Thread: Series body with Disco chassis

In the UK you will find plenty of experience with this sort of thing, but for on-road use in Australia, the vehicle is identified by the chassis - and is required to meet all ADRs current when the chassis was built.

This means 1990 for the earliest D1, and for that year it is a bit doubtful whether even the last of the S3 bodies could meet the requirements. Using an early RR chassis, which is pretty interchangeable with D1 parts would be the way to go, but there are probably not too many of them about that are not badly rusted.

John

HI Antond, I know of a Series Three Station Wagon body grafted onto an early Range Rover chassis which , I recall, he galvanised. The owner accounted for the difference in wheelbases by shortening the rear doors of the Wagon. It is a very neat piece of work and solves the problem raised by JD. I imagine the ute cab/ ute tray would be even easier to fit. I think the chassis outriggers needed to be repositioned for the wagon body. The wagon conversion rides nicely and disappears up the road at an impressive rate of knots for a "Series Three". Go for it, always remembering that it will take longer than you think. Cheers, 130man.

Do a search for the video "A 4WD is Born" they do a 100" RRc Defender hybrid.

Don't forget your new toy will have to comply with all the ADRs that relate to the year of the CHASSIS.

A 1990 Series 2 with need a padded dash, a collapsable steering column, intrusion bars in the doors, burst proof door locks to mention just a few. This is not a new idea and a few on the forum have done similar things. IIRC, one of the methods was to fit coils and D1 running gear to a Series chassis.

I am sure some experience will be along shortly. I wish you the best of luck because it is something I would love to do as well (god knows I have enough Discos and Series to make a few of them ).

Thanks for all your replies. I will do some research on the ADR specs, but there must be a way to get all these great and inexpensive chassis back on the road with something that is classic in look but with the drivability and off road ability of something modern. Besides I sold the D2 to give way to garden variety family transport, but need another LR project...

As John mentioned, try to get a similar era rangie chassis and go from there.
I am yet to see a badly rusted rangie chassis, maybe on the coast but at least in Vic i have never seen any more than surface rust.

Just build it and stamp the series chassis number into it already

If you want a 1981 RRC chassis, I've got one. Been sandblasted and two coats of two pack epoxy. Has some rust damage to the fuel tank bracket on the rear cross member that should be easily fixed by someone with some welding skills.

Come and take it away, it's just getting in the road here.