first Landrover ownership..... help please !

Hi All ,


I joined the forum as always think those who own and run older cars are the most knowledgeable and the best for saying how owner ship really is !

I have always dreamed of having an early Series 1 and I think I may have found one that might work but I am a little worried that some bits dont match up ..

its registered as a 1951 - therefore should be the 1600cc I believe and 80" .

The engine after opening the bonnet and questioning the owner is not the original - its a 2200cc unit apparently that I guess , although I would prefer the original , might make it perhaps more usuable which is my plan !


The thing I don't understand fully is the chassis number ... the plate from the car under the bonnet isnt stamped so I guess either replaced or never stamped. So I read up on other locations where it is stamped and headed to the front engine mount. The Car is LHD .

there it is stamped either

L6112408 ( therefore missing a digit I believe from research)
or maybe
16112408 ( there missing the L or R at the front ...)

I wonder whether anyone could perhaps help with telling me if perhaps this car is not what it seems or whether it is a 51 LHD 80 inch vehicle ?

I have tried to upload a few pics - I hope they are attached


any help much appreciated as I have a feeling that my wife will be repeating " I told you so " if I get it hideously wrong !

many thanks in advance to everyone for their help


Ash

Defiantly early series1 door tops. Later ones don't have the holes in door tops to open the door.
No external door latch/handle
Rad is original shape
Would not worry about the engine 1600/2000 over heat quick.
Check chassis in case it needs welding but these are well made & thick metal.
That looks a mint motor
Good luck in your build/purchase

There is 2 years between these motors & one on left is 51.
so you can see differences.

Hicap phill said:

Defiantly early series1 door tops. Later ones don't have the holes in door tops to open the door.
No external door latch/handle
Rad is original shape
Would not worry about the engine 1600/2000 over heat quick.
Check chassis in case it needs welding but these are well made & thick metal.
That looks a mint motor
Good luck in your build/purchase

There is 2 years between these motors & one on left is 51.
so you can see differences.
View attachment 144406

Click to expand...

Hi Phill

thankyou so much - the front grille of the one I am looking at is identical to your KVS 661.

so perhaps the engine upgrade it has had will work well for more day to day use and longer term ownership so might be a good thing !

Ash

here is the front of the one I am looking at ....

Think This has a series 1 club badge on the front grill. If it is it's well looked after. Is this Ex military?
Looks like an oil cooler has been fitted.
What country you buying this from?

Oh if you can cope with the noise of a Ducati you should be ok in a Landrover

Hicap phill said:

Oh if you can cope with the noise of a Ducati you should be ok in a Landrover

Click to expand...

Except you don't usually wear a crash helmet in a Landrover.

Don't have any photos of our early days of driving to a comp safari fully kitted in rangerover bob tail. Then racing & then driving home.
Not like today's drivers who use trailers

Here you go screens down through France last year. No goggles or intercoms. Fun trying to tell the driver where to go from the tulip diagrams. Oh bees hurt

Hicap phill said:

Oh if you can cope with the noise of a Ducati you should be ok in a Landrover

Click to expand...

thats very true ! and I am assuming the clutch is probably similar and rudimental as well !!!

Hicap phill said:

Think This has a series 1 club badge on the front grill. If it is it's well looked after. Is this Ex military?
Looks like an oil cooler has been fitted.
What country you buying this from?

Click to expand...

I dont know if its ex military - is there a way of checking ? I was hoping the chassis number might answer a few questions re origin but it doesn't see to fit into the criteria ... if the first digit is a 1 rather than an "L" it seems to make slight sense but the last 4 digits got the build number didn't match the suggested numbers I found on some websites!

its in South America - there are quite a few series 2's about out there but this once attracted me being the series 1

Lovely looking 80”, with one or two 86” mods, unusual to have a one piece flap under windscreen, military use(Gibraltar) perhaps?

Not on our motor changed the box to a S3 & fitted a hydrolic clutch on existing pedal out the floor. Luxury for the wife to drive.

Unsure how you check chassis numbers best to ask series 1 club.

Hicap phill said:

Think This has a series 1 club badge on the front grill. If it is it's well looked after. Is this Ex military?
Looks like an oil cooler has been fitted.
What country you buying this from?

Click to expand...

I couldn't see t

freelance said:

Lovely looking 80”, with one or two 86” mods, unusual to have a one piece flap under windscreen, military use(Gibraltar) perhaps?

Click to expand...

the car belonged to the father of the vendor who sadly passed and this was his pride and joy apparently - although in later life perhaps his parking wasn't so good as the front wing is dented ! but he also informed me that some restoration work has been done to the car but he thought 10+ years ago. I am wondering perhaps whether the shortage of correct parts might have lead to the few later additions.


sorry to sound very amateurish but I couldn't see the oil cooler under the bonnet ( although perhaps wasn't looking correctly ) I did check what the unusual modification to the front right hand wing was ( which I haven't see on any others on my research )


thanks as always


Ash

Oil cooler in front of radiator
Thing on wing is the base for military aerial.
Spotted these off your last photo .

Ensure you get up to date photos before you have it shipped so you know if any damage is caused.
Family member just got a 2B from Australia in a container so any thing can be shipped to you.

Hicap phill said:

Oil cooler in front of radiator
Thing on wing is the base for military aerial.
Spotted these off your last photo .

Ensure you get up to date photos before you have it shipped so you know if any damage is caused.
Family member just got a 2B from Australia in a container so any thing can be shipped to you.

Click to expand...

ah great ! keen eye ! ( obviously no bee damage ! )

@ashmaddox
Just wandered into my brothers garage.
Found he has brought another
Still both sound nice though. Too cold to ride today

@ash maddox
No gap in yours @Hicap phill

Hicap phill said:

@ashmaddox
Just wandered into my brothers garage.
Found he has brought another
Still both sound nice though. Too cold to ride today
View attachment 144638

Click to expand...

a lovely pair as they say !


does anyone know how I make sure I dont pay too much for my first landrover! I have looked online and seem to range from £5k to £35k !

are ex military worth less ? ( I would guess so ? )


thanks everyone

Hicap phill said:

Defiantly early series1 door tops. Later ones don't have the holes in door tops to open the door.
No external door latch/handle
Rad is original shape
Would not worry about the engine 1600/2000 over heat quick.
Check chassis in case it needs welding but these are well made & thick metal.
That looks a mint motor
Good luck in your build/purchase

There is 2 years between these motors & one on left is 51.
so you can see differences.
View attachment 144406

Click to expand...

Beautiful brother and sister wow like a lot