For many years I've been interested in having a classic Land Rover and had some questions that I hope you guys can help me with. I am wanting a Land Rover to replace my 1998 Dodge pickup as my daily car in Victoria. I've owner other older cars as daily drivers and have some mechanical skills.
Is a Series Land Rover reliable enough for daily use? I've seen some maintenance schedules and that looks doable to me. I also get the impression that they were designed to be fixed mid jungle expedition, so I hope they are simple to maintain and repair.
How secure are they? I live in an pretty good area (Craigdarroch Road, for those who know where that is) but I park on the street and am a bit close to downtown. Do the doors lock? I've noticed they have two piece sliding window. Do those lock?
I think I would pretty much need a long wheel base Land Rover as I work as a carpenter and I need space for my tools. If I got a pick up I would have to get a tool box in the bed although I think I would prefer the station wagon body. Can the back seats be folded for extra storage or would I have to remove them? I've also noticed a long wheel base two door, fully enclosed body style seen here http://roverlanders.bc.ca/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=dixon2005&id=P1010134. What is that? Is it a pick up with a body cap added or is it a seperate body style?
When I look online there seem to be more 88s than 109s. Is that the case? Is a 109 more expensive, generally?
This is the hardest one, but can you give me some general, rough ballpark guesses as to how much one might expect to pay for a decent, running Land Rover with no major issues?
Is there anything else I need to know? I've seen (online) a few 110s from the eighties that have the two door, enclosed truck style that I like. How does a 110 compare to a Series Land Rover?
jeremy[/url]
Series Land Rover as a daily vehicle
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Bill E.
- Landy Man
- Posts: 933
- Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2004 12:30 pm
- Location: Tsawwassen BC
Hi Jeremy,
All good questions. Larry replied to your post but added his thoughts as a new topic rather than a reply, ooops. His observations and advice are sound and I agree with his sentiments for what its worth. The 109 2-doors can be equipped with either a pick-up cab or a full length hardtop or a canvas pick-up cab or full length canvas. In all of these configurations the 109's have a fixed bulkhead behind the front seats. The 5-door 109 station wagons delete the bulkhead, add two side doors and have a different floor pan arrangement among other less obvious differences. 88's and 109's in the 2-door configuration can come with a tailgate/hatch arrangement or a full size rear door. All of these configurations are the most common but as with all vehicles that have had a long production life the variants are endless. You will often see "safari roofs" which are the double skin alloy roofs that are generally on the higher spec trucks and station wagons. Occasionally you'll run across a "high-cap", or high capacity pick-up in 109,110 or longer wheelbase but these are not all that common. Their notable distinction is the corrugated appearance of the pick-up box sides and tailgate along with the separation of the cab bodywork from the box in the fashion of North American pick-ups. Pricing is a dicey area that really is impossible to peg. Your best bet is to sample as many of the "for sale" posts as you can and compile your research. The market fluctuates regularly on series trucks and real, as opposed to apparant condition is critical to value. I'll leave the critique of the relative merits of coil sprung trucks vs. leaf sprung trucks to others, unless of course the debate gets juicy. :wink:
All good questions. Larry replied to your post but added his thoughts as a new topic rather than a reply, ooops. His observations and advice are sound and I agree with his sentiments for what its worth. The 109 2-doors can be equipped with either a pick-up cab or a full length hardtop or a canvas pick-up cab or full length canvas. In all of these configurations the 109's have a fixed bulkhead behind the front seats. The 5-door 109 station wagons delete the bulkhead, add two side doors and have a different floor pan arrangement among other less obvious differences. 88's and 109's in the 2-door configuration can come with a tailgate/hatch arrangement or a full size rear door. All of these configurations are the most common but as with all vehicles that have had a long production life the variants are endless. You will often see "safari roofs" which are the double skin alloy roofs that are generally on the higher spec trucks and station wagons. Occasionally you'll run across a "high-cap", or high capacity pick-up in 109,110 or longer wheelbase but these are not all that common. Their notable distinction is the corrugated appearance of the pick-up box sides and tailgate along with the separation of the cab bodywork from the box in the fashion of North American pick-ups. Pricing is a dicey area that really is impossible to peg. Your best bet is to sample as many of the "for sale" posts as you can and compile your research. The market fluctuates regularly on series trucks and real, as opposed to apparant condition is critical to value. I'll leave the critique of the relative merits of coil sprung trucks vs. leaf sprung trucks to others, unless of course the debate gets juicy. :wink:
Last edited by Bill E. on Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
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gudjeon
Howdo Jeremy,
A series rig that is properly maintained can do the job. Just be expecting to go at a slower pace. Unlocking things take a bit longer, warming up in the winter a bit longer, accel a bit.... you get the picture. I love this slower pace of driving and I have a Pacifica with all the bells and whistles for trips and for this type of driving. I used to live in Vic and drove a '68, 88" when I was at UVIC. Capable for roads there and even the highway. If they don't like me doing 60mph, heck with them go ahead and pass-yes I'm one of those. I agree for Vancouver, even if you drive fast, it never fast enough for some to hurry and breathe down your tailpipe so they can wait at the next light beside you.
