1955 Land Rover....any advice?

There's a '55 short wheel base Land Rover with a "For Sale" sign on it;
just down the road from me. I'm tempted (haven't had one since about
1970). Any advice? Anything in particular I should watch out for? Thanks.

stude-ious wrote:

> There's a '55 short wheel base Land Rover with a "For Sale" sign on
> it; just down the road from me. I'm tempted (haven't had one since
> about 1970). Any advice? Anything in particular I should watch out
> for? Thanks.

Let's see...

Rotten chassis

Rotten bulkhead

Rotten anything steel

If it's been sitting a while then the tyres could be brittle.

If it's a soft top then the tilt cover and tilt poles could be in
questionable condition.


All of the above is easily fixable with the generous application of
folding pictures of the Queen.

It's a 50 year old car - It'll have worn a bit.

When all's said and done there's next to nothing can permanantly kill
one of these if it's reasonably straight.

P.

"stude-ious" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> There's a '55 short wheel base Land Rover with a "For Sale" sign on it;
> just down the road from me. I'm tempted (haven't had one since about
> 1970). Any advice? Anything in particular I should watch out for? Thanks.
>

Age related rot and poor mechanical condition for starters.
If in absolutely original and fairly good mechanical condition then it is an
enthusiastic showman's dream machine. Modifying something like this is now
becoming similar to sacrilege.

Huw

"Huw" <hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "stude-ious" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> There's a '55 short wheel base Land Rover with a "For Sale" sign on it;
>> just down the road from me. I'm tempted (haven't had one since about
>> 1970). Any advice? Anything in particular I should watch out for? Thanks.
>>
>
> Age related rot and poor mechanical condition for starters.
> If in absolutely original and fairly good mechanical condition then it is
> an enthusiastic showman's dream machine. Modifying something like this is
> now becoming similar to sacrilege.
>
> Huw

Hmmm... So it's not like the 'old days' then? Coil it and stick V8 in? And
some Rangey diffs if you can find some... And a Fairey overdive (or a
Bearmach if you're poor...)

Simon H

"Simon H" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Huw" <hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> "stude-ious" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>> There's a '55 short wheel base Land Rover with a "For Sale" sign on it;
>>> just down the road from me. I'm tempted (haven't had one since about
>>> 1970). Any advice? Anything in particular I should watch out for?
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>
>> Age related rot and poor mechanical condition for starters.
>> If in absolutely original and fairly good mechanical condition then it is
>> an enthusiastic showman's dream machine. Modifying something like this is
>> now becoming similar to sacrilege.
>>
>> Huw
>
> Hmmm... So it's not like the 'old days' then? Coil it and stick V8 in?
> And some Rangey diffs if you can find some... And a Fairey overdive (or a
> Bearmach if you're poor...)
>
> Simon H
>

I would keep it original. If you follow the classic tractor and plant market
then you will know that prices have rocketed. A 1962 Roadless Ford Dexta in
shabby condition both cosmetically and mechanically, recently sold locally
for around £19500. Any Ford 5000 and especially 7000 tractors, which sold by
the gross only back in the '70's are now like gold dust and tidy examples
sell for between £5000 and £12000. They cost between £2500 and £3000 new in
their 1975.
I expect that, if the economy doesn't crash, that classic vehicles that are
fairly rare like the LR will follow the same path, if they have not already
done so. They don't make 'em any more you see.

Huw

>
> Rotten chassis
>
> Rotten bulkhead
>
> Rotten anything steel
>
Rotten aluminium
Rotten Canvas
Rotten rubber.......................

Hmmm;
I crawled all over it, and under it, and there is some frame rot (and some
frame repairs). I understand that the frame rust seems to be a typical
condition.....are frame repair parts available? The outriggers seem to
have the most rust on this one.
Overall, the vehicle seems straight, and quite complete. Owner claims that
the engine is recently rebuilt.
How much do these vehicles sell for? He's asking $7000 Canadian for this
one. (I got $300 for the '56 I sold in 1970!)

"stude-ious" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hmmm;
> I crawled all over it, and under it, and there is some frame rot (and some
> frame repairs). I understand that the frame rust seems to be a typical
> condition.....are frame repair parts available? The outriggers seem to
> have the most rust on this one.

Parts are available and most chassis parts can be fabricated locally anyhow.

> Overall, the vehicle seems straight, and quite complete. Owner claims that
> the engine is recently rebuilt.
> How much do these vehicles sell for? He's asking $7000 Canadian for this
> one. (I got $300 for the '56 I sold in 1970!)
>

What they sell for is locally dependant. Also it depends on the seller's
marketing skill ;-)
I do not know whether there is a strong market for vintage equipment in the
USA and Canada as in the UK but suspect it is being lifted by the demand
over here. I say this because there is a fairly steady trade in Canadian
tractors being exported to the UK which must underline the security and
value of the market over there. I suspect strongly that a S1 in fairly
original condition is a rare beast indeed in Canada. Are there vintage shows
and rallies over there, where you could proudly display such a vehicle?

Huw

On 2005-09-24, stude-ious <[email protected]> wrote:

> There's a '55 short wheel base Land Rover with a "For Sale" sign on it;
> just down the road from me. I'm tempted (haven't had one since about
> 1970). Any advice? Anything in particular I should watch out for? Thanks.

Also, try alt.fan.landrover if you've not already done so, lots of
landy-specific knowledge in there. Also google for series 1 club,
there's bound to be U.S. or Canadian members on the list which might
help you find parts closer to you than Britain!


--
For every expert, there is an equal but opposite expert

"stude-ious" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> There's a '55 short wheel base Land Rover with a "For Sale" sign on it;
> just down the road from me. I'm tempted (haven't had one since about
> 1970). Any advice? Anything in particular I should watch out for? Thanks.

I bought a 1956 ragtop swb in 1993. It's now completely restored to 'off
road' condition.

Took me until 2002 to complete. Late nights, pain and lot's of welding...

worth it though

Clive

"Clive" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "stude-ious" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> There's a '55 short wheel base Land Rover with a "For Sale" sign on it;
>> just down the road from me. I'm tempted (haven't had one since about
>> 1970). Any advice? Anything in particular I should watch out for? Thanks.
>
> I bought a 1956 ragtop swb in 1993. It's now completely restored to 'off
> road' condition.
>
> Took me until 2002 to complete. Late nights, pain and lot's of welding...
>
> worth it though
>
> Clive

How much of it is 'original'?

Simon H

"Simon H" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Clive" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> "stude-ious" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>> There's a '55 short wheel base Land Rover with a "For Sale" sign on it;
>>> just down the road from me. I'm tempted (haven't had one since about
>>> 1970). Any advice? Anything in particular I should watch out for?
>>> Thanks.
>>
>> I bought a 1956 ragtop swb in 1993. It's now completely restored to 'off
>> road' condition.
>>
>> Took me until 2002 to complete. Late nights, pain and lot's of welding...
>>
>> worth it though
>>
>> Clive
>
> How much of it is 'original'?
>
> Simon H
Windscreen, Engine, axles, G/Box (although all re-worked) are original. Most
body panels replaced.

All wiring was replaced

Chassis had all outriggers replaced, but it was in not bad condition

Clive