Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2020 i Land Rover Monthly

FOR some or other reason covers with bright yellow or orange Land Rovers on them sell very well. Two years ago the main image of our Buyers Guide issue was a bright orange G4 Discovery 3 and it did pretty well. That, though, is not why we have put a bright yellow Stage One V8 belonging to Jonathan Douglas, the MD of JE Motors, on the cover. Yes, it is a cracking shot with lots of movement and a bit of sideways action but we straight away fell in love with this resto mod. It’s not perfect when it comes to things like paintwork, but it was oh so much fun to drive. Read more on page 42. Then I would like to make an appeal to all LRM readers…

DEFENDER specialist Twisted has expanded its operations into North America, with two key appointments and a team of technicians working from facilities in Virginia. As well as aiming to be the go-to Defender modification specialist in the USA, Twisted Middle East is set to follow next year – and we’ll be sure to update you as and when we hear more. Established in 2001, North Yorkshire-based Twisted was the first company to incorporate an American engine, the LS3, into a UK Defender back in 2012, so it’s rather apt that its first global expansion isin the Land of Opportunity. The new business, based in a 40,000sq ft facility in South Boston, has been three years in the making and work is currently underway on the first three vehicles, with orders…

Send us your shot email patrick@lrm.co.uk to feature your photo in LRM…

JUST lately, and for no obvious reason, I seem to be inundated with diesel Series IIIs, and not just Di/Tdi converted ones. As I write this column I have four Series III 88-inch diesels in the workshop: 2.25, 2.5, Di and Tdi. They make rather a nice set and it will be a shame to have to split them up and return them to their respective owners. The 2.25 turned up (sounding rather sick) the day after I had sent out another 2.25 diesel, a late-ish (1981) example which had been rebuilt onto a galvanised chassis, drove well, sounded sweet but seemed to be a few horses short of the 62bhp claimed by Land Rover when the vehicle was new. It accelerated more slowly than any vehicle I have ever…

Established in 1975, JE has four decades’ experience of maintaining and modifying Land Rovers. Enlarging the 3.5 to 3.9, 4.2, 4.8 and 5.0 litres, JE’s built engines for everything that uses a Rover V8. Works Paris Dakar Range Rovers and Bowler have used JE engines, famously never having an engine fail on the event. Their work later expanded to other engines, creating the ‘Zulu’ Super Defenders, with up to 460bhp from the AJV8 unit, balanced with brake, suspension and gearbox modifications to suit the power, including six-speed automatic gearbox conversions. Recent years have seen JE expand to diesel tuning and further engine conversions including 3.2 Tdi5 and the Ford 2.3 EcoBoost petrol engine, giving the added benefit of lower emissions from a Defender, for ULEZ use. CONTACT: JE Engineering (Tel…

WHILE the first green oval-badged vehicle rolled off the production line in Solihull, the Goodwood Motor Circuit played host to Britain’s first post-war race meeting at a permanent venue. The origins of the circuit derive from the ex-military airfield RAF Westhampnett, where no doubt countless Series vehicles played an important role. The circuit closed in 1966 for motor racing until the first Goodwood Revival event in 1998, where Land Rovers returned with aplomb to assist as service vehicles – from towing to chauffeuring or being displayed by competitors and visitors. The Series Land Rover is one of the most highly-regarded vehicles at Revival whether they’re in states of disrepair or gleaming brighter than when they left the factory. From the National Health Service to the Olympics, Goodwood Race Circuit to…

“OH, you pretty Chitty Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang we love you and our pretty Chitty Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang loves us too…” is a song that I have to sing or listen to at least ten times in my day for my almost three-year-old son Max is obsessed with the musical film and car, and has been for nine months now. So when my dad, who obviously knows I write for Land Rover Monthly, found out that the first-ever working replica Chitty was based on a Series III and lives on the Isle of Wight where they also reside, well I just had to ask our esteemed Editor if he would commission me to feature it. Fortunately for my son he said yes! To say riding…