A smaller place like Vic is good for a more sane pace of driving a series rig. I daily drive my ser1, 88" for work, hunting, fishing, and forays out into the boonies. It ends up being the one to drive down to buy parts for other vehicles I end up working on.
I know a guy who is selling a rebuilt 109 2 door in Esquimalt. I can put you in touch with him if interested. Pm me if you want the details.
A series rig that is properly maintained can do the job. Just be expecting to go at a slower pace. Unlocking things take a bit longer, warming up in the winter a bit longer, accel a bit.... you get the picture. I love this slower pace of driving and I have a Pacifica with all the bells and whistles for trips and for this type of driving. I used to live in Vic and drove a '68, 88" when I was at UVIC. Capable for roads there and even the highway. If they don't like me doing 60mph, heck with them go ahead and pass-yes I'm one of those. I agree for Vancouver, even if you drive fast, it never fast enough for some to hurry and breathe down your tailpipe so they can wait at the next light beside you.
A smaller place like Vic is good for a more sane pace of driving a series rig. I daily drive my ser1, 88" for work, hunting, fishing, and forays out into the boonies. It ends up being the one to drive down to buy parts for other vehicles I end up working on.
I know a guy who is selling a rebuilt 109 2 door in Esquimalt. I can put you in touch with him if interested. Pm me if you want the details.
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jeremyillingworth
Thanks for the replies. So basically, its reliable enough but not secure enough to park on the street with tools in it. Or at least no more secure than a van or a pick up with a canopy?
The inablilty to go fast is not a major concern as I'm a slow driver who very rarely speeds. With an over drive could it comfortably go 100km?
How badly do they normally leak rain? Its it a minor annoyance or are you and your things going to get wet? With good seals will it leak during light rain or just heavy? It was pretty heavy last night and my 98 Dodge had some water on the carpet.
So, if I get a two door 109 in an open pick up configuration can I add the full length hardtop or do I have to find one that already has it?
What is up with the coil vs leaf suspension?
jeremy
The inablilty to go fast is not a major concern as I'm a slow driver who very rarely speeds. With an over drive could it comfortably go 100km?
How badly do they normally leak rain? Its it a minor annoyance or are you and your things going to get wet? With good seals will it leak during light rain or just heavy? It was pretty heavy last night and my 98 Dodge had some water on the carpet.
So, if I get a two door 109 in an open pick up configuration can I add the full length hardtop or do I have to find one that already has it?
What is up with the coil vs leaf suspension?
jeremy
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larry emrick
- Little Wheel
- Posts: 93
- Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:20 am
- Location: vancouver
I have re-posted this where it shld have gone in the first place. Sorry about that, Larry
Jeremy: I use my (actually it's my daughter's) 88 as a daily driver for light horse farm use. That means it is driven daily but on short trips; seldom in city traffic and never on the freeway.
It has been fantastic in the three years we have had it with only minor maintenance-type bothers. I was extremely lucky to have been able to get a solid vehicle that has been well-maintained by the previous owner.
You must be able to attend to the simple mechanical demands of owning a vintage vehicle and attend to them promptly as they occur or they will pile up on you .
I would not rely on the minimal security the locks and window locks provide to keep anything safe so either don't leve anything of value in it or keep your tools in a lockable box. And always use a steering wheel lock.
They leak, or at least mine does even with a hard top, so chances are you and your stuff will get wet when parked outside at a job site.
Mine is awkward to manoeuvre in and out of parking spaces and slow on hills and acceleration so I am frequently pulling over to allow Vancouver's ultra-aggressive drivers to pass.
We are blessed in Rover-Landers by members with a wealth of knowledge
to help with mechanical advice and with links to professionals for parts and service when you need it.
My basic advice is that you have to really want a have a series Land-Rover as your daily driver and to be cheerfully willing to do some of your own work on it and put up with its irritations and inconveniences or you would probably would be more satisfied with pickup or van.
