks Shonky & Dickyjoe,

Looks like it is definitely a keeper, just wondering how long before SWMBO asks why it's not being stripped down for parts....
Need to be more careful with my choice of 'parts cars' in future

Hope to get her running this weekend, 2.25 engine hasn't been run for 3-4 years. If she runs then I'll replace clutch seals and move her somewhere out of the way till I get time to work out the next move.

Colin

Hi just joined the site...noticed you are talking about series 2 1958 2 litre 88" s I have 3 1958 s2s two are very early 143800386 and 143800263 have not picked the other one up as yet but its a 21/4 not a 2 litre . Are these rare cars as i have the makings of a perfect early series 2 , hood sticks capstan winch ,pto, no indicators and sparto side lights on the front gaurds.......?