Sunday 29 January 2012

WOW... It's been a while since my last post. So, what's been happening... Well, the ambulance arrived in the end and she's a fantastic, characterful machine!
Apart from being covered in natures finest offerings... she is a beautiful thing (if this kind of thing is your thing).
First thing I have done is pressure washed all the crap off and a few layers of paint which wasn't intentional!

 You will notice that I had to change three of the wheels for ones that had more chance of rolling... These soon went down also!
The general condition is very good, chassis is fantastic and solid as is the body too. The bulkhead needs repair work as the door pillars are completely rotten but the top half is superb.
When we hooked it up to a battery all the electrics were still operational and the engine turned over!
Even the blue lamp worked.
The best part was when I opened the back doors! I couldn't believe how clean and dirt-free it was? It still retains its 4 stretchers, canvas pillows, blankets and medical kits too.



A fantastic example!

Wednesday 18 January 2012

Camel Trophy 110 For Sale

I have to put this up as it is my 'dream' Land Rover! (not that I can afford it just yet :(
It is for sale on my website and belongs to Foley Specialist Vehicles who are my top sponsor/client.




It is pure beauty in my eyes.
One day maybe....!
Advert link here:Camel 110 @ www.landroversforsale.net

Range Rover Classic Wing Mirrors.

I have received a quantity of NOS RRC wing mirrors today and some various other parts of curiosity.
These are the genuine 'Wingard' mirrors, I don't think any one else in the world currently stocks them any more?
Below this is a military '6-way' switch with hole for ignition barrel. This model is pretty much obsolete as opposed to the non- barrel model which are still available.
 Also a few more 'Tex-Magnalite' indicator signal units.
Below are some very uncommon 'Inspection lamps'. I have sold these before but previous ones were a later production type and came in a slightly metallic bronze colour. These are a flat paint  have an unusual bakelite 2-pin plug that can be inserted into the black&red dash socket terminals on a Series Land Rover dash panel. Typically they were used by the military and could take either a 12v or 24v bulb.
This lamp has enough flex to reach around a LWB vehicle and the it had the hook which was useful when changing a tyre in the dark or tinkering under the bonnet, or even hanging in the cab for an interior/map light!

Monday 16 January 2012

Today has been a little bit different on the buying front... I was potentially going to look at an 'old series' as described by the owner and I will give him his dues, it was that indeed! However don't get too excited... It was a very, very rotten and incomplete 'series 3 swb'. This time I had to decline and walk away:(


I did however buy an International tractor!!! It was so sorry looking and I had to ask! ( I do have a soft spot for old tractors)











She may not be a show winner, but she runs! The owner also had this to sell...





It's a Mercedes Unimog. I have to have a think about this one though as it's huge and extremely heavy. The cab also looks beyond repair... He does have a better one at a different location though which I'm going to see next week maybe.

Saturday 14 January 2012

Series 1 80" V8

Well, the V8 arrived today. It sounds absolutely awesome! The growling, thunderous noise that it makes is truly fab.
Already been put on eBay and awaits sale.
It would be perfect for it's current nature - comp-safari, I think a rebuild to original spec would be optimistic. A great little vehicle with heaps of character.




Thursday 12 January 2012

Leaving for Sweden!

Today has seen the collection of the 6 Cylinder LWB Series 2. Here it is being loaded for it's first destination being the docks at Immingham, Grimsby so it can be loaded on to a ferry which has been booked and arranged. It will then depart for Gothenburg, Sweden at 05:00hrs. It will then be collected by the new owner whom has been an absolutely fantastic customer! I'm sure Henrik will be very pleased with his Land Rover.



Wednesday 11 January 2012

1966 Series 2a Marshall Ambulance.

So here is a quick update of the ambulance I have saved from the hands of the scrap-man! This is where it currently resides and looking a bit sorry for itself :(
I think with a clean and some air in the tyres she'll be OK, then we can have a real good inspection of the condition. Very original looking and still has stretchers and equipment in the rear body!

I'm in a funny mood today... maybe because it's raining?
Lately I have been looking into some interesting areas to go 'overlanding'. I really want to buy a Series motor and equip it for a few weeks travelling to somewhere hot!
Maybe down through France and into Spain then possibly across to Morocco, that seems to be the most popular route for overland travellers from the UK. I think I just need a holiday to be honest!

Tuesday 10 January 2012

A very productive day!

Well, apart from the blue Defender being collected earlier I have just acquired another Series 1 80" and a 1966 Marshall Ambulance!

The Series 1 is complete but in pieces so that will have to go in my dads garage until I know what I'm doing with it...
 The ambulance on the other hand is totally complete from what I can make of it, but it has been stood for god knows how long? It looks OK though.
I will upload some photos when they arrive in the next week or two.

The Series 1 80" V8 is due for arrival this Saturday and also the Series 109" is off to Sweden on Thursday, so at least I'll have a bit of room for new arrivals on the drive!

Also on Saturday I'm going to meet a car collector who wishes to sell a Series 1, not sure what model yet but I will update soon.

Very exciting!
This morning has seen the collection of this 1994 Defender 300 TDi 90, it came on Saturday from a farmer who thought it was getting too old! Today a chap from Bolton,Lancashire called 'Yan the Landy Man' bought it. It was a very well looked after and very low mileage example (69,000 miles). 

Monday 9 January 2012

80" V8 Series 1

Due for collection next Monday, a 1952 Land Rover Series 1 80" V8.
This one is coming from Cheshire, it's been garaged for a number of years after it was used for competing in trials and rallies.
It sounds like a monster unleashed! You can't beat the sound a Rover V8 has to offer!


