Italian 88 Series III - Should I or Shouln't I?

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Mandy

Mandy

Well-Known Member
Posts
4,417
Location
Italy
I think I may have found Mandy II...
While wandering round the hillsides not far from here, I came across a Series III abandoned in a field near a farmhouse. The farmer wants to sell it.
It's a bit of a mess but I'd really like to restore it (with a little help from my friends). I'm not in a hurry and would like to restore as much of the original vehicle as possible.
What do you guys think? How much should I pay the farmer?
What kind of engine does it have, is there anything particular about it I should be aware of? It hasn't been driven for about 10 years and the farmer stopped using it because the clutch pump broke. It looks like he replaced the hoses with the hose from his wife's washing machine. There's a hole in the frame at the back.
I've been looking around for an old Series to restore for a while, it's something I've always wanted to do. It's quite a daunting idea but I feel the time may be right.


And here's a panorama of it.

Any suggestions, ideas, information very welcome :)
 
Last edited:
2 1/4 diesel, ive seen a lot worse still is some chassis left , and bulk head and doors look not too bad,a rear 1/4 chassis would cure a few issues,price wise is hard to say ive seen worse fetch 500 to 1k as projects, but if hes unaware of values 200 would seem worth a try
 
Offer him scrap value and you will pay for removal. 250 euros should cover it. After all it is going to cost quite a bit to get it up and running.
 
It's very original looking. Some L/H drive parts are expensive. Looking at it I bet it would start with a strong battery some diesel and quick start. Looks like it's got a push button start. The headlong inside is great. It's tow away value only and a big project but you'd end up with a very original landy.
 
definitely worth a resto imho, especially if you can do any welding etc yourself. as said try to get away with scrap value.

imagine there isn't much of a landy parts scene in Italy so getting big items shipped over could be a pita unless you travel between here and there a lot
 
It's left had drive so can't be worth much! Only joking.

Agree with others and offer very small money - It's a project after all. In the UK project type vehicles have risen over the past few years and something like that would go for £400 - £1000. That's nice and original Station Wagon spec. If you can weld it would make the whole project massively cheaper.
 
Hi guys, I'm the one who can help Angela going on her adventure.
Thank you for your answers. I care a lot about them.
We want to try to get the engine started this Sunday (depends on the weather), but I have a doubt: if the engine does start, the farmer could use this as an excuse to put the price up?

Mandy correct my english if isn't good, either, I will be able to improve it.
 
andrearally said:
Hi guys, I'm the one who can help Angela going on her adventure.
Thank you for your answers. I care a lot about them.
We want to try to get the engine started this Sunday (depends on the weather), but I have a doubt: if the engine does start, the farmer could use this as an excuse to put the price up?

Mandy correct my english if isn't good, either, I will be able to improve it.
Click to expand...
Thats a bit of a catch 22 situation, if the engine starts then the owner might feel the value is higher
But if you don't try it may be that the engine is absolutely wrecked and you are looking for a replacement.
maybe you could tell the guy you want to test the engine and try to gauge his reaction to that, but I would offer a price that assumes the engine will need some money spent on it.
 
Mandy said:
I think I may have found Mandy II...
While wandering round the hillsides not far from here, I came across a Series III abandoned in a field near a farmhouse. The farmer wants to sell it.
It's a bit of a mess but I'd really like to restore it (with a little help from my friends). I'm not in a hurry and would like to restore as much of the original vehicle as possible.
What do you guys think? How much should I pay the farmer?
What kind of engine does it have, is there anything particular about it I should be aware of? It hasn't been driven for about 10 years and the farmer stopped using it because the clutch pump broke. It looks like he replaced the hoses with the hose from his wife's washing machine. There's a hole in the frame at the back.
I've been looking around for an old Series to restore for a while, it's something I've always wanted to do. It's quite a daunting idea but I feel the time may be right.

Here's a link to the photos I took: https://goo.gl/photos/Qi59H4PMQae45n8v5

And here's a panorama of it.

Any suggestions, ideas, information very welcome :)

View attachment 111650
Click to expand...

Looks like alright for a project if you can take your time with it.
I would suggest low offers. Easy enough to increase an offer, not so easy to drop it if they bite yer hand off!

andrearally said:
Hi guys, I'm the one who can help Angela going on her adventure.
Thank you for your answers. I care a lot about them.
We want to try to get the engine started this Sunday (depends on the weather), but I have a doubt: if the engine does start, the farmer could use this as an excuse to put the price up?

Mandy correct my english if isn't good, either, I will be able to improve it.
Click to expand...

English is fine, quite understandable.
 
andrearally said:
Hi guys, I'm the one who can help Angela going on her adventure.
Thank you for your answers. I care a lot about them.
We want to try to get the engine started this Sunday (depends on the weather), but I have a doubt: if the engine does start, the farmer could use this as an excuse to put the price up?

