The Landy August 15

it had dONE lEss thaN 1000 milEs whEN i bOught itOne mans lifelong relationship with a 1982 Series III 109 Hi-Cap and how its now come full circle

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ISSUE 18 AUGUST 2015

GOLDEN BROWN

The Arizona Tan colour you used to see on 110s has been compared to many things.

Not many are very flatteringBut its rare to see one whose

paint hasnt suffered over time. After a decade-long restoration, on the other hand, this 110 proves just how good a brown Landy can look.Full story: Page 30

A tug from the police that turned into a three-year wait for a DVLA inspection no wonder Shaun Carlin took the chance to make his 90 shine like new again Full story: Page 16

That remote-control Range Roverdead clever, but isnt the point of a car for people to sit in it? Full story: Page 4

Which Landy would you choose for overland travel? Bet you didnt say Discovery 3 Full story: Page 34

3Issue 18: August 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242Pre-Pros wow Dunsfold crowdA record thirteen pre-production Series I Land Rovers came together for the 2015 Dunsfold Collection Open Weekend, a feat never achieved before in Land Rovers history.

Over 120 of the worlds rarest, most obscure and most fascinating Land Rovers were rolled out for this years Open Weekend, with the pre-production Series Is stealing the show down in Surrey.

These pre-production vehicles have never been together before in the

Marques history, as the vehicles will have been sent off to be tested and promote Land Rover in destinations all around the world.

Since the collections last Open Weekend, the Dunsfold-based Green Oval nirvana has become a charity, and as such these biennial and brilliant weekends have become a pivotal part of the collections future.

And luckily, the trustees know how to put on a show for enthusiasts!

Event organiser and trustee Philip Bashall commented: It was an absolutely fantastic weekend and weve

had very good feedback, with everyone who attended being very positive about the show.

Weve had comments such as best Land Rover show ever, as well as a wonderful show, just like the old days, which all makes the hard work worth it.

Its not difficult to see why this is one of the must-see events for Landy enthusiasts the only thing missing

being buckets for all the drooling mouths. Phil admitted to us that even the car park was a site to behold, with over 2000 visitors arriving over the course of the two-day event.

He continued: As a historian, its good to see all these different Land Rovers, and as for the pre-pros, people were just blown away! Having 13 of them there was a record which were very pleased about, and Jaguar Land Rover, who were in attendance throughout the weekend, said they were delighted with the event.

People were very charitable and everyone dug deep into their pockets.

The traditional auction on the Saturday night helped to raise much needed funds for the collection which now consists of 123 vehicles, and it

will continue to grow under Phils watchful eye.

Whether its Range Rovers, Discoverys, Series Land Rovers, weird and wonderful prototypes or military muscle, this remarkable collection is well worth a visit.

If youd like to do your part in the preservation of these great Land Rovers, you can become a Friend of the Collection for 35 a year. This will entitle you to newsletters and regular updates on the collection, as well as an opportunity to get up close and personal by helping to set up for future Open Weekends and other shows.

For more information on the Dunsfold Collection, or if you fancy a look at some wonderful Land Rovers, visit www.dunsfoldcollection.co.uk

Mike Trott

Ever been a fan of remote control cars? Jaguar Land Rover may be about to make your day.

The company has showcased some of the newest and most advanced technologies to emerge from its UK research team. And the most novel of these developments is the Remote Control Range Rover Sport.

Designed to demonstrate the progress JLR has been making on autonomous driving, the RC Range Rover Sport can be controlled by the driver from outside the vehicle through the use of their smartphone.

The idea is that you can control the vehicle up to a maximum speed of 4mph via a dedicated smartphone app which gives you control over the accelerator, brakes, steering and even the transfer box.

So, whether its a tight multi-storey car park or a tricky rock crawling section, this is probably an app youll want to purchase in the future unless you actually enjoy driving, of course.

Drivers need to be within a 10-metre radius of the car for it to work, so dont expect to be able to pull any hilarious pranks. The system simply halts the car if the smart key is no longer detected.

Jaguar Land Rover has also been busy working on the Multi-Point Turn Range Rover Sport. It can sort out those three-point turns with which some people often seem to struggle.

Dr Wolfgang Epple, Jaguar Land Rovers Director of Research and Technology, commented: Getting a car out of a tricky parking manoeuvre can be a stressful experience for any driver. A Remote Control car, or a vehicle that can autonomously turn in the road, demonstrates how we could use these new technologies to

reduce the tedious parts of driving and improve road safety.

Research into technologies like these wont only help us deliver an autonomous car; they will help make real driving safer and more enjoyable. The same sensors and systems that will help an autonomous car make the right decisions will assist the driver and enhance the experience to help prevent accidents. Autonomous car technologies will not take away the fun of driving.

Now, not that we here at The Landy are particularly stubborn but the day we let a robot do the everyday driving for us is the day we all look for a new day job. Quite literally, in fact.

Fortunately, Jaguar Land Rovers vision is to give the driver a choice between an engaged or autonomous drive. We know which setting well have it locked into

JLR plans Pothole Alert

4 Issue 18: August 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsJaguar Land Rover is launching a new car technology called Pothole Alert.

The technology uses sensors on a car to identify the position and proposed level of danger that approaching potholes will cause as well as broken drains and manholes covers to share real-time data with other vehicles and road authorities in order to help with the prioritising of road repairs.

Currently, it is estimated that around 2.8bn in vehicle damage is caused each year by potholes.

Dr Mike Bell, Global Connected Car Director, Jaguar Land Rover, said: Our MagneRide equipped Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport vehicles feature sophisticated sensors that allow the vehicle to profile the road surface under the wheels and identify potholes, raised manholes and broken drain covers.

Dr Bell added that the sharing of data could help prevent billions of pounds worth of vehicle damage and make road repairs more effective.

The companys research team has also been working alongside Coventry City Council.

Councillor Rachel Lancaster, Cabinet Member for Public Services at Coventry City Council said: We already collect lots of data which we monitor very carefully ourselves. But having this kind of extra information might allow us to further improve our maintenance programmes, which would save the taxpayer money.

Taking the Land Rover for a walk

Above: JLR is planning to use GPS and to fit digital surround cameras on the front of its vehicles to capture the exact position of pot holes so they can be eradicated more quickly by local authorities

Mike Trott

6 Issue 18: August 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsLR Run hits new heights on way to Brugge

The Charity Land Rover Run has broken its fundraising record, after a 41-car parade from Kent to Brugge.

Setting off from the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel le Ferne on 6 June, the convoy of pre-1975 Land Rovers departed for Brugge in Belgium, aiming to raise valuable funds for the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust the charity of choice for this years run.

The Trust has recently completed The Wing, a stunning museum with its roof following the shape of a Spitfire wing, and containing memorabilia and state-of-the-art interactive displays. This, of course, all needs maintaining financially which is where the 2015 CLR came in.

A traditional ferry crossing to France (this years run was the sixth annual event) was followed by a negotiation of Calais many traffic lights before a stint down to Ardres.

Driving the relatively empty roads through the rolling countryside of Pas-de-Calais, and even cheered on by even a few French locals, this was a journey of purpose and pleasure.

Climbing the steep and twisting roads towards Cassel, the brigade savoured the 98-octane fuel at continental prices before meeting up with a few Belgian friends for the last leg into Brugge.

Now with a mix of Series Is and IIs, a Minerva, a Tickford and a 109, the Land Rovers reached the World Heritage city of Brugge in time for that evenings gala award ceremony.

Throughout the ceremony, the Mayor of Zedelgem presented a variety of awards to owners of different Land Rovers. The awards determine the likes of who has the Most Original Land Rover and Best Land Rover; who gets the Bent and Battered award and title of Best Decorated Land Rover, while the Mayor was also able to choose his own personal favourite.

Event organiser Peter Wales then presented a special Next Generation award to Seppe Verhaeghe for his magnificent restoration of the Series 1 80-inch he bought when he was sixteen and has just finished after nearly two years worth of work.

The following morning brought along the Charity Auction, conducted as always by the ruthless but mirthful Richard Beddall.

In not much over an hour, some 55 lots had been sold and 2200 had been added to the funds raised.

Peter Wales said: It was probably the best CLR to date. Brugge and the weather were fantastic; the champagne reception hosted by the Mayor of Zedelgem was a highlight.

It was also a great testament to Solihulls finest that our 41-strong convoy made it home without a major problem. Maurice Wilks would be very proud.

To date we have raised 7131, including 2200 raised during the auction on the day in Brugge. This exceeds our original 5000 target.

Next years run will be supporting a charity very close to the hearts of Land Rover owners, with the Dunsfold Collection set to be the recipient of this noble event.

