Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2022 i Land Rover Monthly

DURING a recent meeting of UK Defender owners with factory fitted BMW M52 engines the topic of conversation inevitably turned to fully electric cars. One of the owners is currently having a Volkswagen-approved electric conversion done on his old split screen VW. The conversion is not cheap; in fact you could buy a new Defender for the cost. The reason is not only do they need to use the battery packs and motor from the VW ID.4 but they also need to make changes to the braking and suspension systems. Another Defender 2.8i owner who has had a Porsche from new commented that if an electric conversion was the only way he could keep his Porsche on the road in the future, then he would seriously consider it. Obviously he…

Hitch warning I READ with interest the article in Norfolk Garage of December 2021. The tow hitch pictured was of a type with a limited capacity of, I believe 1.5 ton. When new they were painted orange so users would know not to use them above their rated capacity! The tow ball is the same diameter as the more common 3.5 ton so the unknowing later user could inadvertently hook on a heavier trailer which clearly presents a danger of inadvertent detachment. Examination of the tow hitch clearly indicates it is not strong enough to withstand the greater loads involved. The attraction to the innocent purchaser was that the retail price of that type of hitch was less than half of the Dixon Bate type rated at 3.5 tons! The…

HELEN and Chris Hewett have known each other since they were four years old and, while it might not have been love at first sight back then, it very soon was. They became childhood sweethearts and marriage was an inevitable conclusion when the time came. Today, Chris is a specialist Hazardous Area Response Team paramedic and in his spare time is chairman of the Camel Trophy Club, while Helen is an animal chiropractor specialising in horses and dogs. They also share other passions – for Camel Trophy, Land Rovers generally, and off-roading. Between them they own a much-cherished and original Camel 110 that was part of the advance party in the Argentina-Paraguay-Chile ’94 event, and a stunning Freelander I that was used during the international team selections in Sweden for…

I have met some pretty incredible people through working for SA4x4 magazine and now Land Rover Monthly. This includes folk we feature in the mag or Landy-related businesses but then sometimes those encounters extend beyond what I would classify as a work relationship. Could this be because of our mutual love of Land Rovers and camping? Probably, but there might be more to it? These friends I am referring to have similar kit to mine on their Land Rovers, they like to cook something a little more complicated than bangers and burgers on a BBQ, plus they would rather be wild camping in a remote location in the middle of winter than attending the same show with the same club for the 20th year in a row (not that there’s…

SEPTEMBER became a busy month, not only were there a number of motorsport events I was involved with, but most importantly it was the Patina National, which as far as my Series I is concerned is the most important event of the year. SXF is still being neglected as far as use is concerned, but it has been out more this year than in the past few. In the weeks running up to the Patina National, SXF gets a good check over and routine maintenance, plus a few runs out to check everything is running okay – a good shakedown you could say. This year the shakedown was on a stubble field, and I discovered when trying 4WD high box the yellow level wouldn’t engage – it was very loose.…

THERE are several things oil does in an engine besides lubricate, such as removing heat. It also cleans, thanks to detergents added to it. As oil flows around the passages and bearings, that detergent lifts dirt and carries it away in suspension. This is partly the reason oil discolours: it is simply doing its secondary job of cleaning. That collected dirt doesn’t keep accumulating in suspension though. If it did, the increasing density of suspended crud in the oil could slowly turn it into an abrasive fluid. To prevent oil becoming abrasive, it is designed to deposit any dirt as sediment. That sediment forms anywhere, but the sump holding the largest volume of oil, is usually where it builds most noticeably, along with any lumps of debris and foreign bodies.…

SECONDHAND Land Rovers are now fetching more than new ones, because demand is outstripping supply – particularly for new Defender and Discovery 5. Even late L322 model Range Rovers, which can usually be relied on suffer depreciation of about £500 a month are now seeing values appreciate by that amount. It’s a topsy-turvy world reminiscent of the early 1970s, when the newly-launched Range Rover was so popular that Land Rover couldn’t build them fast enough and secondhand values overtook the price of new ones. Folk said it would never happen again, but half a century later it has. Back in 1970, conspiracy theories hadn’t been invented – not so today. There’s a rumour doing the rounds that old Defender prices are rising because someone very rich is buying up all…