Mandy correct my english if isn't good, either, I will be able to improve it.
Click to expand...
Excellent English and nice Avatar - welcome.
I would suggest do not try to start it, just take off rocker cover and turn engine over by hand, that way you'll know it's not seized and no stuck valves. Explain that more work needs to be done before you can try to start it and offer 400 euros or so - good luck
 
We've made an appointment to go back and haggle it out on Sunday. We'll take your advice on turning the engine and price. Will keep you all posted :)
 
Will be bringing her home on Thursday. Can't wait! I feel as if I'm about to embark on an adventure into the unknown, excited but also a tad apprehensive. If anyone wants to come on a Land Rover restoration holiday on the Italian Riviera, just give me a shout :) We have a spare room, wine and food to offer.
 
Mandy said:
Will be bringing her home on Thursday. Can't wait! I feel as if I'm about to embark on an adventure into the unknown, excited but also a tad apprehensive. If anyone wants to come on a Land Rover restoration holiday on the Italian Riviera, just give me a shout :) We have a spare room, wine and food to offer.
Click to expand...

Best of luck with that! :) Good invite if I didnt have silage feeding going on! ;)
 
Mandy said:
Will be bringing her home on Thursday. Can't wait! I feel as if I'm about to embark on an adventure into the unknown, excited but also a tad apprehensive. If anyone wants to come on a Land Rover restoration holiday on the Italian Riviera, just give me a shout :) We have a spare room, wine and food to offer.
Click to expand...

Ooo exciting :) What else did you learn before striking a deal?
 
We're planning on doing a slow resto and where possible, doing up what's already there.
I couldn't get the price lowered but I've looked around on the internet and compared to what's available in the UK and Italy, for a non-runner but "all there" it's reasonable. I've booked a truck to come and collect her on Thursday lunchtime after doing the paperwork with the owner. It's only had two owners and the current owner hasn't used it for the last 10 years because the clutch broke and he couldn't get the parts to get it mended or find a mechanic that would do the job. He also had problems getting it MOT'd every two years and after a couple of very dodgy ones, parked it in a field next to his house and there she stayed. The owner is well into his 80s and also has a herd of cattle, so I think he's basically had better things to do for the past few years. He painted the roof blue and disconnected the rear lights because he used to use it to go poaching. It's never done any reckless offroading and he mainly used it to tow heavy loads. We tried turning the engine by hand, and it turns!
I asked him if he has any extra wheels (because the spare seemed to be missing) and he told us he also had a Series I which he had demolished after removing as much as possible from it and would we like those bits too because he has no use for them! So it looks like I'm going to be taking a load of Series I bits home too which I hope to sell, unless they could be useful.
In the 80s when they introduced the super tax on private diesel cars in Italy, the previous owner had her converted from being registered as a private car to being registered as a commercial truck so unfortunately she doesn't have the original 1970s black number plate with white letters.
While I'm in the UK and seeing as I have an empty suitcase to take back to Italy with me, does anyone have advice about any imperial nuts and bolts it may be a good idea to stock up with while I'm here?
 
Mandy said:
We're planning on doing a slow resto and where possible, doing up what's already there.
I couldn't get the price lowered but I've looked around on the internet and compared to what's available in the UK and Italy, for a non-runner but "all there" it's reasonable. I've booked a truck to come and collect her on Thursday lunchtime after doing the paperwork with the owner. It's only had two owners and the current owner hasn't used it for the last 10 years because the clutch broke and he couldn't get the parts to get it mended or find a mechanic that would do the job. He also had problems getting it MOT'd every two years and after a couple of very dodgy ones, parked it in a field next to his house and there she stayed. The owner is well into his 80s and also has a herd of cattle, so I think he's basically had better things to do for the past few years. He painted the roof blue and disconnected the rear lights because he used to use it to go poaching. It's never done any reckless offroading and he mainly used it to tow heavy loads. We tried turning the engine by hand, and it turns!
I asked him if he has any extra wheels (because the spare seemed to be missing) and he told us he also had a Series I which he had demolished after removing as much as possible from it and would we like those bits too because he has no use for them! So it looks like I'm going to be taking a load of Series I bits home too which I hope to sell, unless they could be useful.
In the 80s when they introduced the super tax on private diesel cars in Italy, the previous owner had her converted from being registered as a private car to being registered as a commercial truck so unfortunately she doesn't have the original 1970s black number plate with white letters.
While I'm in the UK and seeing as I have an empty suitcase to take back to Italy with me, does anyone have advice about any imperial nuts and bolts it may be a good idea to stock up with while I'm here?
Click to expand...

What do you think the chassis and bulkhead are like?
Details of the S1 bits would be nice, Mart is still after some bits for his Minerva!

Any idea what kind of cattle the chap had? :)

If you have an idea of what you will need, something like this might be ok.

http://www.westfieldfasteners.co.uk/

I think kits of fasteners for individual vehicles are also available. Might be worth googling around after them. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
3 seater Series III in Portugal?
Replies
10
Views
680
dag019
dag019
S
Transmission brake dust cover fitting
Replies
4
Views
277
sprie
S
JIMBOB LR
Less Is More. The LR Series lives on.
2 3
Replies
40
Views
2K
steve2286w
steve2286w
D
Series 3 88 Pickup
Replies
11
Views
812
tottot
tottot
JIMBOB LR
Land Rover Series III Suffix WHAT!?
Replies
2
Views
411
brianp38dse
brianp38dse
Back
Top