Newbie - is this a good price?

Hi! I am considering buying a land rover, having realised that my collection of Morris 1000s is perhaps not safe enough for taking my whole family in! Now, I have been offered a 1978 series III for £3500 and want to know if this is a good price.

The vehcile itself has been owned by the same chap for 21 years, it has a galvanised chassis with no rot, rust or patches - indeed it looks like new, everything works A1 as it should, there is no rust, rot, dents or anything else - inside is a full roll cage, a bench seat fitted at the back for children, it is completely water and wind tight plus it has had noise dampening fitted so is actually quiet inside!

The engine is a rover 2.2 diesel, and works perfectly on the button - it was reconditioned 3500 miles ago.

The gear box is from a series II, he fitted it as he said it was a better box than the series III.

And the seller? Well he is only selling as he is now down sizing on retirement, I trust him completely when he says the vehcile is A1, he will even throw in a 6 month gurantee for everything and anything! Agurantee I KNOW he will honour.

Any down sides to the vehcile? The paint job is not the best close up... but that really does seem it.

So, 3500, seem fair? Any comments appreciated!

Seems fair for a galvo chassis one. And a recon engine

But remember a vehicle is only worth what you are willing to pay for it

Don't blow all your funds on buying it, keep a bit a side for maintenance.... No matter how good it is there will always be maintenance

"Completely water and wind tight", , it'll be the first one ever so could well be worth a lot more than £3500

As described it sounds reasonable. Obviously the chassis should be OK, but do a REAL good check on the bulkhead as they are involved and costly to repair/replace.

As an aside there is actually very little difference toughness wise between series 2 and 3 gboxes.

Another idea, whereabouts are you, perhaps someone can give it a look over for you...?

Hi, bulkhead is original and rot free - it really is wind and water tight! lol Maybe the first ever ha ha. No, don't need anybody to look as trust the seller absolutely, just making sure the price seemed right. Thanks all of you!

Arthurdaily said:

Hi, bulkhead is original and rot free - it really is wind and water tight! lol Maybe the first ever ha ha. No, don't need anybody to look as trust the seller absolutely, just making sure the price seemed right. Thanks all of you!

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If you really trust the seller mate why are you asking if the price is right :doh:

There aint such a thing as a "wind and water tight" Series, even if you filled the bugger up with expanding foam water would still get in

I have owned wind and water tight series vehicles ! a few yaers ago mind you .
The only thing i was going to add was that what age children , as a series with side facing bench seats cant be used for child seats , and otherwise not the safest way of transporting family sitting sideways . JMHO

Haha - When it comes to the condition of the vehicle I trust him completely, he has loved the vehicle for years and years, it is thus the case that sometimes people have an inflated idea of value BECAUSE of that - because of the love for the car. As for me, I am not new to classics, but am new to land rovers so was just checking it out... I could have looked at price guides, but they are nonsense, YOU lot are the ones who know about price.

And, yes, for the last time, believe it or not, it is wind and water tight - been brewing a storm here, and no issues. Oh, and there is a special bench seat facing forwards for the kiddies.

It sounds like you are happy with it! Then buy it.

you got to be stark ravin bonkers..... if you want safe transport for the family.... better than a moggy 1000 i think you said.... forget a series with bodged seating .... any rear belts? insurance will be a minefield.

realistically youd be better off with a rangerover, disco or a county station wagon ......... theres a lot of choice out there at less than this ones askin price

when i was a kid family transport was a series 2 ... but times have moved on.

Hi, I see you point... to some extent about safety - however, the bench seat is a proper land rover one properly fitted with seat belts - Lancaster insurance had no issue with it? And to be honest, I much prefer my child sitting in a car seat, belted in, inside a roll cage in the back of a one and a half tone lump of metal, rather than lolling about beltless in the back of a wooden car!!! lol

I thought land rovers were quite solid???

Arthurdaily said:

I thought land rovers were quite solid???

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they were but then about a week after they leave the factory the tin worm gets hold of em

bobbler said:

they were but then about a week after they leave the factory the tin worm gets hold of em

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Thats a common misconception

Landrovers are built containing tin worm larve so that as soon as they leave the comfort of the showroom they begin to rot away. This allowed landrover to charge insane repair prices and essentially sell you two in one go