I bought this Land Rover on eBay without seeing it in the
flesh and I was not disappointed when it arrived on a trailer from Wales. It is in amazing condition as you can see
from the photographs. My intention was
to use it to occasionally pull a trailer.
As it is a 1958 Series II it does not need an MOT or road tax and
insurance is only £103 a year. I knew it
would never lose value so I didn't mind if it sat in the garage until I needed
it to pull the trailer. The problem is
that it is in such good condition I just can't bring myself to take it out in
the rain or on our salty winter roads so I have hardly used it. The annoying thing is that with the V8 it
makes a fantastic towing vehicle. What I
really need is a 90 that I don't mind taking out in any weather. It will be a blow to have to pay road tax and
a pain to have to get an MOT but hopefully a good 90 with a galvanised chassis
shouldn't lose any value in the long run.
The only thing I have done to this Land Rover is fit seatbelts as I
really wasn't comfortable going around without them.
Here's what the previous owner said about it.
An early, Tax and MOT exempt, Series 2 Land Rover that has
been extensively and sensitively restored and converted to 3500V8 with the
installation of a Range Rover 3500V8.
All receipts available for parts to a cost of £2300. The restoration has
created an original and useable Land Rover.
The body-off restoration and conversion included the
following:
Range Rover 3500 V8
mated to the original, and excellent, gearbox that only has syncromesh on third
and fourth gears but is a sturdier box than later models. Heavy duty, 9½”
clutch fitted.
Fairey Overdrive fitted and this works well, engaging
smoothly. This Land Rover actually has a fair turn of speed, by comparison with
other Series Land Rovers that is! It will bowl along at 65 in Overdrive fourth
when on the motorway.
The chassis was stripped to bare metal and a new rear half
chassis welded in. As you can see this
was professionally gas welded and is definitely stronger than the
original. In addition, the front dumb
irons were very solidly repaired along with the cross member and the
outriggers. The chassis was then primed,
painted and pumped full of Waxoyl.
The bulkhead was completely re-built using replacement door
pillars, full floor well repair panels and front corner hinge repair
panels. This was all gas, seam welded
and the job done by a professional welder. All the box bulkhead sections have
been internally sprayed with Waxoyl.
109" Long Wheel Base brakes, fitted to the front and
rear to aid stopping.
Transmission Handbrake re-built with new shoes.
Electonic
Ignition-Luminition from Demon Tweeks.
KenLowe Cooling Fan.
High Capacity
Starter Motor.
Powermax Low Pressure Fuel Pump.
All body panels stripped, primered and painted in Bronze
Green.
Truck cab reconditioned with new window runners and new
window catches.
Heavy duty aluminium
tread plate floor panels.
Doors, tread plate lined.
All running gear
reconditioned and rebuilt.
All nuts and bolts
are either stainless or galvanized.
Rewired with new loom and new side light fittings.
New Bespoke Exhaust
built.
New battery.
Dixon Bate adjustable
Tow Bar.
New Craddocks seats.
Fully Polybushed.
20 Litre Jerry Can
Although this is a Series 2 it has had a few Series 3
features fitted to make it more useable.
It therefore has a series 3 heater and it is really lovely and warm in
the winter with the truck cab on. It
also has Series 3 wipers.