SIR Ranulph Fiennes has been dubbed ‘the World’s Greatest Living Explorer’ by the Guinness Book of Records and deservedly so. His astonishing feats of endurance and epic explorations having enthralled and inspired people across the globe as well as making him a household name and a National Treasure. His reputation was only further enhanced when he famously hacked off his own frostbitten fingertips and the thumb on his left hand in the shed at home, although for me such attention-grabbing headlines tend to distract from the jaw-dropping magnitude of his achievements. In 1969 he led the first hovercraft expedition up the White Nile, supported by two Land Rovers, and the association with the vehicles and the company have figured prominently in many of his expeditions ever since. Between 1979 and…

THIS year we are utilising Land Rover Discovery models for our African adventures to highlight their achievements over the past three decades. First launched at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Discovery soon became the Land Rover of choice for the Camel Trophy. This gruelling endurance event tested adventurers and their vehicles to their very limits as they explored regions such as the Amazon, Siberia, Madagascar and Australia. The brawny off-roaders in their instantly recognisable yellow hue and gritty 4x4 attitude showed off their capabilities on some of the planet’s toughest terrain. This got me thinking about some of our own epic journeys in Discoverys and some unique firsts. For example, we took two Discoverys on a 100-day Boundless Southern Africa expedition to unite nature, culture and community across nine…

The Great British Land Rover Show takes place on Sunday November 24 at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. New for 2019 will be the Adventure and Outdoor Zone where visitors can expect to find everything including roof tents, camping equipment and anything else you might need for your outdoor adventure – be it a UK greenlane tour or an overseas expedition. Also expect hundreds of club and trade stands offering everything you might need, plus the 2.4mile off-road course sponsored by the All Wheel Drive Club, which gives you the opportunity to drive your own vehicle around the course, with AWDC club members on hand to offer advice and tips on driving off-road. More details and discounted tickets bought in advance can be found on the event's website: greatbritishlrshow.com.…

THERE are several phrases used to describe life in Africa. When crazy things go down in the movie Blood Diamonds, then Leonardo DiCaprio would say ‘TIA’ (This is Africa). One of my favourites is ‘Africa is not for sissies’. Whichever way you look at it, Africa can be a cruel, crazy and beautiful place. All at the same time. I recently went to Southern Africa to go on a FrontRunner factory tour and cover the incredible Defender Trophy event. Prior to my visit I saw someone post some photos of a chap near Johannesburg who made model replicas of 4x4s. The detail on them was just incredible. He even added all the various accessories. He also had some photos of a model police 4x4 and helicopter and they were over…

BACK in the day, just about every Land Rover club that ran competitive events, hosted a couple of Comp Safari events a year too, even the smaller ones. Today there are a few large clubs that run them regularly while others are run only at the Interclub Bank Holiday events or just a handful throughout the year. The Lincolnshire Land Rover Club is maybe best known for its May Day Interclub and the Malachi Team Comp Safaris, but in addition it also runs a couple of club Comps mostly entered by its own club members. They don’t attract massive entries as far as numbers are concerned, but they are successful and competitive. Club Comps within the member clubs of the Association of Land Rover Clubs for Land Rover-based vehicles are…

REMOVING the numerous types of coatings found on Land Rovers can be a thankless task, so making it as painless as possible is your mission, and mine. Large areas of panel paint are best dealt with by more appropriate treatments such as paint stripper, D/A sanders or suitable blast mediums. For isolated repairs or removal of dense material such as underseal and bitumen coating, even carpet, carpet adhesive or headlining foam remnants, there is the multi-tool. These versatile, mobile marvels can be the difference between blisters with a palette knife or an early night with your favourite beverage in hand, minus the blisters. Mains powered, corded versions are less expensive but also less versatile and generally require extension leads for access. Cordless varieties can reach compact nooks and crannies without…

THIS year marked the 13th edition of the Land Rover Party of Les Comes, which attracted 700 Land Rovers from all over Europe and more than 4000 people. And it had a few headline-grabbing acts, too, the most impressive of which was the new Defender, which at the time had just had made its first appearance to a global audience at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Held at the Land Rover Experience Centre at Les Comes, located in the town of Súria, Barcelona, this year’s party gathered participants from more than ten different countries: France, Germany, England, Italy, Belgium and Portugal, among others. While the new Defender was the greatest attraction of the weekend, making its Spanish debut, the Saturday night also proved popular when there was a special celebration party…

