Defenders

[Janne]

Solution: Smaller steering wheel, placed a couple of cm's towards the middle. Seat, pedals the same movement. The large wheel is a hangover from when they had no power assist I imagine.
The first one had the steering wheel in the middle, which I would love!

The brand new one I bought recently, I will do some modifications to. Can not move anything, but I do have a left over s. wheel (MotoLita) I never fitted to the Bristol.

But first I need to finish the G. Got the second bill today. USD 20K, Engine, gearbox and associated bits.

 

[baggins]

Interesting chat on the radio yesterday,
Some chap apparently trying to buy the rights to the defender to carry on building them. Hope it comes to fruition, although it wouldn't be the first time someone has tried to take it on. I'm sure Tata will charge big money for the rights, jigs etc.
Janne, i did have a smaller wheel fitted to one of my old 110s, it did indeed make for a little more room, but was a bugger to steer on deeply rutted tracks.

 

[Janne]

I read that too. His estimate was around UKP 35 000 or so, and I believe it when I see it.

I guess he gets the State and investors to invest big bucks, then the project folds.
Seen it before.

 

[petrochemicals]

On that basis why not start making them, all the spares will be avaliable for years to come, no speciqlist tools, a hammer and a pop riveter, bit of tape, jobs a goodun. Sell em for 35 grand. You could live quite well if you make 15 grand per car.

 

[Janne]

Getting a suitable engine that is approved will not be easy and will be quite expensive.

If somebody wants a brand new Defender (-clone) you can get the Turkish Otakar .

Edit: forgot the Spanish Santana, if they are still made?

 

[gonzo_the_great]

There was a company locally (well local to where I was living at the time), who would buy up nearly new Range Rovers, and transplant the whole thing over onto an old chassis. This was to get around some import taxes/rules for Japan, by importing what is in effect a nearly new car as 10-15yrs old.
This was in the days when all Range Rovers were of the design, which they later called 'Classic'. And they were just big Meccano kits.

 

[Zingmo]

Last I heard, Santana were bought by Fiat. They had some interesting mods on the Santana like selectable 4WD and a moulded plastic roof.

Z

 

[baggins]

there was an importer for the newer Santanas near me for a while. Took one out, was nice, 2.8 Iveco diesel, more space inside for the driver. But, they kept the leaf springs all round which made for a very choppy ride. The importer only lasted a couple of years and barely sold any. Still the odd one on auto trader.

 

[Janne]

Wikitalestells us the company went bust in 2011.

So no hardcore 4x4 left .....
One where your dog can puke, the game bleed and you do not care you just stepped in a horse extrement just before boarding it!

 

[baggins]

you mean you don't let your dog pee on the back seat of your 100k+ range rover, with more gadgets than a space shuttle????

 

[Janne]

Weirdly enough, I have never owned a Range Rover. Fabulous cars, but I have always preferred to spend that kind of money on a fast two seater.