1977 Land Rover Series 3 SWB 88 Petrol

It has an MOT until next August and tax until February (not exempt). It’s fitted with the 2.25 petrol 3 main bearing engine, don’t know if this is the original that was fitted. The engine had a new carb 3 years ago (Weber) and last year I had an electronic distributor fitted with a new coil. I also fitted a new cable from the starter solenoid to the motor, it never fails to start now. It isn’t the fastest thing in the world but it will get you there.

Indicated mileage is just over 60,000, I don’t know if this is genuine mileage from new but I have history of all work from 1986 onwards when it had 2000 miles on the clock. Last year the clutch was replaced so will have lots of life left in it. The gearbox is great, no crunching in any gear and it doesn’t jump out of gear. Low range and 4WD both work perfectly. Originally it had free-wheeling hubs but there were replaced a month or so ago because they had failed.

The interior is fairly tidy, the seatbox was repaired last winter because some parts had corroded away. The floor is held down with rivnuts and stainless bolts, much better than the old screws. There is a single bench seat in the back with 2 seatbelts. The speedometer has been checked against a GPS device and is accurate, not that you’ll be getting any speeding tickets! A new speedo cable was fitted this summer after the old one snapped.

There are a number of modifications made by myself and previous owners that make it better on and off road:

•           Parabolic springs
•           Pro-comp dampers
•           Steering guard
•           Side windows in the back (essential to see in the blind spot)
•           Halogen converted headlights (better than the old candles in jam jars)
•           Cobra Monaco ‘Trakkers’ bucket seats with 4 point harnesses
•           Matching cubby box with cup holders
•           Smaller ‘sports’ steering wheel
•           Rubber floor mats
•           Defender one-piece door seals all round
•           CD player with 4 speakers and roof mounted aerial (not CB)
•           Spare wheel carrier frees up space in the back
•           Front bumper D rings and Rear Dixon-Bate tow pin for recovery
•           Defender wing mirrors give much better visibility than old Series mirrors
•           12V ‘cigarette lighter’ socket for powering accessories
•           Working fan and heater (luxury in a Series motor)

The truck passed it’s MOT this year with only one advisory, this was the handbrake adjustment which has since fixed. Lots of money has been spent in the last few years replacing parts and generally bringing the standard of the vehicle up.

The tyres are Goodyear Wrangler Radial 7.50R16 on silver modular wheels with an Avon Rangemaster spare. I will throw in a set of 4 7.50R16 Goodyear Xtragrip/Deestone ExtraTraction mud tyres on LWB land rover wheels for £50 on top of the selling price if the buyer wants them.

There are a couple of negative points. The right hand bulkhead door pillar and footwell need replacing soon, but I have the repair panels and will include them. Also included are new door hinges, bolts, captive nuts and new bulkhead vent seals. There is a hole in the seatbox on the driver’s which is needed to unbolt and fit the seat, plus a small hole in the rear floor. It could do with a new heater pipe too, the current one relies on gaffer tape.

I’ll miss the old girl but as my daily driver the fuel consumption is a little too much now.