Left: The parade of pre-1975 Land Rovers makes its way south to Brugge for what is the sixth annual Charity Land Rover Run. To date, the event has raised a total in excess of 37,000, with a new charity being selected each year. Next year will be the turn of the Dunsfold Collection

Words Mike CooperPictures Phil Lightman and Jonny Stokes

AwardsMost Original: 1969 Series IIA 109 SW Dormobile Conversion (Michael Siegers)Best Land Rover: 1951 Tickford (Mike Rivett)Mayors Favourite: 1970 Series IIA 88 (Ryan Wright)Bent and Battered: 1957 Series I 88 (Kevin Leach)Best Decorated: 1963 Series IIA 88 (Chris Nightingale)

7Issue 18: August 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242

One of the things people most often say about a new Land Rover is that its like a blank canvas. You get a basic vehicle for your money, and then you can start turning it into your own work of art.

Of course, the analogy only goes so far, and if truth be told almost all the unique Defenders we create are really only variations on a theme. Still, given that this is what owners start doing with new Land Rovers almost from the day they bring them home, its probably in keeping, if a whole lot more controversial, when people do the same thing with what are now considered classics.

Take a look in the classified ads towards the back of The Landy this month and youll see what I mean. Theres a Mk1 Rangey thats been restored from the ground up and brought back together using a suspension lift and other non-standard parts. An early Discovery thats been turned into an Aussie-style ute. A 109 Series II with a double-length bonnet (seriously). And, best or worst of all depending on how you look at it, a 107 Station Wagon thats been cut up and turned into a double-cab.

Needless to say, you wouldnt expect anybody to do such a thing to a Landy that was already clean, classic and original. Though I know someone who, way back in the mid-1990s, decided to cut up a 90SV because he knew how much it would annoy the anoraks. Anyway, butchering a rare gem to create a flight of fancy would be a pretty poor show. But with so many modding-by-numbers Land Rovers around, youve got to admire the people who manage to retain their creative vision in the face of so much uniformity.

The trucks they create are very good at dividing opinion, of course. But when theyre so clever, so visionary and so well executed, you can hardly help but cut them a little slack. After all, theyre just the result of someone treating a Land Rover as just what it is a blank canvas.

Alan Kidd, Editor

Comment

8 Issue 18: August 2015www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNews

Land Rover has unveiled its new Heritage Driving Experience at Fen End in the West Midlands.

Customers can now experience the thrill of driving Land Rovers oldest and most treasured legends, thanks to the opening of its customer test facility where models from the Series I to military 101 Forward Control and classic Range Rover will be lined up, ready to head out in the hands of paying customers both on and off-road.

Budding drivers will be offered a selection of packages which will allow customers to drive vehicles from a specified era, or to cover a range of vehicles to get a real feel of how Land Rover has changed from 1948 to present day.

Informative instructors will provide direction, facts and anecdotes to accompany your experience, while youll have to time to test out Land Rovers heritage either on track or along the new off-road course.

Vehicle exhibits will put the cherry on top of what should be a memorable day of driving.

Packages start from 40, which will give you a passenger ride alongside an instructor but youll surely want more than that.

For 85 you can opt for the Series I, II and III vs Modern Defender package, which as the name suggests gives you the chance to commandeer a Series I, II or III and compare it to a drive in todays equivalent.

Other packages include the Land Rover Historic Drives (90) and the Range Rover Then and Now package (125), before climbing to the Land Rover The Collection, priced at 250.

This lets you drive all the best and most significant Land Rovers, dating from the 1940s to the 2010s. Series Land Rovers, military vehicles, expedition-prepped models and modern-day Defenders and Range Rovers are all included. Surely thats got birthday present written all over it

Further packages are available as well as a number of gift voucher and special promotional packages as new models are added to the experience. Visit www.heritagedriving.co.uk for more details.

Experience the past Its tow so good for the DiscoveryLand Rovers Discovery the Tow King has reclaimed its crown once again, winning its class at the Tow Car Awards 2015.

The Discovery won its 1,900kg+ class to record an extraordinary eighth win in the Tow Car Awards nine-year history, providing further confirmation that the Disco remains the daddy of the towing world.

Competing in the heavyweight towing category, the Discovery has demonstrated its capabilities year after year, with no other manufacturer able to boast such an impressive record.

A panel of expert judges voted the Discovery the victor, while the awards were presented by The Camping and Caravanning Club, in association with What Car? and Practical Caravan.

It was the popular 3.0-litre SDV6 SE Tech model that would face the thorough examinations of this years towing tests, with the judges commenting: The Land Rover Discoverys tally now stands at eight

class wins in the nine years of the Tow Car Awards. New rivals keep taking a shot at the title, but for now the Discovery remains on top. Its an absolutely superb car to tow with.

Nearly 40 cars took part in this years event, battling it out across all the various categories, with judges marking on a number of points from acceleration and stability to slalom course competence and the vehicles ability to deal with questionable cambers and surfaces while hauling an appropriate load. Practicality, running costs, reliability and safety were also assessed.

Some of the Discoverys success is now owed to technological enhancements, such as Trailer Stability Assist, which recognises when a trailer is in tow and, from 37mph upwards, keeps an eye on it for you to make sure things are in ship-shape. However none of this would be any use without the underpinnings of a well designed heavy-duty 4x4 which every Disco has been from the word go.

Telegraph for Land RoverLand Rover continues to bask in its own success after being labelled Best Brand at the 2015 Telegraph Cars Awards.

This is a first for the Solihull manufacturer, but an accolade made even sweeter after the Discovery Sport was named Best SUV, making it three in a row following success for the Range Rover Evoque in 2014 and the Discovery in 2013.

Steven Huntingford, Head of Cars at Telegraph Media Group, commented: This is the third year in a row that

Land Rover has won the award for Best SUV, each time with a different car. Such consistently high standards explain why Land Rover is our Best Brand.

He added: Above all, SUVs are bought as family cars, so the fact that the Discovery Sport has seven seats to its rivals five is a huge advantage. While its clearly a worthy choice, the Discovery Sport is anything but dull, with tidy handling, nicely weighted steering and a supple yet controlled ride.

10 Issue 18: August 2015www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsA brand new education facility has been opened at Jaguar Land Rovers 500 million Engine Manufacturing Centre in the West Midlands.

The new Education Business Partnership Centre, situated near Wolverhampton, will cater for thousands of visitors each year in order

to inspire young people into the world of engineering.

Jaguar Land Rovers Inspiring Tomorrows Engineers school

education programme has already reached over three million youngsters to date and with the opening of the new 650,000 Education Centre, the company will strive to increase that figure even further.

The project has been developed in partnership with Staffordshire County Council, South Staffordshire Council, Wolverhampton City Council and Wolverhampton College.

Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive of Jaguar Land Rover, commented: Jaguar Land Rover is a business driven by design, technology and innovation. It is critical that we attract talented young people to become the next generation of engineers to support our growing business.

Im delighted to open the Education Business Partnership Centre, which will play a key role in nurturing future talent and inspiring more young people to pursue engineering careers.

The Centre utilises a wide variety of cutting-edge technologies including a holographic table which projects images of the companys Ingenium engines to illustrate how they are manufactured.

Students will be able to use iPad stations to complete bespoke modules once returning from their factory tours, and they will be able to try their hand at controlling scaled-down robots similar to those used on the actual production lines.

Peter Bilson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Assets, Wolverhampton City Council, speaking on behalf of Jaguar Land Rover Education Business Partnership Centre partners commented: We are delighted to work in partnership with Jaguar Land Rover to support its school education programme. We are committed to providing the best possible educational opportunities for local young people across Staffordshire and the West Midlands and the Education Business Partnership Centre will be hugely valuable, reinforcing the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects to modern industry, highlighting career opportunities and helping young people strengthen their employability skills as they prepare for the world of work.

For further information about the new Education Business Partnership Centre, or to enquire about becoming one of the growing number of young people reaping its benefits, contact Liz Love, Education Business Partnership Centre Manager, on 07880 175 057 or email [email protected].

Time to go to school courtesy of Land Rover Youre hiredFive wounded or sick ex-Servicemen and ex-Servicewomen have completed JLRs first Invictus Games work placement legacy programme and will now start their new employment within Jaguar Land Rover.

Staff Sergeant Wayne Walker is one of the five who will join the Solihull outfit after his time in the Queens Royal Lancers, where he served in Iraq and sustained his injuries.

Having been medically discharged after a 19-year military career, Wayne, 36, enrolled on the training programme last December and will now take up the role of Process Leader at Jaguar Land Rover.

