Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2017 i Land Rover Monthly

“If we can rekindle the spirit of old Billing we have succeeded” While the Land Rover order books for the all-new Discovery are pretty much full up, we have instead opted to put a Discovery 3 on the cover. I like to call it the car that saved Land Rover because at the time of its launch in 2004 they were a company under pressure due to reliability issues and poor after-sales service. Remember how the diehard Discovery 1 and 2 owners cursed its revolutionary styling and looks? Now those very same people own and love them. How the wheel has turned. I first had the privilege of driving one in 2004 at its international launch in northern Scotland. I was just blown away by its incredible off-road capabilities. I…

69 YeARS to the day since the world debut of the original Land Rover at the Amsterdam Motor Show on 30 April, 1948, the car maker has produced the only approved Defender book. The painstakingly-researched Icon hardback features previously unseen archive images, exclusive interviews and freshly commissioned artwork to chart the definitive official history. Foreword is by Land Rover fan and TV presenter Richard hammond, while adventurer Bear Grylls, fashion legend Ralph Lauren and Rugby World Cup winner and former South Africa captain John Smit also share their thoughts. There are even contributions from the team responsible for the next generation Defender, Chief Design officer Gerry McGovern and executive Director of Product engineering, nick Rogers. The beautifully produced volume hits the shelves in July, while the collector’s item will be…

“The Land Rover is the only ambulance that can make it to front lines to pick up the injured” When a grey dawn, reminiscent of English weather at its finest, breaks over Mosul, a handful of Iraqi soldiers from units battling the Islamic State (IS) motor into the unremarkable nearby town of Hamam Al-Alil to stock up on bread for breakfast. Cruising into the same town from the opposite direction for a tea stop, I spot a nice khaki-coloured Land Rover ambulance, with a big red crescent – the Muslim version of the Red Cross – emblazoned across its side. “Stop, stop!” I tell my driver. There is no way I am missing out on another chance to check out a military Land Rover contributing to the war effort in…

ONE OF my neighbours on the industrial estate has acquired an ex-military Series III 109 petrol in generally good order. It has been standing for a while and he bought it as a non-runner. Having managed to get it running (after a fashion) he asked me to take a quick look as it was off a cylinder and making a strange tapping noise. Strange indeed: at idle it sounded as though one of the valve clearances had opened right up, but when the revs were increased the tapping noise disappeared. It was definitely running on three cylinders, with number three totally dead despite a healthy spark. A compression test gave a big fat zero on that cylinder. With the rocker cover off I could see the valves appeared to be…

The last two James Bond movies both featured very tasty Defenders. Some Land Rover fans might argue that they played a leading role in those movies. In fact, what would a modern day Bond movie be without Jaguar Land Rover vehicles? In the dramatic opening scene of Skyfall, a Defender 110 double cab is involved in a rather hairy chase involving a train. Then came the beefed-up Spectre Defender, sliding about in the snow during an exciting mountainside car chase. No wonder so many cinema-going Land Rover fans want a Bond-themed Defender of their own. While JLR’s own Special Vehicles Operations division created the movie’s Spectre Defender, several independent Land Rover specialists have created their own versions – all with varying degrees of resemblance to the real deal. The inclination…

FOLLOWING THE draw down of UK Forces from southern Iraq and introduction of the Foxhound for service in Iraq, a quantity of CAV 100 / Snatch Land Rovers was released by the MoD through its disposal agents, Witham Special Vehicles. Circa 2011 the Snatch had such an undeservedly poor reputation that cast examples could be procured comparatively cheaply. Of course, most of these had seen service in Ulster and later more arduous service in Iraq or Afghanistan, but as some had been re-engined and dropped onto uprated chassis, there were a few nuggets to be spotted in amongst the wrecks and relics. Back in our January 2013 issue I covered a restored version of the 2004 upgraded 1.5 version of the Snatch, officially designated the Lightly Armoured Protected Wheeled Vehicle…

If you’re looking for a Land Rover show to attend in the UK this year, make a note of the dates Friday 27 to Sunday 29 of July in your diary now, as the Billing Off-Road Show promises to the best and biggest yet. For the first time since the Land Rover Experience used it ten years ago, the Riverside Course, designed by the original team of Billing Show organisers in 1992, Richard Green, John Cornwall, Richard Thomas and Dave Barker, will be open. That combined with the even more demanding Lakeside Course, with its infamous mud run, makes the 2017 event the ultimate Land Rover and 4x4 challenge. In the demonstration area, both weekend and day tripper visitors will find plenty to do and see with trade stands and…

