Having decided to start another project, it wasn't a difficult decision to choose what vehicle! Land Rovers are renowned for being easy to work on, have a massive following, which relates to what is arguably the biggest online presence for advice, and good quality, cheap, brand new parts. Oh, and I do like them, which is always a bonus.

HISTORY
Thought to be an ex-military Land Rover Series III 109 LWB hard top and was originally, from the chassis plate, a petrol version. It was converted to diesel in a former life and now runs a 12J engine. This engine was in it when I bought it and the engine number is registered on the logbook.

It is on an 'X' plate but was manufactured in 1975 (exact date not known, but it says this on the logbook) It has Historical Vehicle status, and is therefore Tax Exempt. Sit back for a brief history of the last 20 months and what has been done/replaced. He stood for many years in a local field until I decided to rescue it for a restoration project (see the story above!), starting with the strip down to a rolling chassis and bulkhead.

BODYWORK
Taken down to a rolling chassis for welding and plating, which started with 27kg (yes, 27kg, I weighed it!) of Schultz being removed and the chassis rubbed down to the bare metal, plated and strengthened where needed. It has then had several coats of gloss chassis black to protect it.

• A new battery tray was fabricated and repairs to the bulkhead floor carried out.
• All bolts that were replaced have been replaced with stainless steel equivalents
• The front doors and door tops are new as is the glazed rear door.
• All locks are also new and the same key is used for all.
• New front door hinges and new rear door hinge-pins
• Original front bumperettes
• New under-wing splashguards
• Inner wings, splashguards and under-tub all treated to stone chip
• All panels taken back to pretty much bare metal and re-sprayed in Land Rover Dark Bronze Green and Limestone with 1 coat etch primer, 2 coats of primer and 3 top coats.
• Rear tub floor has been lined with heavy duty 'toothed' rubber matting
• Original brass bonnet clasps

EXTERNAL

• New front and rear shock absorbers
• New front swivels and Railko bushes
• New front brake lines and hoses
• New lights all round (front and rear). The front headlamps are halogen, with plastic bowls, and so only the bulbs will ever need replacing, not the whole units.
• New wiper arms and blades in black (with adapters)
• New door mirrors
• New vent seals and pins
• New metal number plates
• Original number plate light
• New washer jets
• Series wheels (x5), sandblasted and powder coated in the correct colour. All good tread, two are like new. Set of 5 locknuts and key. Genuine Land Rover high-lift jack

INTERNAL

• New ignition switch.
• New indicator stalk
• Custom seats keeping in with the old style Series III look.
• New seatbelts
• New gearknobs (x3)
• New rubber gaitors
• Original seatbox lids
• Original floor panels (treated to stonechip finish)

ENGINE AND RUNNING GEAR

• It has the military leaf-springs and drum brakes (larger than standard)
• New bump stops all round
• New front brake cylinders
• Custom front, rear, engine bay and wiring looms. All multi-plugged for easy removal. 2 new 6-way fuse boxes installed with several excellent earth points.
• New fuel lines all round
• New fuel cut-off solenoid
• New injectors
• New glowplugs
• New alternator
• New radiator
• New coolant hoses with quick release hose-clips
• New timing belt and pulley
• New oils (several flushes) and filter
• New sump gasket
• New clutch master cylinder
• New fuel filter
• New gearbox detent springs and bearings
• Steering box refurbishment kit fitted

BAD POINTS

• Brakes need bleeding. They work but need two pumps to get a full pedal
• It's 40 years old so the rear tub and front wings are rippled/dinged here and there
• Some of the paint on the bonnet and o/s rear quarter hasn't taken very well so will need some attention
• It is a little smokey when being worked hard, but this is to be expected on a car of this year, but it had its MOT in September but only done about 25 miles since then so assuming it needs a bloody good run.

GENERAL

• V5 in my name
• Historic Vehicle (Tax Exempt)
• Full documented photo history of restoration
• Bound Land Rover service manual

MOT from 5th September 2015, currently taxed (not that it matters any more as whatever is outstanding will be returned to me when I send off the logbook).
This is not a concours Land Rover, it has been restored to look like the original but by myself (+friends), not a garage or specialist. I have tried my best to reflect the Land Rover's Heritage. I'm not a Land Rover expert, I bought this as nothing more than an affordable project, so if anything described above isn't true to the purist, I can only apologise. That said, I enjoyed every minute of the restoration.
(Nearly) all receipts will be provided, along with a CD of over 1000 photographs of my journey showing each stage of the restoration. I have the V5 in my name and the chassis stamps match the V5 as does the engine number and chassis plate.

Due to recent surgery, it has not been possible to put any miles on it (have you tried driving one with no power steering and one arm!) so it hasn't had a proper run out, only 25 miles since the MOT.

Would I sell? Yes, but I'm not actively advertising at the minute, but am open to offers. If you are interested, please bear in mind the fact it has been off the road, except for it's MOT run, for over 5 years, I would suggest it is collected on a flatback and not driven home.

Location : Runcorn, Cheshire

Contact : chris@safeandsideways.co.uk

Start of the removal from it's home for the last 3 years

19th December 2015 - Finished!

I have tried to be as honest as I can and fully described the vehicle and all of the work carried out on it and therefore it will be sold as seen. Thank you for reading this, I do hope you like the photos/description, even if you are not interested in buying it.