Project... Where to buy a cheap one to?

Hello,

I am keen to start a project on rebuilding a defender 90. I haven't yet for myself a Land Rover yet and this will be my first Landrover project.

So basically I am in need of one. I have been to visit a few that have been on ebay etc but have not found one that is in my price bracket. The last bloke who was selling one, had a few that he was rebuilding and said that he buys them for around £500 from 'another bloke' however he wouldn't shed any light on this 'bloke' other than he was a 4x4 breaker. So I figured that was what i needed, a 'bloke' who sells cheap projects. Unfortunately, to no avail have i found one.
So I though i would ask you guys in the hope I could be pointed in the right direction?
I live in dorset so ideally need to source from the south west. Although I do have the ability to travel if needs be.

I have a few thousand for the whole project so kind of want to spend less than £1000 on the actual landrover.


In addition, I have only ever messed about with small cars and my last project was an Austin 7 Ruby so considerably different to a Landy therefore I am very open to advice on anything to do with this new venture.

Cheers,

Jasper

What if anything are you gonna be able to use from a £500 bin?

Paid a bit more thank 1k for mine (88 200tdi) and that was in need of pretty major striptdown and rebuild. Did have full service history though
At least buying a project you'll have a better idea of what your getting and be less likely to unearth too many nasties although I'm still finding more issues as I go.

good luck with the search

potus said:

Paid a bit more thank 1k for mine (88 200tdi) and that was in need of pretty major striptdown and rebuild. Did have full service history though
At least buying a project you'll have a better idea of what your getting and be less likely to unearth too many nasties although I'm still finding more issues as I go.

good luck with the search

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Yep I found the more you strip it the more you find. Found a lot more than I thought I was going to on my project.
Just got to bite the bullet and do them while it's in bits and nice and easy.

I only paid £350 for my 90, bought as a non runner with a 2.5 petrol, bought a coil and battery, turned the key and she fired up almost instantly even with 1 year old fuel. Had to play with some electricals, brake lights, indicators etc... And put a new passenger footwell in and it passed the mot second time. (Failed on and insecure brake pipe, needed clipping back in on the bulkhead :lol: and a bit of welding the size of a 10p on the tow bracket, I think ultimately bargains come down to who you know. But there certainly isn't always a lost cause with a sub £500 vehicle.

I managed to find a 200tdi defender 110 station wagon on a galvanised chassis for £1200, needed a fair bit of work but it is now mot'd and on the road as a running repair for less than £2000

Cheers guys, the guy I spoke to did defenders up and sold them as 'tidy landrovers', he'd strip them right down etc, but it has been his winter job for quite a long time so obviously has he resources so is able to take on pretty rough ones.
I am looking for one that is a non runner so am expecting problems but i've got time to spend so an not overly worried on what i find.

Would it be better if i were to buy things individually i.e shell, engine and gearbox all separately and rebuild it that way?

Have a drive around the countryside and see of you can see an old farm hack that's being used as a temporary hen house at the back of a yard. You will probably get it cheap but there's no guarantee as to how much it would cost to put it right

Your better off buying a half finished project with a few good bits on.... But the bottom line is you usually can't build one for less than you can buy it, I know with mine I couldn't build it for the price I paid

It may be an idea to have a look on the facebook pages, if you have a profile that is. At the moment there are a few cheap ones going on the south west page.

MR BFG said:

It may be an idea to have a look on the facebook pages, if you have a profile that is. At the moment there are a few cheap ones going on the south west page.

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I have had a look but there seem to be quite a few pages. Whats the link to is as that will get me to the one you are talking about.

Cheers

Think you'd have to be lucky to find something at that price that could be mot'ed and reliable but they do exist, friend of a friend etc might be the best way, for instance, a friend of my friend has a 90 under a tarp round the back of his property, few bits missing but would be a nice one with a little work, so many projects he may never get it done, must be loads around like that.
My rolling project cost me £2500 and I've spent double that on it in 3 months and I'm nowhere near finished, costs mount up although most parts are cheap.
One such item on mine was the timing cover gasket that was badly leaking oil, £2.46 to buy, took the engine out to find many other leaks so replaced every gasket and seal but obviously while it's out I fitted new clutch, timing belt kit, the odd hose, all the fluids, radiator as that was shot, battery, few bushes and drop links etc etc, before I knew it I'd spent the cost of the vehicle but it's awesome now, not one oil drip from anywhere and drives great, now onto galvanised chassis and bulkhead, seat box, suspension etc etc haha, good luck and hope you manage to find one

I wouldn't care whether it was mot'ed or reliable as i intend to strip it right down and rectify everything that I come across and rebuild it as I want. Add uniqueness to it... If you get what I mean.
So literally looking for a banger. Even possibly a write off.

My experience with projects:

Cheap = expensive
Expensive = cheap

You gotta find something in between and i would leave the cheapest ones be (maybe for spares). People that sell those things very cheap also know very well whats wrong with them, but won't always tell you. You'll be in for a few surprises for sure. Keep in mind that body work, welding, painting etc can become costly. Here in Holland a second hand engine will set you back between a 1000 and 1500 euro and then i'm talking about a 2.5na. transferbox, 250 euro etc etc. If i were you i would buy something that actually runs and doesn't make any funny noises

anyway good luck looking for one, that's half the fun

There are bargains about... just keep your eyes open.

Paid £700 for my Diesel 110 with galv chassis and £500 for my petrol 110 which needed a new distributor before it would run.

On the other hand my sis paid £2000 for her 90 which needed a new rear crossmember, a new fuel tank and the bulkhead welded.

nesponge said:

There are bargains about... just keep your eyes open.

Paid £700 for my Diesel 110 with galv chassis and £500 for my petrol 110 which needed a new distributor before it would run.

On the other hand my sis paid £2000 for her 90 which needed a new rear crossmember, a new fuel tank and the bulkhead welded.

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Thats crazy. Was is a case of 'who you knew' or did you just find them on sites like ebay?

Jasper are you the guy we spoke to at Skegness water leasure?
He showed me a picture of an austin 7 he did up and liked the look of my defender.

Flet said:

Jasper are you the guy we spoke to at Skegness water leasure?
He showed me a picture of an austin 7 he did up and liked the look of my defender.

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Can't say I've ever been to skegness so pretty sure it wasn't.

My advice would be to find a £2000 late 80s with a MOT and use the rest for maintenance and improvements. You don't want to buy something you can't appreciate right from the start.

Defender90fan said:

My advice would be to find a £2000 late 80s with a MOT and use the rest for maintenance and improvements. You don't want to buy something you can't appreciate right from the start.

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Well the thing is, I've got another month till i get my first years no claims so won't be insuring before then, plus breaking my neck and back will prevent me having fun for at least another 2 so i've got a bit of time on my hands...
I have come across a late 80's one with a few months mot but i highly doubt it will pass the next time. I think i could get it for £1500 but am a tad worried its been bodged about a bit.