Hi, I'm fairly new to this have just acquired a 1974 2dr RR which is actually in quite nice condition, but is a bit like a licourice allsort.
I dont know too much about the RR, or Landrovers in general. but I have a 1974 carte grise (french log book), the body looks right for this year, the engine may be, but it has an auto gearbox - (ok this may have been swapped later in life), the chassis seems to be excellent which is a surprise for a 36 year old car, and generally I'm very impressed.
Before I get too involved I intend to change all the fluids and give it a general service, run it for a while and see how it goes, but I am in two minds about how far to go - my pal and I both think that on the face of it this is as good a basis as you could find for a full restoration, if I go this route I m thinking I could be biting of an enormous piece of cake that will leave me floundering, but if I just keep it tidy I would be for ever wishing I had gone for a quality restoration - any advice from anyone who has been in this position before?
Secondly - the thing that really bugs me - At some point it has had some strange dashboard fitted - I have done some searching on the web and found Wood and Pickett - it looks like this, but I understood Wood and Picket to be quality improvements, this doesnt really have that feel, under the leather it is just fiberglass, and the wood is the thinest of veneers on marine ply - It's strange, it seems like too much effort for DIY and not really cutting the mustard for an expensive aftermarket job - anyway to the point - where is the best place to find a dash, and although I would like a period one if it comes to it what years will fit? to complicate it further I'm in France and the car is LHD!
Any takers?
All the best.
I dont know too much about the RR, or Landrovers in general. but I have a 1974 carte grise (french log book), the body looks right for this year, the engine may be, but it has an auto gearbox - (ok this may have been swapped later in life), the chassis seems to be excellent which is a surprise for a 36 year old car, and generally I'm very impressed.
Before I get too involved I intend to change all the fluids and give it a general service, run it for a while and see how it goes, but I am in two minds about how far to go - my pal and I both think that on the face of it this is as good a basis as you could find for a full restoration, if I go this route I m thinking I could be biting of an enormous piece of cake that will leave me floundering, but if I just keep it tidy I would be for ever wishing I had gone for a quality restoration - any advice from anyone who has been in this position before?
Secondly - the thing that really bugs me - At some point it has had some strange dashboard fitted - I have done some searching on the web and found Wood and Pickett - it looks like this, but I understood Wood and Picket to be quality improvements, this doesnt really have that feel, under the leather it is just fiberglass, and the wood is the thinest of veneers on marine ply - It's strange, it seems like too much effort for DIY and not really cutting the mustard for an expensive aftermarket job - anyway to the point - where is the best place to find a dash, and although I would like a period one if it comes to it what years will fit? to complicate it further I'm in France and the car is LHD!
Any takers?
All the best.
and be blowed if i can remember at the moment about the entire swop over of dash but the dash binnacle and dash top are interchangable rhd to lhd,typical rover tightarse measures
