Scratch Built Defender

Has anyone built a Defender from new parts?
How does it stack up financially?
Been plotting a rebuild, and figure in this case I would end up with a new landy with a few old bits. May as well just build what I want using the best bits from over the years.

Chur

think there is a problem when you come to register it.

And it cost lost of ££££'s

iannotts said:

think there is a problem when you come to register it.

And it cost lost of ££££'s

Click to expand...

The reg rules here are quite a bit different to the SVA in the UK.

My logic is a 2010 Defender is going to have a better residual than a 1986 rebuild. (Despite there being feck all difference in price and parts when all said and done.) Ill have to look into it, but IIRC you can register a vehicle as new as long as you can prove the vast majority of parts are new.

Ta

Chur said:

How does it stack up financially?
Chur

Click to expand...

Badly I should imagine

To get a basic landy working - i suspect it is not that bad. BUT some things are bladdy expensive - for example new door cards can be in excess of £90 each - and you need 5 for a 110. The roof lining can cost an absolute bomb - i guess it depends if you want a van, or a 110 XS station wagon TDCI ? (which retails at just over £35k) - If you want a new basic 90 then this will set you back £19k

when i was looking for my 90, i looked at the idea of using a ****ed old 90 as a v5 and donor, then building it on a galv chassis with a disco 300 tdi and running gear with all new suspension.
Could always build with a td5?
Cost wise it was out of my bugget but not so crazy that its not worth looking at.
Old nakered 90 ( but good enough to use)-- 1000
Disco again need to be beeter than mot fail --1000
galv chassis ---1200
lots of other bits ---1500/2000

It will be far from new but could you get for 5k?

not forgetting you would make a little back on unused parts sold.

And not forgetting you are going to speed along time building it how you want it.

I suppose it's what you want to ultimately achieve.
To breathe life into a **** box (My 109V8) and continue to contend with ongoing gremlins, or start again and have a new car.

...................
Edit:

I suppose I just want somone to agree and tell me I'm not a complete mental for wanting to build a new one with a V8 or 300tdi :5bdrool5: as opposed to buying a TDCI one that everyone else has. Back to the old school of simple.

I was also thinking that if you want to seriously modify your LR, then you have already paid for suspension, bumpers, sills etc etc. surely if it's scratch built, the upgrade cost is less.

Spent far too long trying to justify this to myself!

Spose the sensible way to go is a new galvanised chassis and a new bulkhead then used parts for the rest just buying new bits like brakes, suspension. Depends how fussy you are with the bodywork. I'm about to start rebuilding my 110 on a new chassis basically using as much of the original vehicle as I can and replacing stuff as needed. A donor disco will provide engine etc and I don't envisage having spent any more than 2 grand including the chassis.

what the availability of parts like in NZ?

A 4x4 Is Born? Mark Evans, rings a bell! Got the dvds (sad ****)!

If you build one from scratch then, apart from the fun of the building, what have you got besides a new vehicle? A new one would probably be a lot cheaper. A better option, I would suggest, is to buy an MOT failure or write off and use it as a donor vehicle.

when i finally win big on the lotto am getting me a galv chassis and bulkhead and and spend a few months building a new defender using one of the 200s I've completely rebuilt

a reckon it'll cost me about 15k, seeing as I've already got just under half the parts needed already

beats airfix any day

there's no point being the richest man in the graveyard

I'm 18 years old, I have a small job doing 32hours a week, not major money but not bad for my age either, I have no commitments apart from my board. Being a teenager I'm spending my wages every month like theyre's no tomorrow, and with me and my dad being Landy Enthusiasts and me wanting a 90 for my first car. I've decided to build my own to get a 90 just how I want it and the prices are going up and I have a slight suspicion Landy's will end up worth alot more in years to come like the Ford Escort's...

I might aswell, it's a good way to learn and I'll enjoy the build, and what else is there to do? Go out and drink like the rest, nah, I'd rather turn up in a mint Defender and see there faces

So I'd say go for it!!!

awesome. see ya in a couple o years...

Yeah haha, I never said it was a quick project

quicker t get one n do a rebuild cheaper too cos you can keep stuff

Well to be honest I'm going to buy a Galv Chassis, and Bulkhead and maybe buy another Landy Project to build on it, but I'm just worried about Getting it 'Q' plated when I'm finished, with it having second hands bits and basically another Landy sat on top.

What you reckon?
-Todd

you can use the reg from the other landy

True, I'll shall have to see how it goes Financially... I've not given myself a time limit or budget just yet so only time will tell

I'll start a thread with my progress from start to finish