During his military career, Wayne served in operational tours of Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq the latter being where he was caught in the detonation of an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) which resulted in a serious knee injury that has seen him go through more than twenty operations to date.

Speaking of this new chapter in his life, Wayne said: I was put forward for this opportunity via the Armed Forces Motorsport Charity, Mission Motorsport, which supports those leaving the Forces. I wasnt sure what would come out of it, but Ive received incredible support throughout the programme from my family and everyone at Jaguar Land Rover.

I am delighted to have been offered this permanent position which means security for my familys future and has been a great confidence boost. I hope this will inspire others also leaving the Forces.

Following Jag Land Rovers involvement in the 2014 Invictus Games and the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant, the company is keen to uphold its pledge and desire to work with Armed Forces veterans.

Gregg Niblett, Defender Manufacturing Manager, who is ex-military himself and will now be Waynes manager, commented: I am delighted to welcome Wayne to Jaguar Land Rover. For someone who has only spent their career in the forces, it is a huge step to transition over to civilian life and Waynes can-do attitude has enabled him to apply himself to the job. There is a thriving ex-forces community at the Solihull plant and we get together regularly to support new recruits transitioning to civilian careers both within work and outside through community and charitable initiatives.


Editor Alan KiddAssistant Editor Mike Trott

Admin and Editorial AssistantGemma PaskArt Editor Samantha DSouza

Contributors Dan Fenn, Gary Noskill, Paul Looe, Mark Bailey

Photographers Steve Taylor, Russell Stevens, Jen and Noam Ben Tsion

Advertising Sales Manager Ian Argent Tel: 01283 553242Advertising Production Tel: 01283 553242Publisher Sarah Kidd Email: [email protected] effort is made to ensure that the contents of The Landy are accurate, however Assignment Media Ltd accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions nor

the consequences of actions made as a result of these

When responding to any advert in The Landy, you should make appropriate enquiries before sending money or entering into a contract. The publishers take reasonable care to ensure advertisers probity, but will not be liable for any losses incurred as a result of responding to adverts

The Landy is distributed by Britpart. Details of your

nearest Britpart dealer can be found at www.britpart.comWhere a photo credit includes the note CC-BY-SA, the image is made available under that Creative Commons licence. Details are available at www.creativecommons.org

The Landy is published by Assignment Media Ltd, Repton House, Bretby Business Park, Ashby Road, Bretby DE15 0YZ

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NEXT MONTH

PLUS What happens when you buy a Range Rover Classic

thats had 3k spent on the stereo alone ?

NEXT MONTHS LANDY IS PUBLISHED ON 27 JULYYou can pick up your copy of our September 2015 issue from newsagents or Britpart dealers or read it online at www.thelandy.co.uk

Belgian Beauty: Peter Wales first saw his Minerva while stood in the rain but with less than 15,000 miles on its clock, he was soon dancing for joy

Dunsfold Dynamo we pull this pristine NAS 90 from the collection and take a look at why the Americans were so lucky


Britparts range of replacement seals for the Range Rover Classic continues to grow at a steady pace.

If youre rebuilding one, or just trying to prevent an old timer from turning into something so porous it makes the Swindon Town back four look watertight, the options now on offer include:

Rear quarter panel fixing plate Rear side window channel Front wing seal Side window gasket Anti-rattle pads Rear lamp gaskets Rear quarter window seals Lock and handle gasket Check strap seal Bonnet lamp rubber

Prices range from a few quid to a few hundred, depending on what it is youre after, but in general theyre pretty affordable meaning you and your Range Rover neednt suffer for the want of something as fundamental as decent seals.www.britpart.com

EXMOOR TRIMS already enormous range of Land Rover seats has just expanded still further, thanks to a new range of sports seats. These are designed to make your Defender a racier place to be while also giving you all the usual Exmoor luxury.

The E-Sports seat, as its called, will be in stock from 16 July. It will come supplied with runners including a popular riser option which provides three-way adjustability.

Your choice of finishes will consist of Black Leather Match Vinyl with White Stitch, Black Leather Match Vinyl with Black Stitch, XS Black Rack Half Leather and Diamond XS. Were

struggling to picture what all these look like too, dont worry. Anyway, the seats are part of Exmoors signature range, meaning bespoke finishes can be ordered by request.

As these seats are a direct replacement part for the original, all you need to do is remove the old front seats, whatever model Defender you have, and bolt in your new one using the existing points. Your swish new seats, which come as a pair, will recline (assuming theres not a bulkhead in the way) and have a built-in seat heater system to keep your behind warm.

The seats have been approved by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)

and successfully Mark 1 Impact Tested at Millbrook Testing Ground. You neednt expect them to be cheap, then, and at about 1026 theyre not, but few things could be a wiser investment if you spend a lot of time on board your Landy. www.exmoortrim.co.uk

13Issue 18: August 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242IT MIGHT SOUND OBVIOUS, but being able to shed proper light on a dark situation can mean the difference between life and death.

For example, while you may not die from this (hopefully), stubbing your toe while trying to navigate your way through a darkened room in the middle of the night will at least alert the neighbours to whats happening, via the medium of shouting and swearing.

The equivalent in the workshop could be a lot less funny. We all know what dangerous places these can be, with plenty of hard, sharp, abrasive, poisonous and otherwise antisocial items and substances waiting to nail the unwary. No place for not being able to see what youre doing.

Hence the new TruckMaster 8 LED Oval Work Lamp from Ring Automotive. It has 8 x 3W LED bulbs, housed within an oval, die-cast aluminium frame, which provide a hefty 2000-Lumens output. In front of them, a clear polycarbonate lens shapes the LEDs beams into a medium flood of light.

The bulbs are long-life jobs and the lamps body is sealed to IP67, which is as good as most of the expensive LED lights you see being used on challenge vehicles. With an M8 x 25mm mount and pan-directional bracket, we could see these lights being pressed into service on the front of Land Rovers as well as in the traditional position at the back.

A three-year warranty should do nothing to put you off the idea of doing this, and nor should a price in the region of 66.www.ringautomotive.co.uk

WE ALL KNOW ABOUT EGR valves annoying items to be removed and disposed of. Standing for Exhaust Gas Recirculation, this little gadget aims to reduce NOx emissions by recirculating some of your trucks exhaust gases back into its engine. It works, but it strangles your engine in the process and thats why so many of them end up in the bin.

Simply removing the valve and blanking it off is considered enough on the TD5, but on the 300Tdi it can be better to swap it for a new one. Thats because carbon deposits can build up within the EGR valve over time, and eventually this will start to affect its performance. Fitting a new valve is like blowing your nose when you have a cold the engine will instantly be able to breathe better.

Bearmach is now offering a replacement valve for your 300Tdi at the suggested retail price of 69. Thats a lot for a box of tissues, but not much for a Landy that runs properly again.www.ringautomotive.co.uk

Modern Land Rovers have excellent cabin space and a huge range of seat adjustment. Defenders are not modern Land Rovers, on the other hand, and they dont.

The actual seat position gives you an unbeatable view of the road ahead, and the seats themselves are way better than the average know-nothing would assume, but that doesnt mean youre immune from backache and stiff knees after a stint behind the wheel. Which is a shame, because who among us can honestly say that behind the wheel of a Defender isnt their favourite place in the whole world?

Well, 4x4 Overlander and Nakatanenga have rattled their brains together to do something about this. And the result is here, in the shape of these new Premium Seat Risers.

Suitable for all 90/110/130 models from 1985 onwards (except for military vehicles and those fitted with retro-fit sports seats) these seat rail extensions and raiser blocks give you a better chance of finding a comfortable position from which to enjoy your Defender. The rails, which are also compatible with original Land Rover Recaro seats, offer three separate positions: 30/40mm (f/r) higher,

30/40mm higher and 25mm further back and 30/40mm higher and 50mm further back.

Using the original seat box threads and holes in the seat frame, the rails are constructed from stainless steel with a black powder-coated finish. If you prefer a more natural look, as seen in these photos, thats available too to special order.

Either way, sitting down at the wheel of your Defender will never have pleased your rear end more. Prices start at 75 including VAT per seat, which is pleasing enough in its own way too.www.4x4overlander.com

If you run a 200 or 300Tdi Defender, Discovery or Range Rover, its probably occurred to you at some point that a heavy-duty clutch wouldnt go amiss. Our own editor is prone to some very dark mutterings when this subject comes up.