RENOWNED explorer Kingsley Holgate will be putting the new Defender’s technical capabilities through its paces, as he embarks on a year-long transcontinental expedition. The 30,000 km journey will pass through 30 countries, from the southern tip of the African continent to the most northern point of Europe, and then on to the mystical Isle of Anglesey in Wales. Of course, no expedition with Kingsley’s name to it is complete without humanitarian work en route and objectives include eye tests and reading glasses for the elderly in remote areas, the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets to mothers and children, the delivery of two million meals to crèches, educational conservation work near elephant and rhino populations, and the supply of water to communities with shortages. The core Holgate team will be using…

PVC HOOD PRICE: Various CONTACT: Exmoortrim.co.uk Exmoor Trim produce a variety of PVC hoods to fit just about every type of old Defender. Unlike canvas hoods they are easier to maintain and can take punishment from the elements. Plus they have safety and protective features, too. SS EXHAUST PRICE: £818.40 CONTACT: johncraddockltd.co.uk Need a new exhaust system for your Range Rover P38? Get the 4.0/4.6 engine sounding sweet with a twin tailpipe, rear silencers, Y-pipe and centre box. BUMPER PRICE: From £180 to £445 CONTACT: ore4x4.co.uk Ore4x4 now has a series of Defender bumpers made from both mild and stainless steel. All bumpers have been powder-coated and tested to withstand over 100 hours of salt spray. Also available with daytime running lights though this will impact cost, of course. LED…

DURING the summer I don’t restrict my weekend show escapades to those with the words Land Rover, overland, off-road or 4x4 in them. For example, if you recall last month’s magazine, I went to the Keswick Mountain Festival to run a 25 km trail race and test Autohome’s rooftop tent that was especially made for the new Defender. Another excursion was to accompany a good friend to the Game Fair on a fine and warm Saturday morning. If you have not been, I would highly recommend it, and there were more Land Rovers in attendance than at some of the green oval dedicated shows I had attended earlier in the summer. I also learnt more about British culture in those few hours than I did when studying for the English…

THE fourth generation Land Rover L405 was launched at the Paris Motor Show in 2012. Fast forward to nearly a decade and here I am at JLR’s impressive Gaydon design facility to get a first peek at the all-new fifth generation Range Rover, the L460. I have been to a few of these momentous reveals at Gaydon, including the current Discovery and Defender. My favourite bit of the whole reveal is when Prof Gerry McGovern OBE, JLR’s Chief Creative Officer, takes to the floor. Like him or hate him the man has been at the helm of design when JLR has enjoyed both their most successful and now most challenging times. Before the big unveil Gerry likes to set the scene and explain the thinking behind JLR’s current design strategy.…

IT’S always a refreshingly early start for a Sunday morning. But where else will your day be started with the lovely sound that is a Lister D stationary engine, firing up to ensure its saleability in readiness for the punters? Over to my right, I spy an old Leyland Tractor on a trailer, and had it been grey, and sporting a Ferguson name badge, I may well have been tempted. As far as the eye can see there is literally hundreds of stalls with a huge array of other fascinating curios on offer. Behind me is a trader offering nearly every tool known to man (and woman) and enough Duct Tape on offer so no one would go short. There are old vintage signs leaning up against a wall, ready…

MANY Defenders spend the majority of their working life on a farm, with a construction company or perhaps a utility company – all kinds of arduous environments. This causes an inevitable toll on soft components within the cab, such as door trims, floor coverings and, of course, the seats. The driver’s seat usually is the one to suffer particularly badly, although the passenger seat can have a hard life, too. Brand-new replacement Defender seats are available and cost around £450 for a basic vinyl finished seat, rising to higher prices for fabric finishes and even more for leather. So if your Defender happens to have two damaged and shabby front seats, there is little change out of £1000 to have them replaced with new ones. There is a very effective…

