SeriesG
Offroader
I recently acquired a Land Rover series IIa 88 for this winter's garage project. I've been wanting another one ever since I sold my beloved 65' IIa 88" some thirty-odd years ago. They were rare as hens teeth here in western Canada back then and it isn't any better now. Those that do pop up for sale are often either very expensive or very rough and all are certainly a great distance away. When this Poppy Red beauty showed up for sale at a reasonable price near Cold Lake, Alberta it was a no brainer to quickly rent a truck and trailer and make the 900km roundtrip to get it. Score!!
The short version of my "plan" is to get running, shake it down, then give it what it needs to be a mechanically reliable daily driver and weekend warrior for next summer. After a season of backcountry exploration, camping, and adventure in northern Saskatchewan it'll be ready for a complete teardown over the next winter to address chassis, suspension, and maybe paint.
A bit about the vehicle:
From the chassis number it appears to be a very late production series IIa from 1971 and just before the line changed over to the series III. It's got a 2.25L petrol engine, suffix F IIa transmission, alternator, powered dual-circuit brakes, headlamps in the wings, side marker lights, reverse light, and a fancy interior package including comfy (comparatively) seats, full coverage door panels with arm rests, and a complete headliner and interior trim panel package including seat belts. It's pretty luxurious compared to my old bare-bones 65!
Upon initial inspection the frame seems to be surprisingly rust free and solid. The odometer says 18437 miles so I'd guess it's got that plus 100,000. It's leaking oil from every possible place and more which is to be expected of a vehicle that's over fifty years old and probably hasn't been driven in thirty. It comes with the 1977 version of the famous Warn 8274 winch, a Toro type overdrive unit, and what the previous owner claimed were 16 x 6" Defender wheels. From what I can tell it's got all the series III parts a IIa can have and still be a IIa.
As for myself I'm a Machinist by trade and after 35 years in the business I'm on the management end of a medium sized manufacturing facility. I've always had a love for bringing rusty mechanical marvels of the past back to working order and I've done a slew of vintage cars, trucks, tractors, stationary engines, etc over the years. I'm very excited to get this fine 4x4 back on the dirt.
So here we go. These are the initial pictures I took after we brought it home. It did come with the fenders and bonnet but they had been removed by the previous owner for engine work I suppose. Enjoy!
The short version of my "plan" is to get running, shake it down, then give it what it needs to be a mechanically reliable daily driver and weekend warrior for next summer. After a season of backcountry exploration, camping, and adventure in northern Saskatchewan it'll be ready for a complete teardown over the next winter to address chassis, suspension, and maybe paint.
A bit about the vehicle:
From the chassis number it appears to be a very late production series IIa from 1971 and just before the line changed over to the series III. It's got a 2.25L petrol engine, suffix F IIa transmission, alternator, powered dual-circuit brakes, headlamps in the wings, side marker lights, reverse light, and a fancy interior package including comfy (comparatively) seats, full coverage door panels with arm rests, and a complete headliner and interior trim panel package including seat belts. It's pretty luxurious compared to my old bare-bones 65!
Upon initial inspection the frame seems to be surprisingly rust free and solid. The odometer says 18437 miles so I'd guess it's got that plus 100,000. It's leaking oil from every possible place and more which is to be expected of a vehicle that's over fifty years old and probably hasn't been driven in thirty. It comes with the 1977 version of the famous Warn 8274 winch, a Toro type overdrive unit, and what the previous owner claimed were 16 x 6" Defender wheels. From what I can tell it's got all the series III parts a IIa can have and still be a IIa.
As for myself I'm a Machinist by trade and after 35 years in the business I'm on the management end of a medium sized manufacturing facility. I've always had a love for bringing rusty mechanical marvels of the past back to working order and I've done a slew of vintage cars, trucks, tractors, stationary engines, etc over the years. I'm very excited to get this fine 4x4 back on the dirt.
So here we go. These are the initial pictures I took after we brought it home. It did come with the fenders and bonnet but they had been removed by the previous owner for engine work I suppose. Enjoy!
Mine was ex post office.
