Newbie with a few questions

[shays4me]

Hi,
My name is John and I'm new to the forum. I have an addiction to anything old and four wheel drive. I'm mostly hung up on my Jeep CJ7 (I didn't come here to get bashed on!), but I own a '67 IH Scout and a '69 Suburban 3/4 ton 4x4. Why I'm here is because I mistakenly ran into a sight called Terri-Annes land rover page and I've been hooked on series rovers ever since. I'm having a hard time locating a lot of info on the old ones. I found a sight called jeeptech.com for my CJ info and would like to get a link to a Rover sight for detailed information on what I'm about to do. I found a 1956 series one owned by a coworker that is currently for sale. It's been in a field for 20 years and needs a lot of work, but I'm the right guy for the job and I'm pretty confident I can get the old girl up and running again. I'm curious what it could be worth and any help would be appreciated. Here's a couple pics, Thanks in advance!

[Funrover]

Well as much as I wish I did. I really don't knowmuch about the old series yet... I know the website you are talking about..Great place!!! I just wanted to say welcome. I hope to get a series before to long and start my rebuild... The only thing tha I have been warned of in the frame rusting... I'd say t's worth it if you are into old cars... I really am also, they are great..sounds like you have a nice collection!!

[onslow]

Originally Posted by shays4me

Hi,
My name is John and I'm new to the forum. I have an addiction to anything old and four wheel drive. I'm mostly hung up on my Jeep CJ7 (I didn't come here to get bashed on!), but I own a '67 IH Scout and a '69 Suburban 3/4 ton 4x4. Why I'm here is because I mistakenly ran into a sight called Terri-Annes land rover page and I've been hooked on series rovers ever since. I'm having a hard time locating a lot of info on the old ones. I found a sight called jeeptech.com for my CJ info and would like to get a link to a Rover sight for detailed information on what I'm about to do. I found a 1956 series one owned by a coworker that is currently for sale. It's been in a field for 20 years and needs a lot of work, but I'm the right guy for the job and I'm pretty confident I can get the old girl up and running again. I'm curious what it could be worth and any help would be appreciated. Here's a couple pics, Thanks in advance!

Well for the US this is indeed a rare find in fact for that matter it would be a rare find here in the UK its a s1 safari station wagon and if restored well and kept as original as possible I would even like to guess what this would be worth in the U.S. but it would be a hell of a lot of money!!!

[jozg44]

Originally Posted by onslow

Well for the US this is indeed a rare find in fact for that matter it would be a rare find here in the UK its a s1 safari station wagon and if restored well and kept as original as possible I would even like to guess what this would be worth in the U.S. but it would be a hell of a lot of money!!!

I'll second that- I would be very, very surprised if there were more than a handful of those SI Station Wagons in the USA. I would hesitate to say how much it would be worth given that.

It seems to be in quite good condition- a Land Rover left in a field for 20 years in the UK would have rusted away by now. It doesn't seem to have any large rust holes or anything- so given time and effort you should be able to get it going again- a great project.

Jack

PS- welcome to the forum!

[acornhoek]

Well.....there's a bit of a find! Great project vehicle & I say go for it.

Watch out! 20yrs in a field....that aluminum shell can be covering a lot of rust undernieth! I purchased a '64 88 SW that had been sitting in a field....that owner told me all it needed was a chassis swap - stupid me, I chose to believe him as he had a several and sounded like he knew his business. When it arrived from several states away and I found it need much, much, much more. It was worth the parts I got off it though, and now I have a title for a future project.

As far as value....supply & demand. Depending on condition (rust/ galvanic corrosion) I'd offer $250-$1500 tops. Even though there are far fewer here in the states than over the Atlantic, most people here don't have a clue what a Series LR is.....let alone a Series 1 Safari Stationwagon so the field of buyers is limited. Fewer here, but worth more there. Supply is low, but so is demand.

Good luck, it should be a great addition to your collection.....and I'm sure it'll become your favorite.

-B........owner of a '69 109 Tropical Carawagon Continental SW

[acornhoek]

Here's a Series 1 website.

[shays4me]

Thanks for the replies. I bought a rare Jeep once that had been in a field for ten years and it was in great shape. Twenty years is something else, but I live in the desert (eastern Oregon) and they don't salt the roads here. So if it's been here most of its life it should be in good shape. I do need to check that frame though. How hard are things like tail light assemblies and front turn signals to find? I'm going to need at least one windshield wiper motor also and I'd like to find some rear seats for it. Thanks again!

[cdmbrennan]

Parts are relatively easy to come by. The least of your concerns is finding rear seats, windshield wiper motors and front light assemblies

The panels look good, LH side rear looks like it may have hung up on something and ripped the aluminum, but that can be fixed. When you check the frame, bring a hammer to see if it's rusted through in places. You'll also want to check the bulkhead.

Restoring this will be an entirely different kettle of fish than the CJ, Scout or Suburban...I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Haynes puts out a good book on restoring Series, might be worth picking up. Since it's a Landy, you'll never be forgiven if you do a half-assed job or it ends up looking like a D90!