Thurs 11 Nov DURHAM DALES LAND ROVER TOUR Durham, Northumberland uklandroverevents.com Fri 12 Nov - Sun 14 Nov CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham necclassicmotorshow.com Sat 13 Nov - Sun 14 Nov MID WALES 4X4 TOUR Builth Wells, Wales 4x4adventuretours.co.uk TYRO AND RTV TRIAL TBC slroc.co.uk EXTREME CHALLENGE 4X4 Fecamp France fecampforestparc.e-monsite.com THE WELSH ONE50 Walters Arena, Glynneath thewelshxtrem.co.uk 4X4 MID WALES TOUR Builth Wells, Wales 4x4adventuretours.co.uk Sunday 14 Nov PAY AND PLAY DAY Slindon Safari Centre, Slindon 4x4driving.co.uk LINCS CCV TRIAL Wickenby Airfield, Wickenby 4x4driving.co.uk PEN9 RTV/CCV TRIAL Rothwell, Leeds penninelandrover.co.uk LINCS CCV TRIAL Scopwick llrc.co.uk RTV TRIAL Burgh Castle cdlrc.com CCV AND TIMED TRIAL Stainby, Melton Mowbray lrlrc.co.uk 4X4 RTV TRIAL Brotherton yorkshireoffroadclub.net 4X4 CCV/RTV TRIAL Manton emorc4x4.net CCV INTERCLUB TRIAL Sudbury elrc.info 4X4 PAY AND PLAY…

Where are you from? I’m originally from Cornwall but I now live in Brisbane, Australia. I used to work as an environmental consultant but now I have turned into a Land Rover whisperer. How did you find this project? I bought ‘Old Girl’ unseen on eBay. She was registered and, at least on paper, road legal. The appeal was that she was a 109 and I had grand visions of touring Australia in her and sleeping in the back. What’s the story so far? On the five-hour drive home after buying her I soon discovered she was far from roadworthy – she also blew her head gasket and overheated as I navigated the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Having only recently moved to Australia, I had no tools so she sat neglected…

The Defender family now features an enhanced engine line-up and standard and optional equipment. More specifically, the 90 Hard Top is additionally available with Land Rover’s Ingenium D250 straight-six diesel engine and in both standard and SE specifications. The SE specification adds significant additional equipment as standard including: premium LED headlights with signature DRL and front fog lights, 20” Style 5094, five-spoke, Gloss Sparkle Silver wheels, 12-way heated, electric memory front seats with two-way manual headrests, centre console with armrest, Meridian sound system, and keyless entry and blind spot assist. In addition, a new ‘Resist’ animal-free seating material is introduced replacing grained leather and continues to be available as a no-cost option. Changes to the Defender core range include the introduction of the larger 11.4” infotainment touchscreen. X-Dynamic now features a…

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WHEN you are running a small Land Rover repair and restoration business, one of the trickier aspects of managing the workload is knowing when to turn down a job. Compared to the big boys my workshop is very sparsely equipped: I don’t even have a four-post lift. If a job needs a special tool I have to ask myself whether the investment in that tool will ever pay for itself. I have a shelf full of special tools with instructions, still boxed and only used once, and I do not really want to add anything to that particular collection. I also have to consider whether my own skills and experience are adequate to be able to do a satisfactory job. In the early days I would take on absolutely anything:…

THE only part of your Land Rover that should have contact with the surface you are driving on are your tyres (unless you're Edd Cobley – seen in action above!) So if there is one thing that you want to get right for your safety and that of your passengers then it would have to be your choice of tyres. How do you pick the right tyre for your Land Rover? That all depends on what you drive and how you intend using it, of course. Do you only use your Freelander 1 as a daily driver or for long road trips? Then mud terrains are definitely not the way to go. This guide is not going to tell you which tyre to buy, nor is it going to tell…

