First Defender restoration. Tools needed?

You could look at changing the back to a quad tech/camper conversion

I think I'm going to have to see what's possible and what's most in demand and hopefully there's some common ground between the two

UlstermanAbroad said:

Look like I might've f@%#ed up by buying a Hicap, so will have to have a rethink
about what 'look' to go for. At least I have a solid basis to work from .

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UlstermanAbroad said:

I think I'm going to have to see what's possible and what's most in demand and hopefully there's some common ground between the two

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Just leave it as a hicap! They look great with a canvas load cover (below from google) and are hugely practical for carrying everything accept people. However, I have found with mine that very few people want to be a passenger as they are used to modern plastic cars so three seats across the front may be all you need.

Fair enough Dag.
Given the potential buyers, do you think it's worth refurbing cosmetically ? (Heritage style)
If so, what do you think I ought to be asking for it?

Oh, and you'll need a bigger hammer an a FN huge screwdriver, an a shifter an a bigger shfter, an a podger an an even bigger ammer, an a drill an sumfin to spin thedrill round, an a set of extractors, an a set of Britool sockets an a set of King Dick spannery thingies, an a nuther ammer anorl, an at least one box of tins of WD40, an a nuther ammer, an a good Jack (coz ee'z a mate, broke an could do wiv the work), an a drum of red wire (just in case) to replace anything that takes elektrickery from somewhere to somewhere else

UlstermanAbroad said:

Fair enough Dag.
Given the potential buyers, do you think it's worth refurbing cosmetically ? (Heritage style)
If so, what do you think I ought to be asking for it?

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Considering all you need to do to cosmetically make it "heritage" style is to paint the light surrounds and wheels body colour and fit a galvanised bumper and a wire grill I would not expect a heritage styled vehicle to attract any price premium at all. And if you are paying for a respray rather than doing it yourself you will certainly not get your money back.
As far as potential buyers are concerned as it is a hi-cap it is not going to be of any interest to the unfortunate new breed of land rover owners that wont even drive it through a puddle and just want a shiny vehicle for posing about around the city. As these are the buyers that are willing to pay ridiculously high prices and care more about the condition of the paint work than the condition of the mechanicals I don't think there would be any benefit in a cosmetic make over if you are looking to profit.
However, if you are planning to use the vehicle yourself, you like the heritage colour and are willing to get your hands dirty(as it sounds like you are) it is not difficult to repaint a vehicle yourself and once finished it would very nice. I just don't believe it will be worth more, although it certainly wont be worth less.

Cheers Dag.
You're correct. Part of the point of buying the vehicle, is to start to develop some basic mechanical and bodywork skills.
Most of my career thus far has been in corporate troubleshooting and the heaviest bit of kit there was my ballpoint.
I plan to split my time between this mini project and a PhD in psychology, so when I'm not consulting in future, I can be
up to my eyeballs in oil and paint I have the free use of about 10,000 Sq ft of warehouse, so I plan to make as much use of it as I can
while I have it.
That said. I make plans and God laughs, so who knows

I'm very grateful to everyone who's given some advice or an opinion on this thread. Everything helps.

If the main goal is a project to learn and develop mechanical and bodywork skills then it really doesn’t matter what body variant you have. And as I said previously I have always had a soft spot for the hi cap and think they look great. If it is structurally and mechanically sound I would keep it and use it as your project. When it is finished you can always get a differant one.

Once you start developing your skills around land rovers you tend to begin to collect them. I have two and am looking for a third as neither of them are projects anymore! Your not a real enthusiast until you have more than one anyway!

dag019 said:

Your not a real enthusiast until you have more than one anyway!

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Geez. In the SportsMaserati forums, they even let Alfa owners in! Nobody's ever said anything about owning multiple cars.
Are these rules of which you speak, written down anywhere? In stone maybe?

At the risk of inviting ........ I don't know what. Would anyone know where I might get hold of a Defender 110 3/4 canvas hood pattern?
As in the pattern, on which the canvas hood is based. I'm assuming this would fit a 110 Hi cap?

Standard 110 will not fit.
Back body wider & the rear tailgate etc bigger.
All wheel trim will make a rear canvas for this. You will need hicap hoops.

Have you looked for a ifor Williams stock back.?
Take a width measurement & see what other makes of motors this will fit. Easy to cut the length down.

I do have a fondness for the hicap, speshirley this one - Look its a 'one life, live it' special edition.

Sorry for the 'bone' question. Was just talking to a specialist, who gave me chapter and verse on my options.
Hicap hood. Sell on. Buy a 110 next time

Doriz ........ why the fondness for Hicaps? Just idle curiosity.

Hi Mike,
This all sounds very interesting and you're making me think that maybe I should be looking at removing the tub on mine and doing a clean-up, repair and rust protection exercise,etc. Maybe like you, I took early retirement a while back thinking I could maybe solve world hunger and take on a project like building a hydrogen fuel cell; alas, nothing came of either, so I travelled to India for 6 weeks and found myself. LOL. Actually, I found that super Defender 90 and that has been the focus of my recent attentions and probably for the foreseeable future. Looking forward to hear how you get on with this project and best wishes.
Trevor

UlstermanAbroad said:

Sorry for the 'bone' question. Was just talking to a specialist, who gave me chapter and verse on my options.
Hicap hood. Sell on. Buy a 110 next time

Doriz ........ why the fondness for Hicaps? Just idle curiosity.

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There are only two doors to fall off for a start, and there's more room for a cement mixer IMO

Fondness for mine
(Of course not all at once
Fits a racing quad bike in the back
12 bakes of hay
4 stinking dogs
3 mountain bikes & kit


A dent in the side is not noticed.

Mine iv had over 25 years


Yep iv had 5doors & 90s & always jumped into this as it's a work horse.

UlstermanAbroad said:

Sell on. Buy a 110 next time .......

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Mike, how about considering a 90...?

Hicap phill said:

Fondness for mine
(Of course not all at once
Fits a racing quad bike in the back
12 bakes of hay
4 stinking dogs
3 mountain bikes & kit


A dent in the side is not noticed.

Mine iv had over 25 years


Yep iv had 5doors & 90s & always jumped into this as it's a work horse.
View attachment 156235

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No mention of yer pig int back. Does it ride with yer int front?

Hippo said:

No mention of yer pig int back. Does it ride with yer int front?

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That's @Marmaduke

doriz said:

That's @Marmaduke

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I thought all tratterers had pig's.

doriz said:

That's @Marmaduke

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This is the only pig in my life me duck