Life Expectancy for 1980 Defender

[bingomh]

I'm considering purchasing a Defender series 111 109" with the 2286cc N/a Diesel which is described as driving like new and having superb chassis and bodywork. Though it is a 1980 vehicle it has only 40,000 miles. Is it reasonable for me to expect that this car will last for another 10 or 20 years if I'm only putting a thousand miles or so on it per year?

[ArmyRover]

Originally Posted by bingomh

I'm considering purchasing a Defender series 111 109" with the 2286cc N/a Diesel

1. Defenders weren't made in a 109" wheel base.
2. Defenders were not refered to as series III
3. Defenders did not come into production until 1983.

Originally Posted by bingomh

which is described as driving like new and having superb chassis and bodywork. Though it is a 1980 vehicle it has only 40,000 miles.

This would be a Series III 109. Still a very cool vehicle but has probably had a defender front end modded to fit. Make sure it's priced accordingly.

Originally Posted by bingomh

Is it reasonable for me to expect that this car will last for another 10 or 20 years if I'm only putting a thousand miles or so on it per year?

It could easily last that long but,

1. You need to keep on the maintenance on these trucks
2. You need to keep up on rust fighting. Bulk heads wings and chassis are very prone to rust.
3. Drive it more than a 1000 miles each year, Rovers don't like to sit and do nothing. They start leaking more and have wierd problems magically appear when they feel unloved.

4. If your mechanically inclined be sure to check it over completely. It wouldn't hurt to get her on a lift to take a good long look at the underside of the chassis. Goes back to the rust issue.

5. By a complete decent tool set and a common need spares set and keep them in the truck at all times Rovers can be finnicky.....

[bingomh]

Thanks for the very helpful reply and sorry to have been imprecise in my description of the vehicle. I am told that it's actually a 1980 Series 111 Landrover Santana (a Spanish built landrover under licence). Would you expect that to be any less relable than a Brit built model?

[XtremeMarine]

Some parts on the Santanas were actually better than their British equivalents; as in the transmissions. Most Santana owners I have spoke with are very happy with their trucks. If you are bringing it to the US it will also be nice as their are very few over here. Otherwise, treat it as any other SIII and enjoy it.

[Series 3 guy]

Originally Posted by XtremeMarine

Some parts on the Santanas were actually better than their British equivalents; as in the transmissions. Most Santana owners I have spoke with are very happy with their trucks. If you are bringing it to the US it will also be nice as their are very few over here. Otherwise, treat it as any other SIII and enjoy it.

X2! The Santana had some very robust gearboxes and are definately a rareity stateside. Hell,theyre a rareity here in the UK. I have seen several but probobly less than 1% of what I have seen LAnd Rover wise. Good luck I hope you get it and love it!

[TerryS]

90s and 110s, later refered to as Defender 90 and Defender 110, came out in '83 and '84, and share the same construction methods, and in many cases the same materials. Their rust proofing, then and now was sorely lacking, and unless the truck you're looking at came from a very dry climate, you can expect to eventually find rust. I say eventually, because depending on which componant, it often doesn't show up until it is almost too late, or too far gone to effectively (and economically salvage)

Everyone talks of rusty frames, and rightly so, as they do rust, but the doors are also notorious for going bad. The steel frame has an aluminum skin clinched over it, and traps moisture between the two surfaces. The first evidence is the little zits showing up on the whole bottom outside edge, punching through the aluminum, but by that time, the steels frames have probably disintegrated. Frames can be replaced with new, aftermarket galvanized ones when the time comes, however doors are nighon impossible to get. I squirreled away 4 brand new ones several years ago, in anticipation of doing my 110 over (which I have finally begun) The good thing about the retarded simplicity of these is that you can virtually break it down to it's most basic form, and take the time to properly rustproof nooks and crannies as you build it back up.
Everyone Ooohs and AAaahs at ECR's website telling of their reconstruction projects, but if people didn't hold these things on a pedestal and worship them like some sacred cow, but just dove into them, they would find that while it's necessary, it's also not too difficult, almost fun as long as a few bloody knuckles don't trouble you.