This three-piece OEM kit, made by Valeo and now available through Britpart dealers, should do the trick. Including the plate, cover and bearing, its also suitable for earlier petrol and diesel Defenders as well as Range Rovers with the VM Turbo D engine. Shop around and youll find one for about a hundred quid.www.britpart.com

14 Issue 18: August 2015www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsSOME PEOPLE SEEM to have sold their soul to the devil when it comes to reversing on to a trailer. But most of us

mere mortals need guidance which, if theres no-one else around, can make things more than a little tedious.

Obviously, its easier if you happen to be Superman and possess the ability to see through the layers of sheet metal between yourself and your towing hitch. But as this is rather an unlikely contingency, Demon Tweeks has just started selling this here nifty gizmo from Swifthitch.

The One-Man Trailer Hitch Camera System (its a descriptive name, youve got to give them that) consists of a camera (obviously) and a wireless, hand-held display. Images from the camera are displayed on a 2.5 LCD colour screen, allowing you to keep a watchful eye on exactly whats kicking off back there.

The camera has a magnetic mount, so its not going to stick to your Land Rovers aluminium bodywork, but weve no doubt at all that youll be able to lash something up that keeps it in place. Rather impressively, it features

a night vision mode, so you can use it just as effectively after dark no small matter, especially when you consider what time the sun sets in the middle of winter.

The camera and hand-held screen are battery powered and will operate for a maximum of four hours and to a distance of up to 300 feet. As far as were aware, no-one has yet made a Land Rover with a wheelbase that long, so you ought to be just fine and if it takes you four hours to get hitched up, whether youve got a camera on your side or not, then what are you doing trying to tow a trailer behind your truck in the first place?

The kit comes complete with a 12v charger and Y-cable, allowing both elements to be charged simultaneously, and costs an affordable 211.60 including the VAT.www.demon-tweeks.co.uk

dEfEndErS arE faMOuS for many things, but the quality of their audio systems isnt among them. Theres no reason why you cant listen to music properly on board Solihulls finest, though, and a good place to start is by fitting a set of speakers that wont be frightened off by the ever-present shaking and tinny din from the body.

This often means needing a larger hole for your new speakers to live in, and Mud UKs new Rear Speaker Panel gives you that extra room without the hassle. The panels allocate space for 130mm speakers, giving you far wider possibilities for your sound system.

Though they look like factory items, the panels are thicker and easy to fit using the screws provided. Presently they only fit Hard-Top models, but theres a version on the way for those that have rear corner window trims.

The panels wont fit on post-2007 Station Wagon and Utility Wagon models, either although a small amount of trimming to the factory-fitted panel would allow for bigger speakers here anyway. Anyway, Muds panels are priced at 47 per pair including VAT.www.mudstuff.co.uk

15Issue 18: August 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242BLING IS THE THING in Defender modding right now giving an unexpected new twist to a world most of us thought would never be touched by the fickle hand of fashion.

And few things say bling with more certainty than a nice set of alloys yes, even on a 90. There are everyday designs which have passed into Landy folklore, and there are lavishly flamboyant efforts which frankly look a bit misplaced on anything with the aerodynamics of a Defender, however nicely its painted, but these new designs from Hawke Styling fall nicely between the two.

Available in Gloss Black, Black and Polished and Matt Gunmetal finishes, these are definitely wheels for a style wagon rather than anything designed to go off-road. The sizes on offer back this up, too you can have them in 18x8.5 with an ET20 offset, or 18x9.0 at ET25.

Lots of choices, then, so if a cool look is what youre going for theres sure to be something here to suit whatever that look might be. The same may not be quite so easy to say about budgets, though with prices starting at 229 including VAT per wheel these are by no means the most expensive option on the market.www.hawkestyling.com

When youre pulled over by the police and told to park up your favourite vehicle for what turns out to be a three-year wait, you know youre going to want to make up for lost time. Shaun Carlin did when he refreshed this 90 to make it look like new but giving the vehicle the internals youd really want in the process


No one likes waiting for any-thing, do they? Consider in-ternet shopping, for example. You buy something off Amazon, or some other vast jumble sale of a website, and then spend every next waking moment sat by the front door, listening intently like a small yappy terrier, preparing to rip the limbs from some poor, unsuspecting postman who really didnt expect to have a six-foot human latched on to his arm that morning.

Needless to say, my household has been blacklisted by UPS, Royal Mail, Parcel Force and the rest.

Its the same when you order a new phone; or a car no one likes waiting. At one point or another weve all been in a queue at a coffee house, counting to ten as the worlds biggest imbecile umms and aahs over which ridicu-lously-named beverage theyd like to choke on (hopefully), and have felt like running head-first into the nearest wall.

Can you imagine, then, having your favourite Land Rover parked up on your drive for three years and not being able to drive it anywhere?

They say good things come to those who wait (at least thats what the guy on the Guinness adverts used to tell me).

No alcohol-fuelled beverage was going to satisfy Shaun Carlins thirst for his Land Rover, though, after he was told by police to park it up, not to touch it or drive it, but just wait for an inspec-tion that, for a long time, looked like it would never come.

This Land Rover was built in 1988, but started life as a truck cab, begins Shaun. It spent most of its life at Buckland Manor, being used around the estate. When I bought it, the truck had bullets still inside from when they would have gone shooting.

I purchased it with the intention of converting it into a soft-top version

Good things come to

those who

wait...Words and pictures Mike Trott

with a nod in the SVX direction; even bought everything to do the job with, but eventually sold all the stuff because I just thought to myself I was never going to have time to do it all.

That said, Shaun used his 90 every-day and it never let him down from when he bought it in 1999 till about six years later when those blue lights came up behind him.

I got pulled over by the police with them telling me that the chassis numbers werent in line and that the numbers didnt look level, recalls Shaun. The officer told me to await an inspection and not to drive it anywhere but the inspection never came.

Three long years passed and after deciding enough was enough, Shaun dusted down the 90, taxed, insured and MOTd it and headed back out on the road. No point in wasting such a great vehicle, after all.

Only when Shaun had done all this must the vehicle have flagged up on the DVLAs system, because shortly afterwards, three policeman appeared on the doorstep of his house.

Theyd finally come to do the inspection and they had a poke round, but couldnt see anything wrong. The guy carrying out the inspection said he was used to looking at Land Rovers all the time and the original police officer must not have realised that a lot of 90s dont have machine-stamped numbers.

So all was well and Shaun was able to drive his 90 again like nobodys busi-ness except youre probably looking at these pictures, thinking thats no truck cab. Youd be right.

Remember Shaun mentioned his admiration for the SVX Defenders? He test drove a couple and was consider-ing buying one a few years back, but as pleasant as they may have looked, Shaun knew that there was no galva-nised chassis or bulkhead underneath and hed soon be paying out to fix the same old problems that most old Landies have.


Continued overleaf

They had a poke

round, but couldnt

see anything

wrong

Left: The engine bay formerly housed a 2.5-litre TD 19J engine, which produces as much power as a blender. For a real vehicle you need a real engine, and thats what Shaun went and bought. A 200Tdi sits pretty underneath the bonnet and we mean pretty! The engine was stripped and rebuilt by Brian Tonks at Tonks4x4 and now gives Shaun the boost in performance that every man deserves. For fear of sounding like a viagra commercial, though, its worth continuing to say that Shaun went for a 200 rather than a 300 because of the points system now applied within the DVLA testsBelow: A galvanised chassis AND bulkhead lurk under this Landy the former being painted black to prevent those who lurk them-selves from thinking this is indeed galvanised, and therefore likely to conclude that this is just another rust-attracting Land Rover

18 Issue 18: August 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsThe answer, however, was already

parked on his drive. That old truck- cab 90 Shaun bought back in 1999 for 3000 would become the project it was always destined to be. Shaun got his galvanised chassis and bulkhead, with the chassis painted black to make any snooping eyes see nothing but a normal, rust-prone Land Rover. A 200Tdi also sits upfront instead of the old 2.5 TD (19J) which was sold to a guy in the US.

Its been through a complete nut and bolt restoration, says Shaun, Every part is as-new, if not new. I went for the 200Tdi for the better power and the little more refinement it gives you plus it was better than the 300Tdi on the points system, which you have to be wary of these days.

You may recall the epic 130 fire truck that graced the front cover of our March issue earlier this year. That belonged to Brian Tonks, the man be-hind Tonks4x4 and the person largely responsible for why Shauns 90 is such a head-turner today.

Brian had never carried out a restoration to this standard before, chuckles Shaun. In the end, he said

I was the pickiest customer hed ever come across!

Shaun cant have been too bad to often, though, because he and Brian are now good friends. He also went up to the workshop when time permit-ted, to help out in whichever way he could over the course of the six to eight month long project.

