Hi again all. Thought I would give you an update since you were all kind enough to spend time giving me your input!
Had a good rummage around the vehicle today. There are a lot of positives:
- Chassis is solid, only very light surface rust (in my unprofessional opinion - certainly no flaking, no holes, everything robust to my diligent prodding). Sadly it was only waxoiled once, and some years ago, otherwise it might have been even better. Good job it was mostly stored inside!
- Bulkhead is solid (but not galv), no holes, no real rust to speak of.
- Engine started without pause and runs like a dream (from cold - and it was bloody cold!).
- Engine is cleaner than my kitchen
- VIN numbers match. All good.
- Immobiliser fitted and working.
Now the not ideal:
- Carpets in footwells were wet through - it's only been outside for a few days so this suggests there is water ingress, maybe through the vent flaps or windscreen? Felt a bit more than just condensation to me, but I could be wrong. Left for too long and the currently solid footwells will start to do what land rovers do...
- Ceiling cover in back has detached and was hanging from the light fittings - not a real issue to sort but harder to poke the ceiling behind. However, roof looked solid from above.
- Bit of a dent in the bit shown in the picture (below where the exhaust bends up on the right). Don't know if this matters.
- Very small amount of rust spots round door bottoms and sills, and a tiny bit on the A pillars - way less than most others I have seen, but not initially visible on the auction pictures.
- a 110 from down the road was fairly recently nicked and not recovered - the bastards never stop! Used a pickup or flatbed of some kind and buggered off with it. Doesn't affect this vehicle at all, it just enrages me!
Nothing that screamed alarm bells (happy to be told I am wrong - I am here to learn!). However, these minor things, coupled with the exterior mods that have changed the overall feel of the vehicle, the high price (which, at the moment, doesn't sound too flexible) and - in no small part - the lukewarm reception here, have swayed me against going ahead. I might rethink if the price drops, but until then I am still searching!
Thanks all