What would I be getting myself into

[garrett]

I am an ardent fan of the old Series Land Rovers, both for their looks and the simplicity of a no frills off road truck. I have been looking around for a good candidate for a little while now, but only recently gotten more serious about purchasing one. My primary use for the truck would be on weekends and when it snows, mostly short trips. I will not be using it to commute to work, for long trips, serious off-road driving or everyday use. How practical are they for this use? Also the only referencing that I have for prices in the US has been eBay, is there another site that would contain this information?

I have one that I am looking at but just need a measure of what it is worth.

Thanks

[dsfloyd]

For that the series is great. I might be a little bias though. In the series threads their is a newer post talking about buying one but here is a usefull link posted from that thread
PURCHASE

On prices I'm no help. mines been in the family for the last 48 years. I enjoy driving mine around and growing up it was the only thing that got in and out of our property when it snowed. Simple to work on (easier with the stupid british tools, whitworth I think.) Metric and SAE sometimes are close enough and have replaced many bolts to get past that problem. Its not luxury but who needs that anyway, thats for soccer moms.

[TerryS]

If you're around my age, you probably had an Erector Set when you were a kid too. If you're alot younger, and played with Legos as a kid, you'll love a series truck. There's always something to fix on them, but most every fix is easy.
I've had them since the early 70s and as long as you don't need to rely on it, and aren't the wrench throwing type, you'll enjoy it.
Prices run the whole lot. I sold a restored one a year ago for around $11K and was told by many I gave it away, but promptly got another for $3500

[zed]

I've been researching lately.
The prices vary wildly.
88s are generally much cheaper than 109s. I haven't found any light weights or specials for sale..

A great 109 with a safari top can be upwards of 15k easily.. 88s I've seen in the teens .. but I don't know if they sold. I bought mine in an Island economy for a bit less than 5k needing a new transmission (unbeknownst to me) and having bad paint, which is standard. Beyond that.. it was just this and thats that any old car would want or need.
Probably would have been 3-4k on the mainland in most parts of the country.

There's a good buying page out there that was linked earlier on what options and mods are good or bad.

I can offer.. if its popping out of gear.. it better be damn cheap. Its not the UK.. rebuilt transmissions aren't a dime a dozen. I lucked out and found a guy that happens to be more or less a very benevolent junk yard for rovers.. happened to have exactly what I needed and was "just taking up space". Still cost me a couple bills.

There's one guy out there that has rovers posted on his restoration site in the many tens of thousands of dollars range. I think he's probably a dreamer.. he's got them up for 70k+... I can't say as i've seen them at pebble beach.

There are people that think they're super rare and ask tons of money for an 88 needing an engine.. there's well more than 1,000,000 of them out there. I live on oahu.. and there are 3 for sale right now. They're not rare. Of course one guy is asking 15k for one that he says "has not run in 5 years" and needs brakes all the way back.

Your ebay experience should tell you a lot.
Market is down for just about everything.. "toys" are moving down a lot of people's lists. There's not many even bid on on ebay.. if anything. They do tend to go lower on ebay than they do elsewhere.

[antichrist]

An 88 is going to be more fun off-road, a 109 will be better on slick roads when it snows.
As for price, as others have said, they run the range, though you won't find many runners for $500 anymore like I used to in the 70's and early 80's. They are pretty much worth what you're willing to pay.

[jimfoo]

One thing, the heaters usually are marginal unless it has a Kodiak, meaning defrost is marginal as well. Just something to keep in mind. It is better if you make an effort to seal up all the likely air leaks though.

[garrett]

Alright thanks everyone for their insight. Here is what I am looking at: 1964 Series IIA RHD with low miles I think under 100K original. Has many British Rover Club upgrades or options? That is what I heard from the owner, have no idea what it really means. It needs a rear axle, radiator and battery along with a new key as the owner lost it in a current move, also a question. Has not been driven since November when the axle went out and he has no time to fix it. There is some rust on the frame and body but nothing major. The paint is in good condition. Is this car even worth thinking about and if so how much might it be worth in USD?

Thanks again for everyone's help.

[antichrist]

So basically you don't know if the engine runs, what the gearboxes are like, or how the front axle is?

[garrett]

Yeah now that you say that it is pretty ridiculous of an idea I guess, maybe I am just jumping the gun on this one. Really probably is not worth anything. I notice that you are in Atlanta, any advice on places around the area to look for Series Rovers?

[zed]

I wouldn't touch it. You can't drive it. First stomp the master cylinder might go and take all the wheel cylinders with it. It may have a tired engine in it... The axle went? Like the shaft broke? That'll happen.. but it might have been hammered to hell for a while too.

too much to be wrong with something like that. Body shouldn't be rusty at all.. as its made from birmabright. Cept the bulkhead and hinges..

Oh.. something I forgot to add.. You might ought take a hammer with you when looking at a rover. Bang along the frame. shiny paint on the outside doesn't mean the frame is any thicker than the paint.
Hit the low spots.. and absolutely around the spring hangers... Goes for about anything of that age.. but boxed frames hide rust well. Till its a big hole.

