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Restoring a Lightweight

P

Paul Morriss

In Third Gear
Hi,
I have been offered a series III lightweight FFR Land Rover as a restoration project, it isn't in a good state, severe rust issues on the cross members, suspension mounts, as well as around the seals. Both doors are pretty well scrap as they are a pile of rust.

My question is, given the state of the vehicle: From your expert knowledge, is this vehicle repairable still at cost effective price? I know mounts and cross members can be replaced separately, my fear is that rust could have spread.

I hope my question and description isn't too vague...:dunno1:
 
any landrover is saveable either with a lot of welding or a brand new chassis. however, no landrover is saveable at a cost effective price. you don't restore one to be cost effective, you restore one becuase you want to. once you start, you will find a whole host of other things that need replacing or rebuilding and this will cost more and more. take it on, get as far as you can with it. hopefully you will do a proper job and love it forever. you may however get halfway through and sell it, doesn't matter though.
 
If you can see yourself driving it after spending 2 years restoring then I would say yes because the lightweight is an icon, but I don't think any of us do it for profit.
I bought my IIa for scrap, and after restoration I love driving it - especially the looks from the kids who wave. It's just a fun thing to drive.
If the chassis has been patched before, mountings are going and you are looking at holes all over it, then a new chassis is the way to go, but if it's just the back end then you can replace bits.
 
Thank you, I have had a lightweight before and loved it, I have never attempted a full chassis up restoration though. What I was probably trying to ask (really badly!) is that the guy is asking and won't budge on £5700 for the vehicle, there are still a few LW around, would I be better off going for a light restoration?

I can really see myself driving a LW again, maybe with a replacement engine as the original block is a little gutless ;)
 
Paul Morriss said:
Thank you, I have had a lightweight before and loved it, I have never attempted a full chassis up restoration though. What I was probably trying to ask (really badly!) is that the guy is asking and won't budge on £5700 for the vehicle, there are still a few LW around, would I be better off going for a light restoration?

I can really see myself driving a LW again, maybe with a replacement engine as the original block is a little gutless ;)
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I would think you could get a much better one for that sort of money! David
 
There are a number of lightweights on ebay, I've just looked.The sort of money you're talking about should buy you a very good one, not a project. There's a project one on ebay for £500 or thereabouts. David
 
£5700 ??? and it needs work. you are having a fat one, surely ???
that money should get you one you could take to shows and be the envy of everyone. let it be someone else's problem.
 
thats insane money for a restoration. i would want it rebuilt for that money, not do it myself. £1000 max for a project, there are plenty around and most less than that. for £3500 you can get one that is tidy with tax and mot but probably wants a couple of jobs doing in the next year or two. £5000 should get a good, solid and reliable truck on a galvo chassis. just take a look through the ones on ebay and you will see what we mean.
 
christofloffer said:
thats insane money for a restoration. i would want it rebuilt for that money, not do it myself. £1000 max for a project, there are plenty around and most less than that. for £3500 you can get one that is tidy with tax and mot but probably wants a couple of jobs doing in the next year or two. £5000 should get a good, solid and reliable truck on a galvo chassis. just take a look through the ones on ebay and you will see what we mean.
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Thank you, I obviously didn't do my research correctly. He pointed me at sales in that ballpark. Guess he was trying it on :(

Back to looking, I fancy one that I can tinker with, maybe restore lightly, but chassis change seems pretty daunting...
 
there are plenty out there in nice useable condition for far less than 5700. a chassis change is daunting but it is just nuts and bolts and a bit of lifting, but it is a big time consuming job thats not to be taken lightly.
 
£ 5700 - that insane, that amount will get you a fully restored show condition example

£ 2000 will get you one in good working order with perhaps some minor work.

the one you describe is more likley to be £ 570.
 
I,m thinking about selling mine due to lack of use - £3600 would buy it :D IMG-20120129-00016.webp
 
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