JLR is on track to achieve a £2.5 billion cost and cash flow improvement target by the end of March 2020, having reported financial results for the three-month period ending September 30, 2019. Revenue increased 8 per cent year-on-year to £6.1 billion, driven by higher wholesales (up 2.9 per cent) and favourable product mix. While total retail sales were down slightly (minus 7 per cent), performance in China improved sharply, up 24.3 per cent. In terms of the Land Rover side of the brand’s portfolio global retail sales of the new Range Rover Evoque were up by 54.6 per cent, while the Range Rover Sport rose 17.5 per cent. Prof Sir Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive, said: “Jaguar Land Rover has returned to profitability and revenue growth. This…

HAPPY First Anniversary, Chris! You’re a pretty incredible husband, y’know? Even if I do have to book time in around your current Land Rover projects! This photo was taken a year ago and shows you with your pride and joy –plus me – on our big day. Thanks for making every day an adventure. Lots of love x Alison Oldham We bet that surprised you when you opened your copy of LRM, Chris! And there’s better to come: as it isyour first wedding anniversary, it issupposed to be celebrated with a paper gift, so Alison has bought you a year’s subscription to LRM, your favourite magazine. I hope you’ve remembered to get this lady something special, Chris. If not, you’d better fire up the Landy and get to the shops…

OF all factory-produced Land Rovers, the Stage One V8 was the first nod to where the Defender would not just appear, but end up in 2016. With a powerplant and transmission originating from the Range Rover, the Stage One was the first Land Rover to have permanent four-wheel drive and V8 power. On paper, it promised so much, but in reality, it fell a little short. The engine was detuned from the Range Rover’s 132bhp to a stingy 91bhp, and the LT95 gearbox, though bulletproof, had possibly the largest gate in automotive history. Its one saving grace was it wore the nicest front end of any Land Rover – an attractive metal mesh grille, level with the headlights rather than recessed as the Series models are. Undoubtedly it made for…

I have done a fair bit of greenlaning around the UK and it has made me fall in love with places such as Wales, the Lake District and the Peak District. A good friend of mine recently suggested I go try the guided forest off-road trails of Cannock Chase. The guided 4x4 trails of Cannock Chase are only run on the first Saturday of every month and so we book our slot for October 5, 2019. I packmy 110 and I even throw inmy ARB TRED PRO recovery tracks just in case, even though all who have driven Cannock tell me they are gentle trails at best. As soon as my six-year-old son Isaac clocks out of school on the Friday we hit the M1 north. Surprisingly we have a…

“I used to walk past the old Land Rover every day and one time I thought to myself that it would make a good project to do up. Once I started, I went stupid” GREEN Land Rovers don’t turn many heads in the Norfolk countryside, where every other vehicle on the narrow country lanes bears that famous oval badge. In this corner of rural Britain they’re part of the landscape – they have been since 1948 and will be for many years to come. But in the middle of this most rustic of counties, near the market town of Dereham, there’s one green Defender that will get you rubbing your eyes in disbelief. It’s a 25-year-old 200Tdi 90 that’s shinier than anything that ever left the Solihull production line, which…

The Suffolk Land Rover Owners Club is holding its annual driving day which raises money for Children in Need on Sunday November 17 at the club's site at Newbourne in Suffolk. Over the years the Suffolk Land Rover Owners Club has not only raised significant money for BBC’s Save the Children charity at this event, with 2018 being a very successful year, but also introduced many people to off-roading and Land Rovers. As normal, dressing up in costume is optional, but if you need a recovery on the off-road course donation buckets will be available. Everyone is invited to take part in the club's fundraising activities. For more information please check the club's website or Facebook page or contact them direct: slroc.uk.com.…

