Just bought a Series III 88"

Just got myself the Series Landie I've been hankering for most of my life. I haven't got it home yet so no pics until later. It's a 1983 model and lived on an airfield most of it's life doing very little. It has less than 20k on the clock - genuine I think.

I poked the chassis with a penknife lots and all seems pretty solid. Bulkhead looks lovely. 2.25 diesel engine has plenty of pep. New rubber on all 4 corners. All the electrics are shot, but not too worried about it. MOT failure sheet reads:

001 Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on (1.4.B.1d)
002 Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition off (1.4.B.1d)
003 (2 front) All position lamps not working (1.1.A.2b)
004 (front and rear) Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)
005 Nearside front headlamp aim too low (1.8)
006 Offside front headlamp aim too high (1.8)
007 (2 front) Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.4a)
008 Indicator tell tale inoperative (1.4.A.2a) + Fog
009 Hazard warning light tell tale not working correctly (1.4.B.1c)
010 Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)
011 Brake servo leaking (3.6.C.1f)
012 Nearside front Axle swivel joint has excessive play (2.5.A.3b)
013 Position lamp switch insecure (1.1.A.1)
014 Service brake efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.1a)

ADVISORY ITEMS
015 (front and rear) Leaf springs deteriorated but not seriously weakened (2.4.B.1a)
016 Offside rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.2)

Really useful that he put it through an MOT warts'n'all. Bargain at £550. I am well chuffed.

I'm going to be asking lots of questions of you good folks over the next few months, but will have a cracking Landie at the end of it all.

Remember to post the photos and good luck with the restoration. Sounds like a good one. Is it ex RAF? or was it a civvi airfield?

I think it was RAF. The person I dealt with was actually a neighbour of the seller. She's a bat**** crazy old widow, but lovely with it. She didn't know anything about the car. Will have a proper chat with the seller another time. He's keen to see it once I've given it some fettling.

I don't have the time, money, nor skills to do a full resto like some folks on here lavish on their old beasties - but I'll get it running sweet, safe, and a nice thick coat of paint over the scabby bits.

My first challenge is to get the bugger home. Drives fine, but not legally. Does anyone know whether it's legal to tow a car if it doesn't have tax or ticket?

I'm a police officer so I can answer that for you.

If you tow it on a rigid tow as in nobody in the car or on front lift tow then all okay.

If someone is sat in the car then they are considered driving it as they are controlling the direction etc. regardless as if it is running or even has an engine. So if towi g line that then it needs to be taxed, insured and the driver needs a license.

Hope that helps.

Helps a lot, Stumpy - thanks

Hi,
I posted a link here saying ive been offered a series 2a and was asking about using a "A frame" to get it home and I was told it was illegal to use a A frame, but they didnt give a reason, but I looked in to it and they say that the towed vehicle must be taxed moted and insured also the Aframe turns the vehicle in to a trailer which needs to be braked.

Dont know if this link helps, UKMotorhomes.net - A Frame towing

perhaps Stumpy could review it and advise me please

Basically a road vehicle doesn't fit the Construction and Use regs for a trailer. especially the bit regarding self steering if it breaks away and reversing brakes.

You can hire a trailer for Around £50 for a day.. Why take the risk of getting a pull or been involved in an accident and finding out your insurance refsuses to pay out..

Sometimes its better to start with a list of whats right!

androver said:

Sometimes its better to start with a list of whats right!

Click to expand...

1) Chassis
2) Bulkhead
3) Engine
4) Drivetrain

Everything else on a Landie is just a matter of details!

Like I said, looks better already.

Ah yeah - I forgot:

5) Body
6) Interior (it's mint)

Long shot, but any members in Inverness with a trailer who would be willing to help me move an 88" for beer tokens?

norfolkmick said:

Hi,
I posted a link here saying ive been offered a series 2a and was asking about using a "A frame" to get it home and I was told it was illegal to use a A frame, but they didnt give a reason, but I looked in to it and they say that the towed vehicle must be taxed moted and insured also the Aframe turns the vehicle in to a trailer which needs to be braked.

Dont know if this link helps, UKMotorhomes.net - A Frame towing

perhaps Stumpy could review it and advise me please

Click to expand...

Well it's been more than a few years since I did any traffic but I wouldn't stop a vehicle being towed on an a frame. Next time in in the office I can check.

Got the bugger home:



She's a beaut. Needs a rewire. Needs the body off and the chassis cleaned up, but not too much work there I think. Wouldn't start to get it off the trailer, no idea why not. Fortunately my new friend Donnie helped me heave it into position under cover.

Started fine getting up onto the trailer which is the main thing. I'm sure it can't be too complicated to fix.

Looking forward to getting stuck in.

Looks nice & straight from that photo. Good time of year to start a resto!

don't be in a rush to paint panels, often they come up nice with just a good clean and a little polish

if you do intend to dismantle it be very careful of the bulkhead cushions/glovebox plastics as they crack easily and are difficult to find good replacements

have fun, there's more daylight hours now which makes it the ideal time to be starting your project

Thanks for the comments.

Yes, it's a lovely slate blue/grey - well I like it anyway. Will run it over with clay and give it a polish once I've done the important stuff like the brakes, loom and engine service. No intention of messing with the patina. It's all the heavy metal underneath which I'll clean up and paint.

I've been told that the brand new tyres this beast sits on are actually cross-ply :doh:
Not sure whether to change them or not.

Have also been offered a V8 on SU Carbs out of a 110 if the 62 hp diesel drives me daft. Not sure how hard that conversion is, I'm not messing with the grill position though - too pretty the way it is.

nothing wrong with crossplies the diesel engine wont get you fast enough for them to worry you too much.. it might have sucked some air in the diesel line when you put it on the trailer quite a steep angle to get up (i got mine on a trailer like that and had to winch it up by hand)

Yeah, I'm thinking airlock. The engine did start a few times momentarily but died quickly. The tank was possibly quite low (tank sender up the creek along with lots of other electrics). I stuck a 25 litre jerry can in but it didn't help. Probably needs a good bleed. I'm babysitting so I can't play with it tonight. Fuel filter looks old, so will swap that too.

Battery needs a charge after all my attempts at sorting it out last night. My Halfrauds rubbish one expired last year. Anyone recommend me a decent charger for less than 50 quid?

i've run Deestone ExtraGrips on my 88", i now have General SAG's on it, both sets of tyres are crossplies, just gotta be a little careful in the damp but no real worries

if you're interested and really want to go V8, i have all the conversion parts here including a Steve Parker exhaust, just pulled it all out of my mates 88" V8 as he's going 200tdi... 200quid for the lot, exhaust, bellhousing adaptor, engine mounts, remote oil filter and adaptor, flywheel and spigot carrier, fuel pump and a large radiator, everything except for the engine and exhaust manifolds as they've already been sold