Hello,

I don’t have a Land Rover yet. I am seeking guidance to help me decide whether and if so, which to buy.

Our car has been a Morris Traveller for the last 14 years. I maintain and repair that including having removed and replaced the engine, suspension components and brake lines. I am by no means an engineer but am a reasonably competent home mechanic. I am used to ongoing maintenance rather than a single service every 6,000 miles, is required in respect of most modern cars.

We live within the M25, which is increasingly moving towards being an area where owning a pre-2000 diesel vehicle is becoming more and more difficult and expensive. The current London mayor wants to extend the planned inner-London emission zone to cover the whole area within the M25. I have had to have a diesel particulate filter fitted to our 2000 diesel VW Transporter at a high cost and it has to have an additional emissions test each year.

We intend keeping our Morris Traveller for ever – well until I lose my marbles. I am considering buying a late, long wheel-base, series III station-wagon with a 2.25 litre, 5 bearing Land-Rover petrol engine. It does not have to look pretty. I believe I can afford a structurally and mechanically good one. However my knowledge of Land Rovers is very limited. Therefore I would be very grateful for any opinions and guidance:-

Might I find one in ambulance type format with a petrol engine?

What is an achievable cruising speed for long runs?

I am expecting it to achieve around 20 mpg. Is that reasonable?

Should I consider one with a V8 engine?

Is LPG conversion

Where should I source it?



Nick Hooper

Welcome to the forum, basically early land rovers are like mechano as everything bolts on and off assuming that the bolts aren't seized
Cruising speed is probably around 50 ish depending upon tyre choice and how much noise you can stand.
The thing with lpg is are you going to do the mileage to recoup the costs? Probably worth it if you go the v8 route or better still buy one with it already installed.
As for where to source one try LRO.COM or the usual Gumtree and eBay.
Last bit of advice, take your post code out of your location as you're advertising where you live a bit too precisely

I'd say 45mph, if the wind is behind you! And it probably wouldn't be doing 20 mpg, although that does depend on the engine and a few other things.

LPG is fairly easy to fit by a relatively experienced home mechanic , but you'll want to get I signed off by someone for insurance and personal peace of mind!

Good luck!

I'd say go for one and v8 it, or buy a well converted one. A decently maintained v8 will give between 16-24 ish mpg (my old man did a run to Toulouse and back in a carbed 3.5 v8 rrc and got 25mpg)! You fo have to be careful with the right foot though!

First thing to do is drive a couple as its not for everyone.
Then answers as above.
I had a SWB it looked great but was terrible on long journeys so changed it for a Disco as it suited our needs better, its all down to what you can afford / want to spend.
Repairs are easy but bigger heavier so big socket set and a trolly jack the rest is easy as loads of help on here.