As Shaun says, not one bolt nor screw was left untouched, with every part galvanised or replaced with stainless steel where applicable. The engine was stripped down and rebuilt by Brian; the gearbox was recondi-tioned and the axles have been refur-bished, so that this Landy looks like a brand new Defender yet its actually running on all the parts an enthusiast would want.

At the back youll notice the panoramic windows, fitted by the company formerly known as Landy-glass. Shaun spotted their product at Peterborough and felt this was some-thing he needed to have.

This is my fifth Land Rover, states Shaun. My first was a soft-top Series III 2.25-litre petrol which I really enjoyed. The second... not so much. It was a

12-seater, 2.25-litre diesel with a 0-60 time of eventually, laughs Shaun.

I think growing up, looking at Land Rovers, they were something I aspired to own although if Id had that 12-seater Land Rover first, Im not sure Id still have one today!

Shauns dad and uncle were always fiddling with cars and now even his daughter, Kim, fancies being the proud owner of a Land Rover.

My daughters always liked them, says Shaun, So I figured I might give her this one when she turns 21. Ive changed my mind, though, shes not having this one now, he smiles. Ive made it too nice!

Well, when youve waited so long for the perfect vehicle, why let someone else have all the fun? You wouldnt hand over your prized Amazon purchase or frothy coffee to someone else after all that time, would you?

For Shaun, he now has the SVX-in-spired vehicle he always wanted. And while it may have taken longer to get to this stage in the first place, this is a Landy that has already served its time in a workshop and you can be sure it wont be going back anytime soon.

Above: This 90 is as fresh inside as it is on the outside. For an interior that was first made in 1988, you would expect a few changes over the years: the plusher seats; a cubby box for extra storage and even brushed metal knobs to fit over your gear levers

Below: As well as the panoramic window job on the rear, Shaun has got a NAS rear bumper and LED loghts too. The exhaust is also a straight-through affair with the rear section taken from a Td5

The early eighTies were someThing of a honeymoon period

Bernard Tomkins has owned his 109 Hi-Cap since 1982. He bought it with less than 1000 miles on the clock, and its been a faithful friend ever since. Now its time to say goodbye, though but its going to be a very fond farewell

20 Issue 18: August 2015www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsA Fond Farewell

words and pictures mike Trott

The early Eighties were something of a honeymoon period between the pair, with the 109 living on Bernards farm in Buckinghamshire from late 1982 onwards. The Land Rover has always been royally looked after, always kept under cover and this workhorse of a Landy has repaid Bernard over the years during a relationship spanning more than three decades.

Of course, in any friendship there is the occasional moment of friction, and there may come a time when you need to be there to support those you care about with whatever issues they may be dealing with.

After Bernard and the Hi-Cap had known each other for around a decade, for example, it started to develop a bit of chassis rot and failed an MOT.

Over several years, we patched her up here and there to prevent it from getting any worse, he recalls. But even-tually we decided to bite the bullet and have a galvanised chassis fitted instead.

Now, thats not just the equivalent of buying your friend a sympathetic beer. Its more like lending him your wife.

It hasnt been all take, take, take in this relationship, though. Bernard has certainly called upon the Series III to do him a favour or two as well.

Its always been used as general farm transport, he says, carrying animal feed and towing trailers, that sort of thing. I was also the local scout leader for many years. The truck has done a lot of miles taking scouts to summer camps and on various excursions.

Still, this rare piece of Solihull history hasnt just been treated to a chassis up-grade then burdened with the duty of transporting grubby young children to and from different adventure grounds. Theres been a lot of work carried out to keep this 33-year-old looking as good as it does now, as Bernard reveals.

This includes new springs, while the 2.25-litre petrol engine and gearbox are replacement components. That engine is also aided by a new carburettor and ignition coil.

Theres a new battery and fresh tyres, the hood is new as are the hoops and the original seats have been recovered, continues Bernard. Its been properly prepared and painted in the classic Pastel Green colour.

This surely must be one of the best-kept Series III 109 Hi-Caps around not that theres much around in the way of competition, obviously.

21Issue 18: August 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242You should choose you friends wisely, they say. While theyre at it, theyll tell you that a man is known by the compa-ny he keeps. Certainly, good friends are hard to come by.

If these adages hold any truth, surely the same theory can be applied to the vehicles we choose to drive. Needless to say, to own a Land Rover you must have pretty impeccable taste in the first place but then to be seen in a new Range Rover says you mix with the in-crowd, whereas a scary 90 on 35 Ferret Frighteners suggests you like to run with a rougher set.

Much more than it is the case with normal cars, the relationships we

have with our Land Rovers are similar to those we have with other human beings. Some are dependable and trust-worthy, full of character and packed with quirks you get to know and love.

Others will come and go in a flash, taking with them whatever brief memories they may have given you. But there are some Land Rovers that just stick with you through thick and thin, becoming part of your life and a member of your family.

If you were to judge Bernard Tom-kins on his Series III 109 Hi-Cap, youd have to assume he looks after those who are closest to him. On the other hand, youd have to say Bernard has been lucky to find himself such a

great friend, because as of the start of 2015 this is one of only 17 Hi-Caps left on the road in the country.

Whats more, Bernard has been the owner of this rare Land Rover for the last 33 years almost from when it was first put together by the toughened hands of the Solihull workforce.

Ive had this since 1982, says Ber-nard. I was the second owner, actually. The first was a farmer from Hampshire. Hed bought the truck from an auction as at the time they were all being re-placed by the 110s, so they were selling them off.

It had less than 1000 miles on the clock when I bought it, and still had the manufacturers warranty on it too.

Continued overleaf


There is, however, something that has been playing on Bernards mind for the last few years. And it means that soon, these best buddies will be going their separate ways.

Bernard is rapidly approaching his 80th birthday, you see. And sadly he admits that the poor Landy has done next to no miles over the last few years. Besides, he says, if hes being truly honest (as you should be with your best mates) he quite likes the luxury of power steering now!

Ive had several Land Rovers over the years, including a 1949 Series I 80, a 1950 80 and a long-wheelbase 1960 Series II, Bernard remarks. I also ran an 88 Series III Truck Cab, which is when I visited the Bucks County Show and saw one of the Hi-Cap versions on the Land Rover stand. I said that if we have another, we should get one with a bigger body.

And thats precisely what happened. Bernard was a tender 28 years of age when he bought his first Land Rover,

each of them coming and going until he found one that he could trust to be a friend for life.

He used to run three different shoot-ing syndicates and has been a keen marksman for many years. Owning the Hi-Cap gave him something tough and ready for cross-country action.

Its been a good work tool and great off-road. There was very little compe-tition back then. There wasnt all these Jeeps and Japanese stuff being made. It was a time when Land Rover had the market to themselves, he smiles.

Things do change over the years and when you look back, even just at Land Rover, the company and its vehicles were much simpler back then. To be fair, everything was.

As with all things, however, you need to take the memories from the years gone by. And when Bernard finally sees his old friend disappear down the driveway for the last time, it will be those good times that come floating back.

Bernards pride and joy is now up for sale. He told me that hed like the Series III Hi-Cap to go to an enthusiast and someone who will appreciate the rarity of the ve-hicle, and hopefully get another 33 years of enjoyment from this wonderful old Land Rover. If you think its for you, you can contact him direct on 01494 837549.

the sva is hard work, but it must be a positive thing

Hybrid building went out of fashion a long time ago. But if you want a 100 Defender, its still the only way and as it has turned out for those whove dared to brave the SVA test, not even the man from the ministry can change that


People used to build hybrids because they wanted a 90 but couldnt afford one. Nowadays, if youre willing to put that much work into a project youll buy an actual 90 instead and do a complete rebuild on it but theres still one very good reason for building a hybrid.

This is, of course, that Land Rover never made a 100 Defender. Well it did, but only ever as a prototype. Which is strange, because with the 90 being too small to be practical for many people and the 110 being too long for comfort off-road, youre never far from someone whose ideal wheelbase would be bang in the middle.

Land Rover made plenty of 100 vehicles, of course to wit, every Range Rover and Discovery over the course of many, many years. And a lot of them ended up as chassis donors during the golden age of hybrid building.

That age was over by 2003, when Jonathan Fearn built his 100 Land Rover. Youd started being able to get 90s and 110s at sensible money by then, and something else had come along too the hated SVA test.

This threw a huge spanner in the works for hybrid builders by forcing them to meet a vast list of requirements when designing their vehicles. The basic idea is that every car on the road

should meet certain standards for safety reasons, but of course this is the world of bureaucracy and you wont struggle to find people whove come away from the experience muttering about rules for rules sake.

Jonathan isnt one of them. Working as a tree surgeon, he needed a Landy that would get him into orchards all year round and give him the space he needed for his tools, without carrying any unnecessary bulk. Its never good to knock your clients apple trees down while manoeuvring.