YOU may remember earlier in the spring I had a standout day in the Peak District with my eldest son in the Series I. My car, one of my sons, and great scenery made for one of the best days of my motoring life. Keen to do it again, a plan was set to do a longer one. Drive up there, camp, the next day visiting the museum about the plague at Eyam. Well, the trip never happened. Not for weather, I’m sorry to say, it was because of the car. August 22, out it came for the first time in a month. Running sweetly, hood refitted after the heat wave, it felt great to be out in it 62 years to the day it was first registered in Penrith.…

WHEN the new galvanised bulkhead arrived back from the paint shop after a comprehensive paint process, the safest place to store it was back in position on the Land Rover chassis. Two of us lifted the bulkhead out of the back of the VW van at the workshop door and immediately offered it up to the bulkhead outriggers on the chassis, then slipped two bulkhead outrigger bolts through to hold it upright and safe. These bolts are M12 by 180mm, passing through the bulkhead outrigger on the chassis and the mounting brackets at each bottom corner of the bulkhead A-posts. Just as there was a particular order for stripping down and removing all of the parts from the old bulkhead, the new bulkhead is built up in pretty much the…

AFTER 175,000 miles, the original Hitachi air suspension compressor on this 2009 (2010 model year) Discovery 4 was tired and struggling to supply the pressure required to keep the suspension working at the correct levels. The compressor had simply worn itself out with age and use, and so needed to be replaced. The air suspension compressor is mounted on a bracket that is secured onto the side of the chassis by means of flexible rubber mountings which isolate the noise of the compressor from the vehicle. The compressor sits inside an insulated moulded plastic acoustic cover comprising an upper and lower half secured to the chassis. There are three air pipes connected to it: one at the front and two at the rear. These are the compressor exhaust and low-pressure…

SO many tasks requiring the removal of stubborn coatings and corrosion involve aggressive power tools, so the use of a multi-tool might come as apleasant surprise. Unlike high-speed rotational tools that can create plenty of dust and flying debris, amulti-tool is far more contained and controllable for smaller areas or where access is limited. Plunge blades, for example are excellent at removing underseal and glued down carpets, while delta sanding discs can fully access corners and other tight spots with far less airborne debris. This finesse is what sets them apart from other tools. Clarke’s sub-£50 10.8V tool is both affordable and easy to use. Its size is its strength and it reaches into nooks and crannies effectively. It has the basics but delivers without fuss and is supplied with…

To book see forestrax4x4.co.uk. Cost £50 per vehicle and the guided drive is about three hours long. Definitely worth every penny. Make a weekend of it and visit the nearby Alton Towers. Do check out the ForesTrax 4x4 off-road adventures group Facebook page for up-to-date details and photos. Other things to do in the area: There are lots of other recreational activities here such as hiking, MTB, horse riding, Go-Ape and Segway tours for those who don’t fancy any exercise.…

THE superb interior of Tony’s 90 was created by Ruskin Design Ltd – a Leicester company launched in May 2012 by Stephen Castledine with a vision to bring a luxury product to the vehicle interiors market. In fact, they’re so good they don’t call them mere ‘interiors’. They’re known as Ruskin Insides — a name since trademarked. Today the company is seen as an international leader in handcrafted interiors, specialising in Defenders. Creating exclusive designs that reflect individual personality and lifestyle, every Ruskin Inside™ is handmade to order, using the finest UK-sourced leathers. From replacement seat covers, roof linings and carpets through to door card, dashboard and gear shift covers; everything is precision-cut, handstitched and fitted by skilled craftsmen and women. The company’s mission statement says: “Offering everything expected of…

IF you read our November 2019 issue then you are well aware of the 10,000-mile Last Overland Expedition from Singapore to London. This incredible 100-day trip of a lifetime is a reverse recreation of the original Oxford and Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition that took place in 1955. It gets better: Oxford, a Series I 86in which was on that original expedition, is now leading the Last Overland team back to London. While I joined them for the Malaysian and Singapore leg for the aforementioned feature they have now reached the halfway point of their expedition. Since I left them in northern Malaysia they have travelled through Thailand, Myanmar, India and Nepal. While the original plan was to get back to London for Christmas they did spend longer than they would’ve…