Good find. I hope you enjoy every backbreaking, swearing, bruised knuckles, gashed arm, stout-swilling, tool losing, wonderful minute of it all

[shays4me]

I just want to restore the original lights pretty soon so that the top can come off and it can be legal. I assume the lights on the top are aftermarket? I've seen no others that have them.

[Bogatyr]

Shays4me,
Not to steer you off of this project, but there are a number of things to keep in mind when working with series 1 trucks.

1.Most of the parts houses in the US carry parts for 1958+ (ie series 2) trucks. That's not to say series one parts aren't available here, but they will be more expensive than comparable parts for the later vehicles...supply and demand.

2.Even with my truck, I put 40 hours of welding into the firewall. You'll have to be a pretty good fabricator for this project as I haven't seen any weld in panels for series 1 firewalls. I think DAP might now carry a series 1 galvanized frame from Richard's Chassis, otherwise, you'll have to build that.

3.Your goals. As others have mentioned, this is a pretty rare truck in the US and should be treated accordingly. If you intend to restore her, do it right, original engine, etc...don't put 35" tires and a chevy 350 in it...wheeling her should be done, but I'd say she should be kept as close to original as possible.

4.Cost. My late IIa rebuild cost me about $15k when all was said and done. I painted it in the driveway, did the firewall welding myself too...and that was in 2003 dollars...so given 2% inflation...ha...figure on that $15k as a base figure.

5.Time. Took me 4 years...but I hadn't ever taken on a project like this.

In summation, it's a worthy project...saving an old vehicle always is. Hopefully I shed a little light on the rover rebuild process...

Bogatyr

[shays4me]

Originally Posted by Bogatyr

2.Even with my truck, I put 40 hours of welding into the firewall. You'll have to be a pretty good fabricator for this project as I haven't seen any weld in panels for series 1 firewalls. I think DAP might now carry a series 1 galvanized frame from Richard's Chassis, otherwise, you'll have to build that.

3.Your goals. As others have mentioned, this is a pretty rare truck in the US and should be treated accordingly. If you intend to restore her, do it right, original engine, etc...don't put 35" tires and a chevy 350 in it...wheeling her should be done, but I'd say she should be kept as close to original as possible.

Bogatyr

Thanks for the heads up. First of all, I would never dream of defacing a complete classic vehicle of any kind. I have too much respect for an auto that is this old and rare to not want to do it right. I have several friends and relatives who restore autos including Ford model t's, Volkswagens, street rods, dragsters and the such. I have rebuilt several vehicles in the past and I have welded body panels previously. I've been a professional auto mechanic and I am currently a locomotive electrician for Union Pacific, so I know the ins and outs of restoration.
That being said, I'm not planning a full restoration on her. Not right away anyhow. I'm currently busy with a CJ7 Jeep restoration, and I don't think it's fair to the vehicle to get it half done and quit to start another. I will make the Rover run and drive again and offer it a better life than it currently has. The work I do is quality, with factory originality in mind. I strive to rebuild/restore correctly. I thought I might be able to enjoy it by driving it five miles to work and back. It truely is a diamond in the rough. The fire wall looked great and I suspect the frame is in good shape too. We don't have the rust issues here, I suspect the Rover has lived here a long time. My dad pulled a Model "A" out of a field a few years ago and the frame didn't have a single problem. That car was 70 years old! If this project becomes too much for me, I'll make sure it gets in to the right hands and isn't chopped up by a moron. I respect your thoughts and comments. Thanks again, John

[onslow]

get it bought before some hairy arsed scrapman spots it!!!

the good thing about s1's is that everything is flat panel wise so its simple to repair and the technology is also very simple I pulled an 88" s1 out of a damp nasty barn which had been its home for 20+ years some new points fresh petrol and a bit of a fiddle with the fuel pump and it drove out.

[Muddy Oval]

It's got potential- but Series trucks can really look decent until you look inside and underneath. I'm betting it'll take $20K to put her back to original. The school bus lights gotta go, but the original type lights and all that aren't difficult. Some of the original parts may not be available new, but good used stuff or a suitable substitute can usually be found.
I'd offer $400 tops based on pics, if inspection reveals it is mostly complete and solid, then more.

[shays4me]

Here's a dumb question. What kind of fluid should I use for the brakes? I talked to an old man years ago and he said his took mineral oil??!! I just want to use the right stuff and not something incompatible.

[acornhoek]

So......you're going for it!

No, don't use straight mineral oil for your system. It would work for a while as it was eating the rubber components in the system. Just like you can run the engine on kerosene in a pinch, but you don't want to keep it up.

Castrol LMA or other dot4 fluid is what should be in there

Most people I know use dot4 (a hydrostatic fluid); however you can use dot5 (silicon based) but there are issues w/ using it.

Don't use dot3

Having other classic 4x4s you obviously realize the rubber seals in the system should be replaced.

-B