The 100 wheelbase was therefore perfect for him, so building his own vehicle seemed like the obvious route.

A Happy Medium

words gary noskillpictures steve taylor

And while the SVA test wasnt going to make life any easier, he wasnt grum-bling about it. It is hard work but I reckon it must be a positive thing. After all, it gives a sure-fire way of ensuring that your vehicle doesnt pose a threat to you or other road users.

Thats a verdict you hear from most people whove been through the SVA process and come out the other side: dont rush, dont panic, just read what the rule book says and if you follow it youll be fine. And, of course, youll have a better vehicle for your efforts.

Jonathans efforts started with what was to become his trucks chassis. As we said above, most hybrids (whether 100 or shorter) were built on Range Rover or Discovery frames, but despite one of these being exactly the right length for him he instead opted to shorten one from a 110 which of course created a lot of extra work.

Not that hed agree or at least, hed say he was getting the hard work done first. I actually think its as difficult to fit a Defender body to a Range Rover as it is to shorten a 110, he says. The bod-ywork outriggers on the Range Rover are in the wrong place, so youd need to weld regardless. Besides, Ive probably got a stronger chassis as a result!

Of course, one thing about putting a Defender body on a Range Rover chassis is that you have to cut off the back section and finish it off with a new rear crossmember. Using a 110 chassis meant that Jonathan had to do this anyway, because he wanted to trim the departure angle by six inches. That was in addition to the 10 he took from the wheelbase, cutting it in the middle then sleeving it with box section inside and out. Adopting a belt-and-braces approach thats evident throughout, he then punched holes through this part of the chassis and spot-welded them to make the repair stronger than ever.

All of this was completed in a barn near his home, although most of the work on the vehicle took place on his


Continued overleaf

Above: A Fearn among ferns yes, okay, we know where the door is

26 Issue 18: August 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNews

front drive. Inevitably, the chassis mods represented the biggest job of the entire build and, once completed, work on the hybrid continued at a rapid pace.

The trucks body panels are made from shortened 110 parts. Jonathan decided to paint them in NATO green to match the chassis, because it makes for the easiest possible touch-ups. Given the environment in which the car makes its living, panel damage is inevitable, he observes. By choosing a colour that is naturally quite dull, he was able to hand-paint the vehicle once a year and not be over-burdened with

guilt every time a tree branch reached out to get him.

If youre building your own Land Rover, you have a free choice of engines. Well, you do within reason, at any rate, and Jonathans choice was very reasoned: a 200Tdi. I regard it as a much stronger engine than the 300Tdi or 2.5-litre turbo diesel, he told us. And I couldnt contemplate the expense of running a petrol.

Some would say the 200Tdi is less refined than the 300, but when youre easing your way around an orchard thats not exactly a big deal. The hybrid

does cover its fair share of road miles, though in fact, when we met Jona-than he reckoned his average mileage was about 25,000, and thats a lot by anybodys standards.

You need something reliable for that, and as comfortable as possible on the road. The 200Tdi unit is perfectly refined for Jonathans tastes, and he is a big fan of its performance off-road no small matter, because thats a hobby to him and as well as being a tool of his trade this truck is also a toy.

Installing the engine was less straightforward than it might have

Above: I regard it as a much stronger engine than the 300Tdi or 2.5-litre turbo diesel. The words from Jonathan that suggest hes a man whos happy with his choice of engine. This 200Tdi was taken from a Discovery, a decision that is still popular today but then you do need to do a little more work to slot it in, as the turbo and manifold are positioned the other way round on a Defender

Left: Fairey by name, but not fairy by nature. This might be an old-fashioned winch, however, it will call it a day long after youve already gone to bed. This PTO-driven, front-mounted winch is just what Jonathan needs for when hes out in the forests. Item can also be used for off-roading

been, seeing as it came from a Discov-ery and needed all the usual prep work doing. Actually, back then it wasnt usual at all, it was just prep work, but even by that point in time Jonathan had noticed patterns in Tdi values which went on to become firmly entrenched.

There are a lot of early 1990s Discov-erys around that are completely rotten, he remarked at the time, but their engines are sweet as the day they left the factory. Defenders of that era, on the other hand, are more often than not still going strong. Obviously this latter fact has changed a bit, but it does very much remain the case that if youve got a 200Tdi from a Defender itll be worth plenty more than the same lump from a Discovery.

The engine is married to a standard five-speed LT77 manual, behind which Jonathan chose the transfer case from a 110 on account of its lower ratios.

He uses the truck a lot for towing, often in tough off-road conditions, so deeper gearing is an asset.

So too is the PTO-driven Fairey winch mounted on the front bumper. This is slow but extremely strong and can be used all day without any danger of overheating perfect for heavy-du-ty forestry work. Beneath the winch mount is a steering guard that was purchased from eBay: I bought three

of them, laughs Jonathan, and sold the other two to fund mine!

Covering so many road miles, anything more aggressive than a typical mud-terrain would be worn away to nothing in the blink of an eye (as well as being a loud, skittish handful at speed), but anything less would be use-less at the business end of the journey. Hence the 235x85R16 Colways you see in these pictures thats a brand which ages the story a bit, but theres an inter-esting bit of thinking behind the use of remoulds here. Basically, Jonathan told us that on his many road miles, any mud-terrain is going to wear quickly so, since hes going to be replacing them frequently come what may, he might as well fit ronnies to keep the cost down.

Keeping the tyres pressed to the ground, on went a set of heavy-duty Bearmach +1.5 springs. These are fitted at the back using spacers to keep the ride level. In fact, the extended springs were chosen not to give the vehicle a lift, but simply to compensate for the weight of the winch. Thats one reason why they were fitted next to standard shocks another being that Jonathan likes to renew these regular-ly, so going with everyday parts was cheaper than fitting anything trick. The whole suspension is polybushed, which keeps it nice and tight.

Turning the front wheels is the PAS set-up that came with the Tdi engine. Jonathan reckons this is actually an-other bonus gained from deciding not to base the hybrid on a Range Rover chassis, as he thinks the turning circle on his truck is tighter as a result.

Also nice and tight is the closed-cell foam padding sandwiched beneath alu-minium chequer plate in the cab, which provides ample soundproofing while still being easy to hose down. Jonathan made a box to house his stereo and CB, as well as various switches, and fitted a turbo gauge and a rev counter.

The great beauty of this vehicle from Jonathans point of view is that because he built it himself, hes well placed to repair. I know how it all fits together, he said, which makes it a lot easier to identify faults.

Building a hybrid is not easy, and doing it with the SVA on your case is enough to put many people off forever. But Jonathans become living proof that you can create a unique work truck that follows the rules but still stands out. Why would you do it these days?

The answer, of course, is that you wouldnt. Not unless you were after something out of the ordinary, at least and that, however much it hides its light under a bushel, is exactly what this Land Rover is.

27w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kIssue 18: August 2015To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242Were on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk

Above: Its a hybrid and, to Jonathan at least, 100-inches of pure perfection: a 110 chassis shortened to produce the holy grail of wheelbases. Throw in a 200Tdi, but keep all the charm of your 90 and pretty soon the horror of the SVA, soon goes away

I know how It all fIts, whIch makes It easIer to IdentIfy faults

We all have our dreams especially when it comes to which Land Rover wed like in our garage. Thats why Steve Jones didnt need to think twice when he spotted his dream on eBay


Back when I was a whip-persnapper and still had something called playtime, I would often spend my days pretending to stage motorsport events by using my bedroom floor as some sort of stadium or track.

It was jolly good fun and I can recall some of the best and favourite car models I had. Needless to say, they were the best until a new one magically rocked up, courtesy of Mummy and Daddy, when the now ancient model would be cast aside like one of my soiled nappies.

While I may have been playing the role of Bernie Ecclestone in what seemed a grand event at the time, I always knew that driving one of these models for real would be on another level to what I was involved in at the time that being lobbing a Hot Wheel across the floor before sauntering off to find the next toy to preoccupy me for a further five minutes.

Coppers Delight

Words and Pictures: Mike Trott

You cant have lost the buzz either, I mean I still get the buzz from the smell of petrol every time I fill up thats just me, right? The point is that youre here because you love Land Rovers; something about them draws you in and it might be the reason you

Youd think most people would lose that buzz as they get older not for Hot Wheels but for the love of four-wheeled glory but I certainly havent. That probably has something to do with the reason Im sitting here typing these very words.

Edition model cost 71,000 the most expensive Land Rover ever made, at the time.