For those that want something a little more there is the new Range Rover SV, which will provide customers with even higher levels of customisation and a truly bespoke luxury build. These Special Vehicles Operations creations will be the first Land Rovers to sport the little white ceramic SV roundel. We were shown both the SV Serenity and the SV Intrepid design themes for the new Range Rover. These two-tone front-to-rear contrasting colours make use of various exclusive materials such as ceramics, plated metals and soft leathers. I was astounded by the levels of opulence on the SV Signature Suite LWB option, it was like a personalised Learjet on wheels–I'm thinking specifically here of the electrically-deployable club table that rises from the centre console or 24-way adjustments on the massage…

IN 1947, when The Rover Company had the idea for a vehicle that would improve upon the Second World War Jeep, it began by creating the Centre Steer, which is often referred to as the first Land Rover. It was actually based on a Jeep owned by Maurice Wilks, Rover’s Technical Director, so it’s more of a concept vehicle than a prototype Land Rover. After experimenting with chassis specifications, Rover built 48 pre-production vehicles numbered 01 to 48, each of which had either an L or an R prefix indicating left-or-right-hand drive. R01, which is the British Motor Museum’s renowned HUE 166, is therefore considered to be the first Land Rover. But before the final pre-pros had been completed, Rover deemed itself happy with the design and the first production…

Land Rover Monthly’s digital library dates back to May 2015 and allows you to enjoy the latest issue and future issues before they go on sale in the shops for as long as your subscription remains active. This enables you to read any feature from Land Rover Monthly during this time – technical advice, buying guides, classic Land Rovers and much more – they are all immediately available with a subscription via Exact Editions. It’s just £9.99 a quarter by direct debit or a full year for only £39.99. Subscribe now – www.bit.ly/lrmexact…

YOU may remember a television series called Last of the Summer Wine. Filmed around the Yorkshire town of Holmfirth. It was a comedy about the exploits of three old men. The longest-running comedy show in Britain, airing from 1973 to 2010, it was, in fact the longest-running sitcom in the world. A minor character, Wesley Pegden was often seen working in his garage, or around his Land Rover. His face as grease-streaked as his overalls, Wesley was repeatedly yelled in for lunch by his sharp-tongued wife, who preceded his every step in the house by laying down newspaper on the kitchen floor. If he leant on the wall, she’d put newspaper on that, too, lest he should leave a greasy mark in the immaculately clean house. It was a cheap…

AT the old farmyard that I bought in 2019, primarily for storing Land Rover projects, parts and other associated equipment, there was an old cow shed – a small byre – that was pretty much derelict. The roof was caving in, there was no door and inside it was divided into cattle cubicles. Not much use for anything! Having agreed to buy the old farmyard, the early plans were to build a new unit to rent to my friend Anthony O’Neill as a paint shop (where he paints an ever-increasing number of Land Rovers for me, as well as restoring vintage tractors) and to build a lean to on the big hay barn as a second workshop for myself. I had some great help with the early stages of these…

EARLY environmental regulations led to engine management systems aimed at controlling exhaust emissions. The last of the 300Tdi engines had an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve that returned small amounts of exhaust gas back into the combustion chamber, so reducing nitrous oxides in the exhaust gas from the tailpipe. This was a simple valve which often failed because of exhaust carbon building up inside, causing the valve to stick in the open or closed position. Most owners simply unplugged it without affecting the car’s driving performance. The next generation of engine, the Td5, had a more complex EGR system incorporating an exhaust gas cooler and an engine management system that would warn you if the EGR failed – and affected the performance of the engine. The later Ford TDCi engine…

I’VE been to a few book launches over the years and most have been as dull as ditch water. October’s Camel Trophy Club event to launch Nick Dimbleby’s new definitive history of the Camel Trophy was, by contrast, quite spectacular, as most things are when it comes to Camel Trophy! Co-hosted by Nick and Amazon 1989 UK team winner Bob Ives at Bob’s farm in Hampshire, this remarkable invitation-only event brought together the vehicles as well as people associated with the event from the very first (Trans-Amazonica in 1980) to the last (Tonga-Samoa in 2000) as well as Camel Trophy Club members and enthusiasts. Turning the corner into the farmyard, visitors were greeted by a veritable sea of Sandglow, with 30 Camel vehicles of all types lining the driveway and…