1972 land rover lightweight

[Andy BB]

Great work there, keep the updates coming please.




Nope i agree Andy, they're terrible terrible cars, unreliable, uncomfortable, terrible mpg, no mechanical grip on road, but still enough grip to show up the brakes which are even worse.
The interior layout from the "throw switched as the dash and we'll fit them where they land" design club, try winding your window down while driving
Dangerous on motorways due to it's instability and lack of top speed, in fact dangerous pretty much anywhere, add to that pretty much the worse driving experience this side of balancing a tea tray on the top of a pregnant water buffalo, on ice on a boat in rough seas.
They're not even THAT good off-road as stock compared to modern equivalents.

They're certainly a buy where your heart doesn't just override your mind it pretty much puts it into a coma.

But then if you speak to most folks they think that spending the night in a cold dark forest is insanity as well, so we all have our own little "land rover" type things, sometimes logic and common sense just needs to take a back seat in favour of doing something you love.

Thing is, I can live with the rest - it has a certain quaint charm!. But the engines.......Hell, you could put an MZ 250 two-stroke engine in and it would be a better vehicle!

 

[Imagedude]

Thing is, I can live with the rest - it has a certain quaint charm!. But the engines.......Hell, you could put an MZ 250 two-stroke engine in and it would be a better vehicle!

You'd hate the 80hp 2.5 tonne G-Waggons then!

 

[Imagedude]

Nope i agree Andy, they're terrible terrible cars, unreliable, uncomfortable, terrible mpg, no mechanical grip on road, but still enough grip to show up the brakes which are even worse.
The interior layout from the "throw switched as the dash and we'll fit them where they land" design club, try winding your window down while driving
Dangerous on motorways due to it's instability and lack of top speed, in fact dangerous pretty much anywhere, add to that pretty much the worse driving experience this side of balancing a tea tray on the top of a pregnant water buffalo, on ice on a boat in rough seas.
They're not even THAT good off-road as stock compared to modern equivalents.

The above is wrong on so many levels, as a Hilux owner and one time LR owner I'll add a few comments.

1) Reliability. There were numerous issues with the old 3 bearing diesels and later 5 bearing versions but the petrols (excluding the V8) and later diesels have proved capable of high mileages when properly maintained. Transmission components can be problematic but can also give good service if maintained well and used by a competent driver.
2) Comfort. Drove them for years both military and civilian. Never had a problem but found that the County seats were a great improvement over the older 2 piece seats. Heavy clutch can be an issue for some people. Bench seats in rear are not the most comfortable form of seating. Heaters have a well deserved poor reputation in the pre TD5 models.
3) MPG. No worse than the Landcruisers, Jeeps or G-Wagons I've used. About 20% worse than my Hilux but that's a much lighter road orientated vehicle.
4) Grip. Poor on tarmack when using knobbly tyres, much better when using road tyres but never as good as a dedicated road car. Most issues are caused by drivers failing to modify their driving style. The latest £300K V12 G-Wagons do not handle any better yet Mercedes are happy to fit 700BHP engines. There's a reason F1 cars do not use live beam axles, they are not noted for their handling prowess! My 2002 Hilux is marginally better at handling than my Series 3 LR but not much.
5) Brakes got better over the years but it's never easy bringing a tall, heavy vehicle to a halt on off-road tyres. Modern LRs have ABS and were the first 4x4s to offer this feature.
6) Interior. An aquired taste. I valleted a Hilux and a LR last week. I used a vacuum cleaner on the Hilux and a pressure washer on the LR. If you can't use a pressure washer inside a 4x4 it's a poor design.
7) Dangerous on motorways due to instabillity and low speed? No, dangerous due to lack of driving skills and impatience? Yes.
8) Off road. In most situations there is nothing better and very few others even come close. Vehicles with cross axle diff locks have advantages in snow/ice conditions but the new LR traction control negates this advantage in most situations.

I've noticed that in the last 10 years nearly all of my local farmers have gone back to using Land Rovers. They say that this is due to the modern pickups being SUVs rather than true working vehicles and though more reliable than the LRs, the LRs proved to be cheaper to run over their working lives.

 

[ghound]

An old series thats been rebuilt is a fine truck to drive, though i find them more fun in the summer months especially with the roof off.
One of my past favourites was this ex-mil 109, and i have another bought!!

here's some more pics of my previous trucks

ex-mill 90

series 2a with 1 owner from new!

this years series 3 summer hack

300tdi 90, which was a blast off road

 

[dp0001]

OOOOF! my first vehicle was a lightweight landy, license FCK895Y if any one happens across it now,

From:
https://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/app/enquiry?execution=e2s1

Looks like it's been offroad (in the sense of untaxed) since 1997

[h=1]Vehicle enquiry[/h]
The enquiry is complete.The vehicle details for FCK 895Y are:

Date of Liability	01 07 1997
Date of First Registration	20 07 1983
Year of Manufacture	1974
Cylinder Capacity (cc)	2286cc
CO2 Emissions	Not Available
Fuel Type	HEAVY OIL
Export Marker	N
Vehicle Status	Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour	GREEN
Vehicle Type Approval	Not Available

 

[Retired Member southey]

Yup, I never got it on the road, sold it to a chap from the dog section at Middle wallop

 

[Minotaur]

There someone running round by us in a perfect lightweight. Stared at it for twenty minutes drooling. Also seen what looked like a perfect 101.

Come on seven numbers.

 

[Timinoz]

May I say what an amazing job you have done. This is just what I need for my 1978 Series iii Lightweight. Please advise me of the cost for one of these vent panels. I need to ship to Australia but can arrange collection if preferred.
Tim

 

[andrewjsimpson1977]

May I say what an amazing job you have done. This is just what I need for my 1978 Series iii Lightweight. Please advise me of the cost for one of these vent panels. I need to ship to Australia but can arrange collection if preferred.
Tim

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but are you still making these restored vent panels?

I am new to the site - so I should introduce myself - I'm Andy - currently restoring a series 2a lightweight that is fairly rotten.

Would be very much interested in ordering one of your vent panels if they price favourably compared to new!

Best regards,

Andy