Back when Steve was still a copper, he probably imagined hed have to catch someone off the Most Wanted list or to resort to bank robbery himself in order to gather enough funds to buy one of these things.

Happily, there is something called depreciation and P38s have plummeted in price like real estate in Greece. In fact, these days you can pick up any sort of P38 for a couple of grand though theres an obvious reason why you wouldnt. Even so, special edition models are not much more

This was another one of those classic eBay buys; I bought the Range Rover around four years ago, back in March 2011, states Steve. I like owning differ-ent vehicles, he continues, nodding to a Proton lying in the driveway.

I hate them in one way; years ago, if your car didnt run it would be because of one of two things either the spark plugs were dodgy, or the fuel was dodgy.

bought your Land Rover or why you never thought to get rid of it.

Some people will have their ideal Land Rover, too. Others cant make up their mind like me Ill take one of each please! Its all in the daydreaming really, just like when I was a kid.

Happily, though, when it comes to police officers you have a breed who spend a bit of time with their heads in the clouds as well. Or at least, that can be said about what Steve Jones did when he first laid eyes upon the Range Rover P38 50th Anniversary Edition.

I remember when this edition of the P38 was first launched and thinking to myself, I will never be able to afford one of those, says Steve, with a slight grin playing across his face.

There is a very good reason why Steve, and probably the majority of the

UKs population, felt that they would never own what was the last vehicle ever developed by Land Rover before the company was taken over by ze BMW boffins in Germany.

From launch, this Range Rover P38A 50th Anniversary Vogue 50 Limited

Yep this is No. 6 of 100. A rare car this... The Duke of Edinburgh has No. 1, dont you know

On my first run back after collecting this P38, I got in and went to move the seat and the fuse blew! And it wouldnt engage gear from Park, exclaims Steve.

Trouble-free motoring is not what you should expect when the three symbols P, 3 and 8 are involved. Steve tells us that the air suspension can take ten minutes to settle properly before he can actually begin his journey.

Youd think with all the grief from this Rangey and the fact hes had three more P38s previously that Steve would be sick to the back teeth of this model of Land Rover, never mind smiling.

Well, while he admits he probably wont be replacing this with another one, Steve is quick to reaffirm that hes never regretted owning this one of only 100 50th Anniversary models made.

Owning a P38 is always going to be a bit hit and miss Ill admit this one has been the most troublesome. It was my daily runner up until about six months ago, Steve explains. My missus would refuse to drive it, purely because she was never sure if it would get her home!

In the midst of all the Rangeys gloomy tantrums and Steve cursing the thing to hell in return, there have been moments when the two have been in harmony and those rain clouds have soon melted away.

The feeling of owning it and driving it is fantastic. I remember the first time I drove it and the feeling was just how I imagined it would be when I first saw it all those years ago, enthuses Steve. Its like living out one of those boyhood dreams!

The attraction to this particular P38 model #6 out of the 100 produced (HRH Prince Philip owns #1) was the LPG conversion that came already installed keeping the wonderful 4.6-litre V8 soundtrack, but allowing Steve to travel around on 45p-a-litre of juice.

People will comment on it, especial-ly people with Land Rovers. They say, Oh thats nice, repeats Steve. If you drive round in a Land Rover it nor-mally means youre into your marque except for if its the newer stuff.

Im sure when Steve set eyes on the Atlantis Blue paintwork four years ago, he wouldnt have cared that the Range Rover was now 13 years old. And thats often the reason we dig our vehicles. It doesnt matter how old they are or how many years have passed since we first fell for them: if you yearned for a vehicle earlier in life, it will still draw you in today.

Its an oxymoron, this car: the most problematic Range Rover Ive had, but the best by far, adds Steve. I had a Land Cruiser before and although that was a better vehicle more power and better at towing it just wasnt as good. It didnt feel as special.

Steve has driven and now owns what he would have perceived to be the most luxurious car hed ever witnessed back in 1998. He doesnt dream anymore hes done it.

And if you ever get a chance to live out a childhood fantasy too, do the right thing and capture it that is, of course, unless you own it already. In which case I, for one, envy you.

The feeling was jusT

how i imagined iT

would be


Right: Cream leather with blue piping, a wooden steering wheel and electronics that still dont work would you pay 71,000 today?

It may have taken 13 years to get to the point where Steve could actually sit and drive his dream machine and yes the leather has probably seen better days. But when he found this Range Rover on eBay, his heart will have skipped a beat and his wallet come out of his pocket faster than you can say, er, air suspension

Above: Ahh, the scene of Steves first problem with this P38. A blown fuse - moments after he collected it...

There is nothing wrong with admiring a good tan. And when Russell Stevens showed us the brilliant brown hue of his 110 County Station Wagon, we cooed over this Landy like no other


Brown is one of those unusual colours that can in the right shade look completely fan-tastic. On the other hand, get that tone of brown wrong and the only thing people will comment on is how it resembles the colour of skid marks and not the rubber kind.

I think it would be unwise to pro-gress any further without giving some necessary examples. Of different tones, I mean, not (ahem) skid marks.

Jennifer Lopez possesses a rather admirable complexion (among other things) and Id be surprised if anyone

would debate that this good use of the colour brown. Chocolate: thats another one we can put a big desirable tick next to, along with conkers and the grizzly bear of North America, even.

Although, if you had to choose whether youd like the grizzly around for dinner, or J Lo, it would be the quickest decision made in the history of the world. I digress.

Its not always a pleasant colour, however. In terms of cars especially, it can be a cesspit (theres another brown thing) of catastrophes. Consider some of the vinyl interiors from a few of

British Leylands more disastrous creations, for instance.

Even Land Rover had a dodgy tan moment or two a few years back; the Land Rover 110 County Station Wagon came in an array of colour schemes, but who could forget the Arizona Tan option that would allow any owner to blend in with the stuff on the bottom of their shoe?

Now, I must confess, Ive never really fancied that colour and have indeed as-sociated it with pig muck more than the glow of J Lo. However, Im open-mind-ed and as such I can gladly say I have

Getting the right tanWords and beauty tips: Mike TrottPictures and make-up: Russell Stevens

Theres no doubt someone felt this 110 was very special; at least special enough to warrant such time and effort on making it more wonderful than ever.

The quality of its tan isnt the only special thing about it either. Being built in 1983 means this County Station Wagon was one of the first 110s to emerge from the production line. How-ever, the story could go even further than that

The seat box-mounted transfer box lever and the sliding windows indicate that this might possibly be a pre-pro-duction model, notes Russell.

Although it cant be confirmed, its early ownership history is thought to have been with a landowner in Scot-land. It then came south and found a number of previous owners in Middle-sex before passing to the restorer and finally, to me.

been converted, mainly thanks to a man called Russell Stevens.

He owns this 1983 110 County Station Wagon with the 3.5-litre V8 engine. And its the reason I now want a brown Land Rover just look at it!

The Land Rover has only been in my possession since the start of this year, says Russell. I was looking specifically for a V8 Station Wagon and came across this one by chance. The owners son was advertising another Land Rov-er which I missed out on. He sent me a photo of this one, which his father, a well renowned vehicle restorer, had lovingly carried out a nut and bolt rebuild on over a ten-year period.

Lovingly is one word for it. The paintwork looks like its had the finest cocoa mass in the world carefully smeared over every crevasse.

Although it was off the road when I bought it, the truck has only covered about 100 miles since the restoration was completed and had been undercov-er since 2009, continues Russell.

Hes carried out a few bits of work himself to get this chocolatey goddess back to its very best. All the oils and fluids have been changed and Russell has seen to a noisy pinion in the front diff by replacing it with a new one. One MOT ticket later, and this Landy is brownie heaven.

All is now excellent and the V8 sounds amazing with the tubular manifolds and stainless steel exhaust, beams Russell.

This was a labour of love by a real professional, classic car restorer who

had done a lot of work on vehicles for collectors, including Rolls-Royce.

Theres a touch of Rolls-Royce about this Landy, too. Youll find its not ac-tually one of Land Rovers own colour codes on this truck no, the Arizona Tan has given way to Rolls-Royce Nut-meg Brown instead. Not that Ive been trying to deceive you or anything.

This 110 did start life out of the fac-tory in Arizona Tan, a colour politely described by Russell as somewhat dull. To be fair, most of these murky brown Land Rovers you see from the Eighties have been left in a field to fester and the paint looks about as fresh and youthful as the crowd at a Rolling Stones gig.

But when someone comes along and actually gives the poor thing a bit of moisturiser and sends it for a day out at the spa aka a proper body shop, not the kind that sells lavender and ylang ylang shampoo you can have yourself quite the head turner.

The beauty is more than just skin-deep, too.