AHEAD of the Super Title bout with WBa World heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko, anthony Joshua took delivery of a bespoke range rover SVautobiography Dynamic. Joshua commissioned the vehicle when he visited the SVo Technical Centre in Warwickshire, where he worked with Land rover specialists to create various interior and exterior features, including a bespoke paint finish (named World Champion graphite), boxing glove emblems in the door handles and sports equipment storage in the boot. his custom-built car is the first to feature the new SVo Design Pack, which includes unique front and rear bumpers (with integrated quad tailpipes), new side vents and sills and a bespoke grille. oh, and just in case you missed the big fight anthony stopped Wladimir after 11 dramatic rounds, retained his IBf heavyweight title and…

MoRe ThAn 600,000 units of the evoque models have been built in UK since production began in 2011, and it has Range Rover’s largest trophy cabinet having won more than 200 awards internationally. So, to celebrate the success of its luxurious compact SUV Land Rover has announced a new Landmark edition. Available in a vibrant Moraine Blue colour – apparently inspired by the turquoise lakes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Yulong White and Corris Grey, it has a dynamic body kit and grey exterior design details including 19 inch alloy wheels, a fixed panoramic roof, grille, fog lamp bezels and bonnet louvres, and bonnet and tailgate lettering. The Landmark edition also has Keyless entry and Powered Gesture Tailgate as standard and is available with Land Rover’s latest technology. The Landmark…

“The Swiss cheese body shell all but collapsed into its base elements when we took the car apart” This year wasn’t as bad as most. How was it for you? I mean, if you own one or two old Land Rovers and, like some of mine, they hibernate during the worst of the winter months, how did you enjoy that first spring drive? Before I continue let me just say that I know that sounds bonkers – the idea of a Land Rover being tucked away in a nice dry garage when the weather outside is throwing down all the things that Land Rovers were designed to deal with. But nowadays there are certain cars that you just don’t want to get caked in salt. I discovered just how world-class…

“I remember falling and a flash of pain in my head. I was knocked unconscious” Don’t ever go off-road on your own. I bet I’ve written – and said – those words hundreds of times over the years. It’s just a shame I don’t practise what I preach. Let me explain... It wasn’t really “off-road” as such. It was a track through a field, possibly once Roman, boasting a very good surface of large stones. Surrounded by peat, I’m guessing at a floating raft of branches, like most of the Roman roads that you find over the moors. It was also less than a mile from my house, which is on a Roman road: hence my educated guess at what I was venturing onto. The surface was unbroken because Jim…

SPEN KiNG Spen King was head of Rover’s New Vehicle Projects department, which was responsible for developing ideas for new products. Spen was promoted to take charge of engineering at Triumph in 1968, and was succeeded on the Range Rover project by Peter Wilks, who had been an enthusiastic supporter of the project from the outset. GORDON BASHFORD Gordon Bashford worked with Spen King as Package Designer, and was responsible for packaging Spen’s ideas into what was to become the 100 inch Station Wagon project. GEOF MILLER New Vehicle Projects didn’t have a Land Rover Project Engineer at the time, simply because there hadn’t been an all-new Land Rover! Geof Miller was seconded to the team from Land Rover Engineering. Geof was joined by John Orgill as Assistant Project Engineer…

THE FLEET of 125 Glover Webb Armoured Patrol Vehicles (APV), of which most had been converted to Mk 1.5 version, was eventually pensioned off in 2000 when replaced by a batch of 104 of the Penman TAVERN; officially classified TRUCK, ARMOURED MARK 2 APV, 6.2 LITRE, 4x4, DIESEL, GMC. Although this box-like truck dwarfed the Snatch, which it would serve alongside for several years, it was so cramped inside that it could only carry the same number of troops. Its composite armour package, however, was said to be similar to that of an up-armoured Warrior APC and proof against known threats.…

PATRICK CRUYWAGEN EDITOR 1998 Defender 110 2.8 TREVOR CUTHBERT CONTRIBUTOR 1957 Series 86” 1960 Series II 88” 1983 One Ten HCPU 1987 130 Double Cab HCPU 1988 Range Rover 4.0L automatic 1990 88” coil-sprung V8 hybrid 1992 Defender 90 200 Tdi 1993 Defender 110 Tipper 1993 Defender 130 Cherry Picker 1994 Defender 110 300 Tdi Soft-Top 2002 Discovery 2 Td5 Adventurer 2005 Defender 90 Td5 Hard-Top MARK DIXON CONTRIBUTOR 1955 Series I 107 1989 ‘G-WAC’ Discovery 1994 ‘M-CVC’ Range Rover THOM WESTCOTT CONTRIBUTOR 1977 Series III Lightweight…