As for checking around atlanta. It had a pretty active craigslist last I knew. Might be worth a jaunt for a good one from ebay or something.. If you could take a weekend or something to go inspect one.. or hire a guy/know a guy in the area to check things you ask.

[zed]

1964 Land Rover Series II 88" 4 Cyl.
I know its in carolina.

defender in miami
97' Land Rover Defender

fl again
1969, LAND ROVER, SERIES IIA AutoTrader Classics - Buy and Sell Antique Cars, Classic Cars, Muscle Cars
1976, LAND ROVER, SERIES III AutoTrader Classics - Buy and Sell Antique Cars, Classic Cars, Muscle Cars

there's a bunch..
interestingly enough. Those really expensive land rovers I was talking about above..
Still all for sale.. 4 months since I last looked on line (comparing their prices to what I paid for my recent 73 88" SIII)
Some of the not so spendy ones are still up there. Those ads aren't free.. they're likely still for sale.

So yea.. unless you're looking for restored to awesome. You're looking at well under 10k for "runners" needing work.

That linked website above really has the scoop on what to look for and what to devalue.

They aren't that common where you can just decide today and pick one up tomorrow in your home town. But .. keep looking.. don't settle for junk as your first project rover.
I've learned that when buying a vehicle of that age.. multiply the stated problems by at least 2.
My rule is.. .if it doesn't start and move.. it doesn't get a bid.. unless its for parts. Still get junk on occasion. Been more than one car that's broken down on the way home.

[zed]

Ah.. I noticed your practicality question.

If its just for occasional use "truck use" not used for toting the family around or long freeway jaunts. Its fine. I like it because its small enough to park in congested hawaii but its still trucky enough to carry stuff i need.. as much as an 88" bed will carry anyway (they're 3x4 flat and just about square at the wheel "wells".

They are not powerful. Mine will not hold 50 easily up the hill to work.. But will make 65 eventually and beyond on the freeway... Of course they have no safety features what-so-ever. I got flack from people at work for having a child seat in the truck. "you trust that with your kid?!!".

They're a bit of a chore to keep in GOOD running order. Age, typical ab-use and britishness coming together. But.. if you like that stuff.. Its not bad. For a weekender costco'er camper etc.. It should do you. But not nearly as well or as comfortable as a new vehicle. But for the price and if you like the vehicle.. its well reasonable. Fuel mileage seems to vary .. but i think most people seem to get 12-18 in their 4 cyl 2.25 gasoline models. I'm averaging just over 15 right now mostly under 45mph.

[antichrist]

Originally Posted by garrett

I notice that you are in Atlanta, any advice on places around the area to look for Series Rovers?

I haven't looked lately so don't know what's around here, but there's a local club that's fairly active I believe (I'm not a member).
I'm not saying it's worth nothing, but you're buying a pig in a poke so offer accordingly.
Where are you located? If not too far I could probably be persuaded to look at it with you.

[garrett]

Funny that one that Zed listed in NC on Atlanta's Craigslist seems to have almost the same problems as the one I was going to look at. I really do not want to spend a whole lot of money on the truck, possibly not more than $5K and I am willing to put some work into it. My primary aim is to find one that runs well that will enable me to drive it while I do little work here and there, it would be a slow restoration process, one part at a time and I figure the most important part would be to get it to run properly and the body work could come at a later date.

I am not looking for comfort or convenience as I have a daily driver for that. I am slowly learning that new cars are more trouble than they are worth because the more gadgets they come with the more things that can break and when they break they are not simple to fix.

I suppose the best thing to do is just keep the look alive and just wait for that perfect candidate.

[zed]

Yea I just listed some stuff.
I didn't read it so much... Looked pretty.

Piece by piece? They pretty much need all the pieces to be operable and safe. Unless u mean knobs and seats.
But they're a relative breeze to work on. At least mine is.. most bolts don't break. Most parts are of the proper year etc.. to make buying easy.
Parts are pretty decently available. Not locally.. but at British pacific.. and they ship quick and cheap.

body work doesn't seem to effect the price much in these things. Unless its stellar.

Maybe its because they flex so much.. bondo is all but useless.. or because they dent so readily.. you can't keep ahead of it.. or because the paint (other than original laquer.. which just powders away slowly) comes up so easily its hard to stay on top of.


new cars trouble? Stop buying domestic!

I haven't but done routine maintenance on my 1999+ cars. well excepting the domestics. But even then.. was a "broke when it got here" type warranty thing.

Its a matter of what you're used to. I GREATLY prefer Fuel injection trouble shooting. So much easier. Just grab your scope.. OBD scanner and/or multi meter.. tell you Exactly where your problem is. Not to mention corrosion resistance and the stronger interior materials.. UV protective glass.. AC that never needs repair.. or at least not for a long time.. Seals that don't leak.

You can't argue they don't build em like they used to. Now they build them to last.. with materials that are so much better than they used to be. Remember when a car was "junk" at 100k now they sell them with warranties till 100k. Isn't it doge that's selling a "lifetime" powertrain warranty?

can't beat that. Cept you'd be driving a dodge.. or a reskinned old merc.