A Richards galvanised chassis has been fitted and all the suspension and drivetrain has been replaced or restored, declares Russell. The new Rover V8 engine was provided by Dunsfold Land Rover and upgraded with Edelbrock carbs, Mallory ignition, tubular manifolds, an SS stainless exhaust, high-torque starter motor and twin Kenlowe fans, he adds. Admit it, youre jealous.

All the brakes, hubs, hoses and the wiring loom have all been replaced. The original seat cover material was tracked down and the original head lining is still in place.

I have receipts for around 20,000 for the restoration and that doesnt include the hundreds of hours of dedi-cated labour!

I also own a Defender 110 that is not yet a year old and the factory panel-fit and finish is nowhere near as good as on this County.


Continued overleaf

Above: Another tone that is equally satisfying to see is the silvery shimmer of a galvanised chassis in this case from Richards Chassis. Its not just the chassis that has received a new look either, with the suspension and drivetrain being completely replaced or refreshed, to make this 32-year-old vehicle feel like its back in the Eighties

Above: Thats not a style of interior design you tend to see anymore! And often for good reason too though when its in this good condition, would you really care? It would be warmer than leather in winter anyhow and keep you cooler in the summer, because you wont have leather seats that have been heated up to the same tempera-ture as the surface of the sun


This is a truly extraordinary vehicle in a condition that would make it very hard to be used off-road. Land Rovers should be used for what they were intended of course, but in this case, highly capable as it might be, I just dont think that is an option. That beau-tiful Nutmeg Brown finish just does not lend itself to green laning.

The man knows whats good for the skin of his 110. Ladies, perhaps Russell may even have a few cosmetic tips for you, too not running your face along a holly bush would probably be a helpful one.

On a more serious note, I wish this Land Rover were in my garage at home. If it was, then I could spend my days

sitting on a chair nearby, gawping at the brown splendour, then take a break by looking at that magnificent engine bay.

A tip from me though: while staring for hours at your Land Rover could result in you being called eccentric, dont do it to celebrity women. Or else you will be called something entirely different and you dont want that.

Above: You could be forgiven for thinking this is a peek under the bonnet of some rip-roaring V8-powered American muscle car, but youll find its actually the best of British or it was anyway. The Rover 3.5-litre V8 has been given Edelbrock carbs, tubular manifolds and a Mallory ignition system, a high-torque starter motor, twin Kenlowe fans and an SS stainless exhaust. Sweet

Even though Russell has only had this vehicle since the start of the year, hes already getting swallowed up in other projects, and as such, hes looking for someone to give this brown beauty another home. If you appreciate a fine body... step this way, and call Russell on 07788 148504

Overlanding is all about prepping a 110 and roughing it around the world, right? Maybe, in the classic image of a basic Land Rover with a tent on the roof. But instead of that, Jen and Noam Ben Tsion hit the road in a completely standard Discovery 3 and enjoyed a world-class adventure in style

34 Issue 18: August 2015www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsPosh Way RoundWords Mike TrottPictures Jen and Noam Ben Tsiom

Ask any overlander, and theyll tell you that the simplest vehicles are the best. Theres less to go wrong in the first place and if the worst should happen, the simpler the vehicle is the closer youll be to someone who can make it right.

Thats why overlanders choose De-fenders to trust with their lives. Every so often, youll see someone doing it in an early Disco or Range Rover. But a Discovery 3? Thats just asking for trouble, right?

Well, Jen and Noam Ben Tsion are both very keen travellers. They wanted to set off in a Land Rover and go where they pleased, not where bus tours and trek leaders wanted to take them. And in April 2011, they left their jobs, left home and set out to do just that.

My main concerns were getting arrested, being locked up somewhere truly awful and, worse, not being able to find vegetarian food for Jen! says Noam. Nothing about needing univer-sal-jointed wrists to change a timing belt, then.

Fortunately, they planned to go further than France, so vegetarian-ism wasnt a problem. The pair also escaped the wrath of the Australian desert (just) and the wildernesses of Mongolia, Russia and many other places along the way.

And yes, they did it all in an actual Discovery 3. Boudicca, as she was named. Not only was she a Discovery 3, she was a 2006 Discovery 3 so, one from early on in the production run. And you know what they say about those.

We wanted it to be a nice experi-ence, explains Jen. So why not have the heated seats for Siberia and the air-con for Australia? We also wanted the added security of being able to sleep in the vehicle if necessary, so the middle row of seats were removed and we created a sleeping platform we got ourselves an IKEA mattress and fashioned some curtains with Velcro drawbacks. It was homely!

The pair were even able to fit a small kitchen in the back of their Discov-ery, too. Their own kitchen at home, meanwhile, had become like a scene from an FBI thriller, with pins dotted all over a world map. It was, as Jen put it, like a game of dot-to-dot, trying to formulate some sort of route by connecting them up.

Speaking of routes, Jen and Noams time in Europe was as much about adventure as it was a test run for the more remote regions they would encounter next. Lets run you through: UK, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Russia and Kazakhstan.

You want more? Onwards they went to Siberia and Mongolia before turn-ing south through China and working their way through Laos, Cambodia and Thailand, then finishing off their expedition in Australia. What youre feeling right now, thats called envy.

The time we spent in Europe did allow us to test all the gear out, continues Jen, who did most of the driving. Once you get east of Italy, going through the likes of Albania and Turkey, it changes very quickly.

35Issue 18: August 2015w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242Posh Way Round South Cape Bay - Tasmania

The Outback Way in Oz

Mmm me hungry!

We didnt really encounter any problems. Boudicca was no trouble at all; we had the odd flat tyre, but not much else.

While the pair did stick to mainly existing routes on their travels, as we all know there are plenty of places in the world where that still means youre off-tarmac. Not that even that was enough to keep Jen happy. Laos was particularly nice, and good for a bit of off-roading, she says. There was lots of red mud to go and play in!

Another overland rule flouted, there seasoned travellers will tell you that you should never subject your truck to unnecessary hardship. But what do they know anyway? Enough to tell you not to drive a Discovery 3, obviously.

With so many exotic lands on the itinerary, it must be hard to pick a fa-

vourite. For Noam, though, the North of Mongolia was the perfect area for an outdoor enthusiast.

People in Siberia were always happy to help if you needed it, adds Jen. We found Russia quite isolated at times, but then youd come across a truly amazing oasis out of nowhere.

At night, Jen and Noam were able to camp next to deserted lakesides, barren landscapes or at the foot of vast mountain ranges. That tailgate certainly came in useful anyway, not least for cooking on or, if the weather wasnt matching the backdrop, they could use it to plan the following legs of the journey.

Going back to the Discovery 3 once more, the truck may have been embarking on a goliath pilgrimage but there was nothing goliath about

36 Issue 18: August 2015www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsits modifications. In fact, there werent any. At last, conventional wisdom is being followed. Boudicca managed the whole trip on standard road tyres and even helped out a couple of other Landies along the way.

We had to use the Terrain Response system and Hill Descent Control at different points, and the car coped very well, recalls Jen. There was a 110 with us at one stage of the trip and Boudicca did everything that it did.

Whether it was terrain they were taking on or cultures they were taking in, Boudiccas occupants came away with memories from so many different settings. Even here in Europe, people can forget how diverse cultures can be even between places as close together as the UK and France, never mind Al-bania and Montenegro. So on a proper long-haul journey like this, you really are going to experience places that are a world apart in every sense.

Heres a snippet from their journey that you probably wouldnt hear from someone visiting the UK, for example. While searching for a route in Georgia, Jen and Noam, were stopped quite literally for a tea party.

Theyd stumbled across a village called Kalicaya, a place they will re-member for its hospitality like no other. Locals, mostly old men, were sitting outside around wooden tables, playing cards and sipping tea, says Noam. We were passing slowly when one of them spotted us, walked into the road and signalled us to pull over. When we did, he started to fire orders to his friends and immediately our table was ready with chairs, tea, sugar and cookies.

Every overlander has stories like these. And everyone who has never overlanded doesnt. Reasons to go overlanding, part 47b

Ayutthaya

The Twelve Apostles

Farming in Dali

China was a rather different expe-rience. Here, Jen and Noam were met at the border and guided through youre never alone in China. Thats not to say they didnt get to enjoy it, though there are always surprises with trips like these, some good and some bad, but hopefully the latter is outweighed by the former.

Tuva, for example, has a bad name. Before Jen and Noam went there, they were warned they could be knifed or even stoned by drunken locals. One of the most southerly regions of Siberia, its considered particularly dangerous.

This place is famous for throat sing-ing; theyre really big on their music, says Jen. People in Ky

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