ED EVANS TECHNICAL EDITOR 1976 Series III 88 soft-top 1989 Ninety Station Wagon 1998 Discovery 300Tdi 2000 Freelander 1 L-series 2000 Defender 110 Td5 2006 Range Rover Sport TDV6 TIM HAMMOND CONTRIBUTOR 1991 Range Rover Classic 3.9 V8 1989 Range Rover Classic 3.5 V8 1986 Range Rover Classic 300Tdi 1982 Range Rover Classic 3.5 V8 1969 Series IIA 109, 2.25 Petrol DAVE PHILLIPS CONTRIBUTOR 1996 Discovery 300Tdi 1984 Ninety 300Tdi DAVE BARKER CONTRIBUTOR 2004 Defender 300Tdi 2013 Freelander 2 1958 Series I…

GARY STRETTON • Tools: General workshop tools, punches, bearing pullers, bench press TIME 2+ HOUR COST TIME ONLY DIFFICULTY RATING The gearbox featured came out of a 1984 90 fitted with an Isuzu 2.8TD. The vehicle had been bought by my friend. On the half-hour pre-purchase test drive up to 50 mph it ran fine but, as he drove it home at 60 mph the gearbox let go big time, adding considerably to the costs of buying the vehicle. As with any gearbox, high mileage and general wear and tear makes a rebuild inevitable. Known flaws with the LT77 should always be investigated before buying secondhand. Rule of thumb; unless a rebuild has taken place with bills to prove it, assume an overhaul is required – and budget accordingly. It…

THOUSANDS OF PENSIONS CUT Jaguar LaND rover has reached an agreement with trade union unite, which means staff will calculate their final pension based on the average of their salary from now until they retire rather than on the basis of their final pay package. It brings an end to years of dispute. DEFENDER THEFTS INCREASE Nfu MuTuaL is urging owners of Defenders to fit security measures, such as a mechanical immobiliser and tracking device, and be vigilant to thieves to reduce the risk of their vehicles being stolen as they acquire iconic classic status. Thieves are also targeting component parts, so consider using a marking system. Latest figures from the insurer reveal that claims costs for theft of Defender vehicles rose to £2.1 million in 2016, an increase of…

Luxury Car specialist, Clive Sutton, has launched a tailor-made upgrade programme for the latest range rover models. available through their bespoke division, the enhancements include a full aero body kit consisting of a new front bumper, roof spoiler, flared wheel arches with a wide-track wheel kit, custom brake calipers and new exhaust finishers. Customers looking for something a bit more subtle can opt for bumpers, mirrors, trim or grilles – either finished in paint or carbon. also on offer are lightweight 22-inch ten-spoke alloy wheels in matt graphite, silver or black. Inside, Sutton Bespoke can offer a two-tone leather retrim, and tuning upgrades are also available. full prices and specifications for will be announced in due course, and beyond its styling and performance packages, it provides a tailor-made service for…

When 11 (Sphinx) Battery, part of 16 Regiment Royal Artillery, were deployed to the Falkland Islands last year, they decided to celebrate the final year of the Defender and its long association with the British Army by staging a gruelling event – pushing and pulling a Defender from Mount Pleasant to the capital of the Falkland Islands, Stanley, some 37 miles, using human power only. With short stretches of tarmac interspersed with long stretches of ungraded stone road and some big hills, five teams of six took turns to manhandle the 2000 kg vehicle. The teams completed the feat in just nine hours and 41 minutes, raising over £2000 for charity in the process.…

AS A long-term reader of your magazine I was hoping you or your readers could help me find some history on a recent purchase of mine. It’s a 1969 Series IIA 109 station wagon six-cylinder petrol. Registration number is YJW 897H. It was registered in Wolverhampton. I have the original extras list for it and I believe the factory or a Land Rover-approved company modified it. The dashboard has been relocated from the centre to in front of the steering wheel, like the later Series III. It also has a vast array of extras and gauges fitted, including heated front screens, deluxe front seats, door panels full crash padding, rev counter, vacuum gauge, clock and air temperature gauge. Also, in the rear of the truck we’ve found a compartment under…

“My Car Check found 63 per cent of Land Rovers checked in 2016 returned at least one warning” Do you make a provenance check every time you buy a secondhand Land Rover? No, nor do I. But perhaps we all should. Let me explain… Every year, eight million secondhand cars are sold in the UK. But only a tiny percentage of all those buyers bother to check out their potential purchases, which is surprising given that more than a half of those checks come back with warnings. Half of those warnings are advisories, noting that the vehicles have, for example, been imported, resprayed or had a number plate change. But the other half trigger more serious alerts, such as outstanding finance, identity issues, previous write-offs and that the vehicle has…

