Curveking
New Member
- Posts
- 77
- Location
- West Yorkshire (Marsden)
After a couple of years selling MG Midgets during the summer and struggling with a Volvo in the winter, I decided to buy my Land Rover. Its a 1978 Series 3 Pick up Diesel and I bought it three days ago, just before the snow. I was surprised how good it is and how much fun I would have in it. Living in West Yorkshire I think we have had as much snow as anybody and our Landy has ploughed through it all without a hick-up. Its even managed to get me to my front door when my neighbours top of the range Nissan Pathfinder has not. I would like to think its just my driving but actually I know its the Landy and its 235/85/16 tyres that have just made me look good.
Anyway I had a look under the bonnet to see everything was ok and could not help thinking it reminded me of the MG's I have bought and sold over the last couple of years. Its just simple good engineering. I looked into the similarities even farther and found more.
Both cars are very reasonable on spares. Both cars have a huge following. Both cars built great reputations for the manufacturers at the time.
Anyway the thing about a 1500 Midget is that it was always slightly looked down upon by MG "purists" for having Rubber bumpers and square arch's and this reflected in the asking price, even though they were better to drive and cheaper to maintain. Whats happening now is that the 1500 midgets are becoming more desirable than the old 1275 midgets. Unless the Midget is almost concourse condition they fetch similar prices.
The Series 3 is a easier car to drive than the earlier series vehicles (more syncros etc) and its so easy to get parts for it at sensible prices, even compared to the Defender and Series 1.
I always thought that if I bought a Land rover it would be a series 1 but after trying a series 3 I don't think I could manage to live with out it. I spoke to loads of people before buying my series and they all said buy a series 1 but actually in my opinion the series 3 is like the MG Midget 1500. Its a very good vehicle that is very underestimated and cars like this often become more sought after than the so called "purists" choice.
Long last the Snow
Anyway I had a look under the bonnet to see everything was ok and could not help thinking it reminded me of the MG's I have bought and sold over the last couple of years. Its just simple good engineering. I looked into the similarities even farther and found more.
Both cars are very reasonable on spares. Both cars have a huge following. Both cars built great reputations for the manufacturers at the time.
Anyway the thing about a 1500 Midget is that it was always slightly looked down upon by MG "purists" for having Rubber bumpers and square arch's and this reflected in the asking price, even though they were better to drive and cheaper to maintain. Whats happening now is that the 1500 midgets are becoming more desirable than the old 1275 midgets. Unless the Midget is almost concourse condition they fetch similar prices.
The Series 3 is a easier car to drive than the earlier series vehicles (more syncros etc) and its so easy to get parts for it at sensible prices, even compared to the Defender and Series 1.
I always thought that if I bought a Land rover it would be a series 1 but after trying a series 3 I don't think I could manage to live with out it. I spoke to loads of people before buying my series and they all said buy a series 1 but actually in my opinion the series 3 is like the MG Midget 1500. Its a very good vehicle that is very underestimated and cars like this often become more sought after than the so called "purists" choice.
Long last the Snow