NOS Bulkheads.

Today, I have hopefully set in stone a deal which will include a shipment of NOS (new-old stock) Series 2, 2a and 3 bulkheads.
Very exciting times indeed!
This is a Series 2a bulkhead in the same condition as it would have left the parts factory back in the 1960's.

Sunday 8 January 2012

My eBay shop: SeriePartsWorldwide

Now you have read a little bit about me, I will now tell you a little bit more about my other Land Rover involvements...

A little over 18 months ago I set up a business account on eBay. I had a large volume of used but very good condition spares for Series Land Rovers. I set it up as a business account as you are not limited to how much you sell unlike a personal eBay account.

One day I received a phone call from a chap in the Middle East. He basically without hesitation said ' I have a large quantity of brand new old stock land items, I would like you to sell them for me'.

I thought to myself wow... After further conversation, he had been watching the rare and sort after items that I had been selling for a few weeks and was impressed by the consistency of my sales. So I agreed that I would take up his offer once the first shipment of parts had arrived. 

About 6 days after the phone call I received a large box as promised. I was shell-shocked when I opened it...

Here are some of the items it included,
NOS 'Tex Magnalite' indicator unit 





All parts were genuine as promised. It turned out that he has a small air-hangar full of stuff!

We have now been trading together for nearly a year, we have a great relationship and some very funny conversations as we are from two completely different lifestyles.
He is a fantastic chap and I expect we will be working together for a long time.

I am expecting a big shipment via container of which will be rammed with some amazing items!

'Watch this space!'


Now, my other venture is a Land Rover website.

This website is currently top-ranking on Google whenever the phrase ' land rovers for sale' or similar is searched. Basically it is a classified adverts website.
People can sell their vehicles for free and their vehicle will be seen by potential buyers all over the globe.
I basically make my earnings through selling advertising space to Land Rover related companies.
The site is only a year or so old and really needs to mature before I can really start hitting hard sales with it.
My partner Emma and I call it 'The retirement fund!'

That's all for now, off to bed...

  
My name is Mike. I am 28 and live in Manchester, UK.
I have started this blog to share my finds and Land Rover stories with all whom love them as much as I do!


Where to start? Well...
First of all, I drive a Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 SW. This is our pride and joy. It's great for our camping trips to North Wales and also for stuffing the kids in... Being 3 of them!



Since becoming obsessed with Land Rover, my work has also become revolved around the iconic brand!

First of all, I love Series model Land Rovers. these being the very characterful models of all shapes and sizes. I spend a lot of time trying to track down the forgotten ones that lie in fields and also hidden away in barns. I can't afford to keep them all, although I wish I could.... but just finding them is so exciting and knowing that they are going to be given a new lease of life from whoever purchases it from me.
Here are few that I have rescued and re-homed!

This is a very old 1951 Series 1 80" that I brought back from North Yorkshire.
This was now on its way to Hereford for a complete rebuild and overdue love and attention.

The sorry little 88" Series 1 was brought down from Aberdeen, Scotland.
It was soon snapped up after a week on eBay and was soon on its way back to Glasgow, Scotland to be united with its new owner whom again was going to completely restore it.

This unusual vehicle is a Land Rover 109" 'Airdrive'. It was fitted with a Broom & Wade air compressor situated beneath the rear floor. This was used for powering small and large air tools. It was generally used by excavation companies.
I located this literally 2 minutes away from home. It had been stood at the back of a cattle shed for over 20 years! In this photo it is being loaded onto a trailer by a rather eccentric French collector and bound for the Champagne region to be introduced to his other 101 Land Rovers!

The farmer that I acquired the 'Airdrive' from didn't actually sell it to me, we made a deal that if I fixed his barn roof he would give me the Land Rover in return! Well me being a roofer by trade, I couldn't refuse :)

The farmer had some very handy equipment!

Home fabricated portable platform!

Other vehicles have been a little bigger than others and in the form of 'Forward Controls'. Also my favourites, the IIB Model.
This one was a 1967 IIB 'Tipper'


and after a quick rub with a few 'Brillo' pads,
It was a beautiful FC, soon to be bought by a chap in Essex who I am still in contact with. It was repainted green and is now worked within a forestry enviroment.

Here is another IIB FC, this time a 1970. It had been stood for over 10years and was completely neglected.
Me and my friend Adam soon got together and started the rescue operation from its current position in Kendal, Cumbria. I don't think we could of chose a colder day to recover it...


This IIB FC had plenty of work and alterations made to it before sold to a chap in Yorkshire who was intending its use for taking shooting parties across his private estate.
I rebuilt it on a coil-sprung later chassis and also fitted an upgraded engine and transmission before saying farewell....

^^^I miss that one^^^

Other vehicles have included the less common 'Light-Weight' model.
I had two of these,
This one was fantastic, it was sat on a galvanised chassis and had many subtle upgrades. However, it didn't lose any of its charm.
This other one below was a little bit worse for wear, but was soon on it's way to Italy.

My latest find has been this Series 1 88" 2ltr diesel. It has been stood for over 20years and the engine even started with little effort! This is destined for Portugal.

Other vehicles that have been located and sent abroad include these models,

1949 80" Series 1 which is now in Austria.
Also another Series 1 80" but this time a 1953 which was taken to The Netherlands.
And this is a 1967 109" LWB 6 cylinder model and due for collection, soon to be driven to it's new home in Sweden!

I think that is enough for 1 post...Phew!