Savana?

[rookshark]

Greetings all,

I just found a 110 that was parked for an obviously very long time. It is all white with those common white wheels. It looked just a tad bit different from others I have seen, and the owner claimed it was a "Savana" I noticed the front said Land Rover 110 instead of Defender, and the roof had indentations instead of a smooth slope to the windshield. Also the doors were the old style with the mechanism similar to the back door on all five doors.

Is Savana a known special varient from the past, or was this guy just wrong/full of it? It would definitely be a project car as far as getting it running, but looked fairly decent cosmetically, just a bit beat up, all for around $2,000.

Unfortunately, I did not have my camera, so no pics any time soon. (this guy is about an hour and a half from where I live)

[John C]

Originally Posted by rookshark

Greetings all,

I just found a 110 that was parked for an obviously very long time. It is all white with those common white wheels. It looked just a tad bit different from others I have seen, and the owner claimed it was a "Savana" I noticed the front said Land Rover 110 instead of Defender, and the roof had indentations instead of a smooth slope to the windshield. Also the doors were the old style with the mechanism similar to the back door on all five doors.

Is Savana a known special varient from the past, or was this guy just wrong/full of it? It would definitely be a project car as far as getting it running, but looked fairly decent cosmetically, just a bit beat up, all for around $2,000.

Unfortunately, I did not have my camera, so no pics any time soon. (this guy is about an hour and a half from where I live)

Are you sure it didn't say Santana? I think it's a Santana made in spain. If you don't buy it let me know, I'm interested.

Thanks.

[rookshark]

Yes, you are right, Santana was the name (I space that one). No difference then in the model, just that it was made in Spain? I did not get terribly in depth with it, since I only stopped at first to see if they were parting it out for my 2001 that had a fender bender (literally).

I am not sure about purchasing it, we shall see. It would take some capital to get it up to snuff. Are you still interested keeping in mind that this is located in Honduras? Just checking.

[John C]

Originally Posted by rookshark

Yes, you are right, Santana was the name (I space that one). No difference then in the model, just that it was made in Spain? I did not get terribly in depth with it, since I only stopped at first to see if they were parting it out for my 2001 that had a fender bender (literally).

I am not sure about purchasing it, we shall see. It would take some capital to get it up to snuff. Are you still interested keeping in mind that this is located in Honduras? Just checking.

Claro que I'm interested!!!!!

I believe there were slight changes to the spanish model but it's still a Land Rover.

I might have to take a trip down there and look at it if you're not interested.... let me know!

Gracias che!

[rookshark]

Well, here is a picture of the beast. I got one final look at it before heading out of the area for the forseeable future. The inside looks just like the outside. I would have considered restoring it, but the financial investment for me is too much at the outset to wait for the return.

If you are still interested, let me know. It would involve coming to Honduras, and driving out to Talanga to see it, but I suppose you know more about this than I do!

[TerryS]

That is not a Santana, but a mid 80's Land Rover 110. They were not called 'Defender' when they first came out, just Land Rover 110 (and Land Rover 90)

When they first came out, the most common engine was the 2.5 NA, but they were also available in 2.25 Petrol (5 main bearing) Very few export models were sold with the 3.5 carburated V8.

Also, judging from the picture, it may have had some front end damage, as it has the grill panel from an AC model. The Non AC panel was flush with the wings.

[rookshark]

Thanks for that information. Just goes to show, I should not have believe the owner at face value that he knew what he was talking about. I have never seen a picture of a Santana myself, just new ones I saw on the web.

$2,100 seemed a little steep in my book considering all the work that would need to go into it to get it back up to snuff. I am having enough "fun" getting my 2001 td5 where I want it to be.

[TerryS]

While $2100 may seem like a bargain to anyone in the US seeking out a 110, even pre Defender, it isn't old enough to be imported to the US and they are just 'old Land Rovers' in the rest of the world. Still, a buck is a buck, and, as you suggest, it may well take a few of them to bring it up to presentable, roadworthy condition. It's pretty hard to say what it would take from just one picture, but it doesn't look like the body work is all that bad. Amazing what a washdown will yield. These old trucks have all the same rust problems associated with Land Rovers and you would be well advised to get beneath it and give it a good going over. I have alot more time on my hands than most, being retired, and there isn't much that would discourage me but I know the realities, what can be 'fixed' vs. replaced, not giving alot of thought to what I will do with it once it's done. I have too many cars now, and there's no sence getting would up about one that can't even come into the country. If you've already got one, unless you're like me, who needs another.

[rookshark]

Thanks for reminding me I do not need this potential problem...or potential benefit, at least at this time. I do not forsee that particular Defender going anywhere anytime soon.

Something out of curiousity...how old would they have to be in order to import them to the USA? I see many old Land Cruisers here as well that are diesel or petrol, and have heard of a market for them in the US, but never heard what the rules are for such a thing.

Again, thanks for all the help. I hope I will be of some valid informational service to this board in the future.

[Muddy Oval]

25 years... based on manufacturer documentation, not title. What that means is the manufacture date as opposed to what the title says or what a bill of sale says. Lots of people try the ol "make the bill of sale say it's a 1976" when it's really newer- but it rarely works. You have to prove without a doubt when it was made. On former military vehicles, that can be tough because they only have an "in service" date which is NOT sufficient for import documentation.