Looking at a Series IIA

[jgkmmoore]

Worth it?

Good friend of mine bought his '65 (88")IIa, really nice outward appearance, and fairly good mechanical, for $4500. Great frame and bulkhead.Great interior with back jumpseats Had been parked for 10+ years tho.
Had to do right off- New rear diff after 100 miles. Prolly $500 incl labor
New tires. Old ones looked great, but were rotten from sitting. $700
New clutch master and slave, and some brake components- $300
Tuneup and change all fluids- $300 (shop did tune).
So, if your considered truck presents with all that stuff good, it's worth $5500-6000 if it's usable as a daily driver. You can fix the bulkhead at leisure, and the frame can easily be patched reasonably by a good fab person (who can do the bulkhead too) with new parts. Your call.
Best- Jeff
There will be other issues tho. But the dang things run forever.

[jgkmmoore]

P.S.

That truck has a very nice body for a LR Series. Panels look really straight. Once it gets bent, it's hard to get it straight again unless you know a very talented bodyman that specializes in old aluminum, and works for beer money. I'd not take this truck into the deep woods unless there was a decent road.
Most bodywork on these is fairly spendy, so this truck holds it's worth in the 'straight body' department nicely. It could be a real 'fancypants' LR. Already IS handsome. Nice find
Regards-Jeff

[mongoswede]

I bought my series III 88" 2 years ago for $2500. The bulkhead and frame were ugly but it came with a bunch of good parts and a clean rolling chassis from a Discovery. As of now I found another frame and repaired it. I just picked up a nice bulkhead to use. So a lot of labor hours on my part and the truck is getting closer to being whole again. In my book if the bulkhead needs work and the frame needs work or is bad thats an easy $3000 to $4000 in parts and labor if you do everything yourself...more if you are paying someone.

[NickDawson]

Interesting, I know of that shop and hear quite good things. I've not met him but know several rover owning friends who have and speak highly. I' ask candidly about the miss-matched body panels.

During my search, I was focused on series IIIs, but if I knew then what I know now, and had seen that truck, I'd have taken a good hard look for $6K and might take a gamble for $4K.

-N

[albersj51]

Don't get me wrong, Tony was great. Took a lot of time and showed me a lot of stuff about Rovers. I asked about the fender and he didn't know since he got from a family where the owner died. He thinks it's a Series III fender top.

[Wander]

Don't get me wrong, Tony was great. Took a lot of time and showed me a lot of stuff about Rovers. I asked about the fender and he didn't know since he got from a family where the owner died. He thinks it's a Series III fender top.

That might answer my question about why it's back on the market so soon. Sad way for that to happen. If this is the rover I saw before, the shop it came from seems to do a lot of newer wing replacements on older series trucks. I've seen a lot of the 4 headlight mods come from that shop. The old solid front wings from older IIa's are very hard to find but newer series III and defender wings are not. There does seem to be a decent selection of series trucks in the Asheville area so you probably can be picky. If you like that one and are ok with the work to be done but don't feel it's worth the asking price make a fair offer, they can only say no.

[albersj51]

Tony said the guy who owned it hadn't driven it in several years and the brakes and clutch were not workig, so it's probably not the same rover.

[NC_Mule]

Don't get me wrong, Tony was great. Took a lot of time and showed me a lot of stuff about Rovers. I asked about the fender and he didn't know since he got from a family where the owner died. He thinks it's a Series III fender top.

Are you in the western NC area? I'm in Boone not far from Asheville. If you decide to pass on this Rover and come across others in the area I'll be glad to go look over the truck with you. Sometimes having another set of ears and eyes can be very helpful when checking out a vehicle.
pb

[albersj51]

NC_Mule: thanks man, I really appreciate that! Still trying to decide about this truck. My buddy and I can probably do all of the body work, but I wonder if I wait if something better will come along. How often to these pop up on the market? Also, how important is it to haw the Feirey OD?

[Wander]

You should go see what Sean has at Blue Ridge Rovers Works as well then. It's a good idea to look at several if you can. The OD is a big plus if you are driving it on anything resembling a modern road. Mine does not and it makes me nervouse when I'm dring it to work on the 4 lane and I feel like I'm pushing it too hard. I'd also like to take it to the beach or to Uwharrie for one of the meets but the idea of a multi hour trip at 55 with the engine working that hard sounds like a quick way to some heavey work-and/or early hearing loss.

[NC_Mule]

NC_Mule: thanks man, I really appreciate that! Still trying to decide about this truck. My buddy and I can probably do all of the body work, but I wonder if I wait if something better will come along. How often to these pop up on the market? Also, how important is it to haw the Feirey OD?

I don't have an overdrive on my 70 IIa, i'm in the mountains so the roads don't lend themselves to 55+ so I don't feel the need. At 55 the truck feels good but get much past 60 and I feel like I'm pushing it too hard. If your in an area where you will want to get above 60 I would get a truck with an OD. Don't pass up a nice truck w/out OD it can always be added, our hosts have a nice one for sale.
Did you see the 70 Series IIA in the Lynchburg VA craigslist?? It's a project someone can't finish, no pics but might be worth a call. Look it up or PM me your e-mail and I can send you the link.
pb

[albersj51]

Sounds like the OD would be a good idea for me. I just called Blue Ridge Rover Works as they have 2 in at a good price. I may head up to Asheville tomorrow to check all of them out.

NC_Mule: Didnt see the one in Lynchburg, I'll have to give it a look. Thanks for the heads up!

[albersj51]

My buddy (who welds and paints) And I went to see the truck today. Looks like everything she needs we can tackle. Tony and I were able to agree on a price and I drove her the hour and a half home. Thanks for everyones feedback!

[Wander]

My buddy (who welds and paints) And I went to see the truck today. Looks like everything she needs we can tackle. Tony and I were able to agree on a price and I drove her the hour and a half home. Thanks for everyones feedback!

So you got it?! Congrats!

That one does have a nice straight body and the highbacks while not stock are more comfotable and safer. Getting then recovered is pretty easy or even better just by some waterproof covers. These old Land Rovers are a bunch of fun and if you keep up with the basics it will keep on running. Welcome to the cult..erm..club!

[albersj51]

Thanks Wander! Yes sir! Got her home today. While not fast, she is a BLAST to drive. I've already caught several people checking her out while driving. Great truck!

Are there any local/regional Landie clubs in the area?