 DISCOVERY 3 is the pinnacle of a motoring revolution that began in 1990 when Discovery 1 filled a previously unidentified marketing chasm. Discovery 2 refined the concept in every way until the 2004 Discovery 3 further stretched the practicality and versatility, while adding timeless looks, full independent air suspension, new levels of comfort and refinement, and a smooth and potent six-cylinder diesel engine that put the Discovery 2’s Td5 into the dark ages. “Independent suspension maximises wheel movement” Discovery 3 is a vehicle that will never be repeated. It’s the last of the true Land Rovers. Its traditionally huge road presence, capaciousness, toughness and immense practicality will never be seen again, thanks to the ever-tightening emissions regulations that demand lightweight construction, aerodynamic bodywork and four-cylinder engines, and also thanks to…

1967 Bold, visionary and innovative things are happening at Rover, and the first Engineering Prototype of the 100in Station Wagon is taking shape. It leads directly to what would become known as the Range Rover. 1970 The Range Rover is launched to the world – in Cornwall. 1981 The In Vogue appears and is the first conscious attempt to take the Range Rover upmarket. It is followed quickly by the four-door, which the market had been eagerly awaiting for at least ten years. 1990 The CSK is introduced, and tests the market for a more sporty and even more luxurious Range Rover. 1994 The second generation Range Rover is launched – and is an immediate sales success, although its reputation becomes tarnished as gremlins undermine reliability. 2002 The third generation…

Britain in the 1970s introduced many things to popular culture. Whilst our motoring horizons were expanded by the original Range Rover, the music scene went from strength to strength. The Beatles’ rock and roll progressed to rock; encompassing prog rock, glam rock, folk rock, punk rock – and every other facet you can think of rock. Just like Land Rovers, the British rock and roll style basically got developed, modified and exported around the world . The same thing happened with the Range Rover. Fresh from its 1970 launch, that too began to be modified and transformed into new and exciting things. From fire engines to six-wheel-drive monsters – you name it, someone did it, or at least tried it, including the factory. One of those obvious custom tweaks was…

May25–30 ALRC National Rally RTV, CCV, Comp Safari, Tyro Trial Stainby Quarry, Grantham, Leicestershire www.alrc.co.uk/NationalRallies/2017/2017index.html May 24 – June 3 Corsica Atlas Overland 4x4 Adventure Tours Corsica Tour www.atlasoverland.com May25–28 France – Rasso 4x4 Grand Sud Multimarques 4x4 Off-roading Event Aubagne, Southern France www.rasso4x4grandsud.forumgratuit.org May26–28 Italy – RFC Global Series South Europe, Challenge Event Northern Italy www.facebook.com/RFC-Global-Series-1662307704010374/ May26–28 The Big Outdoors Outdoors Activity Weekend Tiverton, Devon www.bigoutdoors.org May26–29 Series 3 & 90-110 Owners Club Members National Rally Sibbertoft, Leicestershire www.thelandroverclub.co.uk May 27 Yorkshire 4x4 Treks Yorkshire Dales Trek North Yorkshire www.yorkshire4x4treks.co.uk May 27 Protrax Overland Adventure , Winch and Recovery Course Corby, Northants www.protraxoverlandadventures.co.uk May27–28 BORG4x4 Response Group Camping Weekend Yarwell, Peterborough www.borg4x4.tidyblog.co.uk May27–28 Northern Off Road Club Comp Safari Tong, West Yorkshire www.norc.org.uk May27–28 Scottish Land Rover Show Royal…

TREVOR CUTHBERT CONTRIBUTOR DISCOVERY Td5 YEAR: 2002 MILEAGE: 105,750 ENGINE: Td5 POWER: 185 bhp TORQUE: 255 lb-ft MPG: 30 My Land Rover Discovery 2 Td5 has undergone a major rebuild and is thankfully on the road again. Although the series of features covering the rebuild and all of the various jobs carried out is still running in LRM, I have already clocked up over 3000 miles in the Discovery. I missed the truck terribly while it was on #2 ramp in my workshop for an extended period of time – I was not working on it full time, as my everyday work had to continue on #1 ramp (to pay the bills and pay for all of the stuff going in to my Discovery). During the period of the rebuild,…

“The trick is to keep your enthusiasm ticking over by doing one small job a day” I’ve just spent four weeks doing bits and pieces to my Series III rebuild without any significant progress. In the same period a (retired) friend stripped and rebuilt his own Series III and drove off in it. That would be seriously frustrating, if I didn’t have a plan. The advantage of devoting a block of time to a rebuild and working at full tilt is that there’s no time to lose parts or forget how they go together. The disadvantage is the pressure of needing to get the project finished before that reserved block of time expires. The more common approach is to complete the project over a year or two of evenings and…