TWO years ago on a blazing hot summer’s day we broke the Guinness World Record for the most ‘Land Rovers on Parade’ at the Billing Off-road Show. While nearly 1000 Land Rovers lined up for the attempt, the new official record now stands at 640. This year in another first, we held the inaugural LRM Women’s off-road day. Land Rovers started arriving from as early as 8.00am and with a burger van on site there was time for the obligatory pre-event bacon and caffeine fixes. Billing legend Charlie Thorn, the head marshal, gave a safety briefing after a few words from yours truly, and the day was ready to kick off. It was great to see Charlie back at Billing after a recent bout of illness. It must be said…

The Scottish Hill Rally Club is running the 2019 Britpart Scottish Borders Hillrally on November 16 and 17 at Forest Estate, St John Town of Dalry, near Castle Douglas. The Hillrally will start at 8.00am on Saturday with stages running until around 6.00pm and 3.00pm on Sunday, with each stage being run more than once. This is a limited spectator event but all marshals are always welcome, no previous experience necessary as you will be teamed up with experienced marshals, and there is free camping or caravanning on-site. Further details and event regulations can be found via the club's Facebook pages: facebook.com/groups/ScottishHillRallyClub/.…

4x4 Adventures Ltd is holding a David Bowyer’s convoy led off-road driving and social event on December 7 at David Bowyer’s Off Road Centre near Credition in Devon. After meeting at Zeal Monachorum and following a briefing the convoy will head out towards to David Bowyer's Off Road Centre where David will lead you around the off-road course and where you'll have the opportunity to put your off-road skills into practice on private land. This is also the perfect chance to talk about maps and greenlaning. The day will give those attending a real insight into off-road driving and greenlaning. Further information on this and other courses and activities can be found on the 4x4 Adventures Ltd website: www.4x4adventures.co.uk.…

REGULAR readers will know that although I live in rural Northamptonshire I return to my native Norfolk as often as I can, not least because greenlaning is welcome there – unlike in my adopted county, where it is under real pressure. Although most of Norfolk is pretty flat, the flattest area of all is the Fens in the west of the county. And it was here I returned early one morning, when I decided to seek out the scene of the first road accident I’d been involved in, back in 1971 when I was just 15. My mate Neville, who was acouple of years older, had just passed his motorbike test, which by some quirk of British law entitled him to drive a three-wheeler. Sure enough, Nev traded in his…

SIR William Lyons, the founder of Jaguar once said: “The car is the closest thing we will ever create to something that is alive”. Of all the jobs on a Land Rover, the single task that reflects that the most, is wiring up a vehicle. Many components go to create a vehicle, but only when they are connected electrically (or electronically) will they usually function as one. That moment when you first turn on the ignition and start the engine is always a highlight. Magically, every system suddenly comes to life. Wiring tends to be fitted in multi-strand groups of wires, which make up the loom. In its most simple terms, one side of the battery connects to the starter motor and to the ignition via the dashboard and thus…

THE definition of a classic car is open to debate. In America it has to have been built in 1948 or earlier; in the UK it has to be 40 years old in order to enjoy tax-free classic status with the DVLA, while HM Revenue and Customs define a classic car for company taxation purposes as being over 15 years old and having a value in excess of £15,000. Wherever you live in the world, a classic car is generally accepted to be an older vehicle of sufficient historical interest to be worth preserving rather than scrapping —and certainly not one fresh off the production line just three years ago. So there is sure to be controversy at the Silverstone Classic Motor Show Sale in November when a 2016 Defender…

How did you find your project? It certainly took a while. I spent several months looking at websites and workshops. Finally I found this gem, a project that someone started but never finished. It had been given a respray and a custom bespoke twin exhaust from a small back street garage in Leicestershire. That was it. So what have you done since then? I am just about finished and it’s been nine months of ups and downs. I wanted to compete with the big boys and create a bespoke Defender using my own designs. The cab was fully stripped and redone. The engine partly stripped, loads of new bits added and as mentioned a totally new design by yours truly. How is the engine running? When driving it home after…