This is simply my personal advice and other members will have valid opinions based on their own experiences so good luck making your decision.
Larry Emrick
_________________
5thcmr
Jeremy: I use my (actually it's my daughter's) 88 as a daily driver for light horse farm use. That means it is driven daily but on short trips; seldom in city traffic and never on the freeway.
It has been fantastic in the three years we have had it with only minor maintenance-type bothers. I was extremely lucky to have been able to get a solid vehicle that has been well-maintained by the previous owner.
You must be able to attend to the simple mechanical demands of owning a vintage vehicle and attend to them promptly as they occur or they will pile up on you .
I would not rely on the minimal security the locks and window locks provide to keep anything safe so either don't leve anything of value in it or keep your tools in a lockable box. And always use a steering wheel lock.
They leak, or at least mine does even with a hard top, so chances are you and your stuff will get wet when parked outside at a job site.
Mine is awkward to manoeuvre in and out of parking spaces and slow on hills and acceleration so I am frequently pulling over to allow Vancouver's ultra-aggressive drivers to pass.
We are blessed in Rover-Landers by members with a wealth of knowledge
to help with mechanical advice and with links to professionals for parts and service when you need it.
My basic advice is that you have to really want a have a series Land-Rover as your daily driver and to be cheerfully willing to do some of your own work on it and put up with its irritations and inconveniences or you would probably would be more satisfied with pickup or van.
This is simply my personal advice and other members will have valid opinions based on their own experiences so good luck making your decision.
Larry Emrick
_________________
5thcmr
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Bill E.
- Landy Man
- Posts: 933
- Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2004 12:30 pm
- Location: Tsawwassen BC
Hi Jeremy,
Yes you can interchange between pick-up cabs and full length cabs on 2- doors but if you are thinking about going from hardtops to canvas you'll need a truck with the cleating along the top edges of the winscreen, doors and box. More versions have these cleats and tiedowns than not but it is often (or usually) deleted from "Station Wagons". Just remember that although these tops are available used, good examples can fetch a few bucks and complete original hoop sets for the canvas tops seem to carry a premium.
All the utility Land-Rovers for the civilian market departed from leaf springs in the early eighties, 1983 I believe was the first production year for coil sprung utility trucks; prototypes and oddballs aside. The series III was the last of the leaf sprung civilian utility trucks. There were some military contracts and 'rest-of-world" contracts that extended production of the leaf sprung 109's and 88's but effectively since '83 you've had a choice of coils or coils for your civvy Land-Rover unless you buy a time warp "Santana" out of Spain.
I think I've got this right but others please feel free to challange me on this info.
Yes you can interchange between pick-up cabs and full length cabs on 2- doors but if you are thinking about going from hardtops to canvas you'll need a truck with the cleating along the top edges of the winscreen, doors and box. More versions have these cleats and tiedowns than not but it is often (or usually) deleted from "Station Wagons". Just remember that although these tops are available used, good examples can fetch a few bucks and complete original hoop sets for the canvas tops seem to carry a premium.
All the utility Land-Rovers for the civilian market departed from leaf springs in the early eighties, 1983 I believe was the first production year for coil sprung utility trucks; prototypes and oddballs aside. The series III was the last of the leaf sprung civilian utility trucks. There were some military contracts and 'rest-of-world" contracts that extended production of the leaf sprung 109's and 88's but effectively since '83 you've had a choice of coils or coils for your civvy Land-Rover unless you buy a time warp "Santana" out of Spain.
I think I've got this right but others please feel free to challange me on this info.
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Greg S
- Spanner Man
- Posts: 844
- Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 9:00 pm
- Location: Duncan
- Contact:
I guess I have to make comment too, seeing as I drive a 1970 Series IIA 109 Station Wagon as a daily driver. And except for a few years while I slowly did a bunch of repair, I've driven it as my daily D since 1999. You mention you think the You should get the 109 SW, yes, the doors lock and are reasonable secure but over the years the simple lock mechanism might need straightening. The rear door lock wafers are probably seized from lack of use and dust, but can be fixed. The window locks on the double sliders work well if they are working, again age and corrosion/lack of use. The back seat folds up to make more room in the back, or comes out with four bolts (or is that four per side?).
I like driving my 109! For a bit dated write up about my thoughts- http://www.vanislelandrovernetwork.com/ ... l#article4
I like driving my 109! For a bit dated write up about my thoughts- http://www.vanislelandrovernetwork.com/ ... l#article4
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larry emrick
- Little Wheel
- Posts: 93
- Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:20 am
- Location: vancouver