MICK 56
Legendary Knight
Proper Land Rover.LANDROVER
GAY LANDROVER
Halfords Trade
- Thread starter Sarky B’stard
- Start date
My guess is that it wasn't made in the past 10yrs Mick.
The older models are far more reliable than the modern stuff.
I went overland to the Sahara in a mid 90's Discovery. We took a load of tools & spares but it never missed a beat in nearly 1 month of daily use
MICK 56
Legendary Knight
It was about 1995 ish, and got hammered a fair bit too. That must have been some trip across the Sahara. An old school mate lives in Bahrain, and desert racing, dune climbing, is his hobby. Mad bastard that he is.My guess is that it wasn't made in the past 10yrs Mick.
The older models are far more reliable than the modern stuff.
I went overland to the Sahara in a mid 90's Discovery. We took a load of tools & spares but it never missed a beat in nearly 1 month of daily use
Just to clarify, we went to Morocco.
And dipped our toes into the Sahara for a few photos.
We didn't cross it Mick.
The trip gave me a new respect for older LR's. But probably not enough confidence to cross the Sahara desert in one mate
Sarky B’stard
Legendary Knight
Did similar in 1970 with a LWB Series II with a push up roof….. except we made it to Beni Abbes in Algeria and proper Beau Geste country with rolling dunes. I remember hitting a wind blown fine sand bar in the dark and taking off. No suspension damage 
MICK 56
Legendary Knight
You wouldn't want to do it on your own, in any motor. My old mate goes in convoys, and often needs help to get unstuck. even in area's that t he knows well. I don't see the attraction, but that's all they have. There ain't much mud out there, to play in.Just to clarify, we went to Morocco.
And dipped our toes into the Sahara for a few photos.
We didn't cross it Mick.
The trip gave me a new respect for older LR's. But probably not enough confidence to cross the Sahara desert in one mate
Big Sandy
Legendary Knight
Aye, though for simplicity the 200tdi was a bit easier to play with. You can run the 300 without all the electrics too, but the 200 seems to be better to fuel.
If you take a 200tdi, and fit it into a series it's a good conversion. Many run as a non turbo, which makes them pretty much bombproof. They are all getting long in the tooth now though. And like everything else constant maintenance is the key.
Seen the price of a lightweight now? Especially the early S2A versions? I'd have one, but I don't fit in them the same.... Same with the 101fc, struggle to get into the driving seat, usually I break the indicator stalk off!
Don the Don
Legendary Knight
The 200TDI was easier to modify than the 300TDI but both where good in my mind, we had some that ran on multifuel [Diesel & Avtur] and even the Americans had a few for the same purpose, all went down hill after the 300TDI as far as I am concerned
MICK 56
Legendary Knight
My old man bought this S2A Diesel, from an ex serviceman officer, who went with it on several overseas postings. It sat in a collapsed, overgrown, wooden shed for 20yrs or so, and came with a box full of paperwork, of where it had been, and any work done on it. The old man totally restored it, but soon sold it, because it was so uncomfortable to drive. I cant find the "after" photo's at the moment.
Big Sandy
Legendary Knight
Aye, the fourtrak engine, and also the Ford Oxford (or Cambridge, can never remember) out of the crapri was a good conversion.
The worst ever engine I ever experienced in a series was a transit 2.3 diesel oh Godz, send it a letter.
On the subject of off road ability, I remember years ago Mahindra jeep having a launch day and off road experience at Culzean. They were bumming this jeep up, how wonderful it was... My mate turns up in a beat up old 2cv, and reversed it round the course they had set out. Don't think they sold many Mahindra that day.
The worst ever engine I ever experienced in a series was a transit 2.3 diesel oh Godz, send it a letter.
On the subject of off road ability, I remember years ago Mahindra jeep having a launch day and off road experience at Culzean. They were bumming this jeep up, how wonderful it was... My mate turns up in a beat up old 2cv, and reversed it round the course they had set out. Don't think they sold many Mahindra that day.
MICK 56
Legendary Knight
I think you are talking about the Ford Essex, 3ltr V6 engine. I stuck one in a MK 1 Cortina. A bit lively.
MICK 56
Legendary Knight
Yours looks really nice in green. Has it got the overdrive box ? What is the origin of those roof racks ? My old man's was the only one i had seen, until i just saw yours. Were they a Land Rover part, or added by the military ?
chas
Legendary Knight
There was a conversion with Essex blocks fitted into (MkII) Cortinas called a Savage iirc.I think you are talking about the Ford Essex, 3ltr V6 engine. I stuck one in a MK 1 Cortina. A bit lively.
Mate had an Essex fitted to his SIII and reckoned it better than the ubiquitous V8 Rover conversion as the Essex is a similar weight to the original block so the suspension sits level rather than nose high (V8 is lighter) and the Essex is a 60 degree vee rather than 90 so working on it once installed is easier.
MICK 56
Legendary Knight
I once spent about an hour, talking to Jeff Uren, the bloke that made the Savages. The first one, he made for himself, to tow a caravan. It had the 2.5ltr, mk4 Zephyr, ( later,Consul) engine in it. The first ones that he sold, and named the Savage, had the Granada/ Capri 3ltr. lump. They were all under geared, though, as they kept the original gearbox and diff.. ( Later versions had the Corsair 200E box, and Lotus diff ) Good towing cars. But flat out was just 110mph. He also made the Comanche, which was a mk1 Escort, and the Stampede, a Capri with a 351 Cleveland V8 in it. He said the Comanche needed the floorpan and engine bay, reinforcing, because in twisted a bit when he stamped on the throttle. He had a mad bastard working for him, who volunteered as a test driver.. There was a series of bends nearby, with shallow ditches, and sturdy hedges. Jeff would park his breakdown truck, up, and wait for matey to come screaming around the bend, then stamp on it. Which would often flick it into the ditch. He would drag it out, and tow it back to the workshop, to add another brace or 2 to stop it flexing
I met a bloke at a show, many years ago, who had twin overhead cam heads on 3ltr Savage. He reckoned it went like a stabbed rat. I cant remember who made them, but i do remember they weren't cheap.
Big Sandy
Legendary Knight
Essex. That's the one. Knew it was summat dahn sarf.I think you are talking about the Ford Essex, 3ltr V6 engine. I stuck one in a MK 1 Cortina. A bit lively.
Big Sandy
Legendary Knight
It was an after market one, sold by paddocks (and others). Proper ones were made by a company called Brownchurch.
Some went the length of the roof, then over the bonnet, supported by legs from the bumper. Interesting when loaded!
Yes, mine has the Fairey overdrive. Very handy... And not a screamer like many.
5brg 2.25d, which I rebuilt about 3 years, ago.
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