Reeeeally tempted..

[AussieEtype]

Nah it's just a replica. I think Mike Roddy has one of the originals.

Thanks - so this is going to be your everyday driver then

Garry

[abowie]

Andrew,

You have my total respect. You are the man. What an excellent purchase.

Look at the piece of crap I bought last week. Compare and contrast. (Its from Australia!).

Very kind. I actually bought a SWB 1958 S1 Land Rover last year with a view to restoring it. I really like them.

Unbeknownst to me it had been used for boat launching by a farmer and was so corroded that it was completely unrestorable. It now resides at a friend's country property as a sort of folly.

[abowie]

Hoping to have it here in a couple of weeks.

[politeperson]

Couple of weeks, very exciting.

Dont want to hi-jack the thread with Land Rover nonsense.

It has no rust at all, however you can see it starting from the point at which it landed in the UK a couple of months ago.

It is already in bits so I can get the chassis blasted. All the brackets need protecting too. The engine, although complete, and the original one was stuck. I took it to Johns at the weekend, we looked inside and it doesn't look too bad.

I like the idea of a hood and sticks. Should be back together sooner rather than later.

[abowie]

I love the old Land Rovers. I'm sure I haven't bought my last one.

It's a pity about your engine. It was the only bit of mine that was salvageable. The rust was incredible. The rear springs were paper thin in places and the pitting on the rear axle casing was astonishing. I tried to disassemble the body but all of the bolts were just fused with rust.

[abowie]

Nah it's just a replica. I think Mike Roddy has one of the originals.

Thanks - so this is going to be your everyday driver then

Garry

I'd be dead in a couple of weeks. My plan is strictly for circuit use. It's like Jeremy Clarkson said of TVRs. "Sooner or later they all turn and kill their owners."

[abowie]

Progress. Finally.

The car arrived on Wednesday; only 3 weeks after my paying for the transport. I won't go into the details but suffice to say that if you pay peanuts you get monkeys, and stupid ones at that.

Anyway it's here in the workshop, on the hoist. Tomorrow Chris and I will start to go over it. Change fluids, inspect stuff etc.

I'll post some pictures, and updates as they come along.

[grimes6]

One of the original Bathurst cars came to Tamworth a few years after the race. The body panels were acid dipped and were so thin that they were only held together by the paint ! The car was sold but I don't know where it ended up.

Greg

[abowie]

[MarkRado]

Congrats Andrew, seems to be in very tidy condition,
- wow, if she drives as well!

[abowie]

An update. LOL.

So after I bought the car in November, it took 5 weeks for the idiot car transport company to get the car to me.

Then, it took 4 weeks for the exhaust guy to do what he said he'd do in 2 days.

So yesterday I took the car to Motor Registration for an ID check. They felt there were "inconsistencies". Wouldn't tell me what. They impounded the car and transported it off to the Police secure holding yard, pending a Police inspection.

The MR guy took great delight in telling me that as the car was now a police matter he couldn't discuss any details with me. Made his day.

So now I wait for minimum of 2 weeks (likely longer) for the Police to decide whether the car is kosher or not.

Best outcome is that they sort out whatever it is they don't like and I get my car back one day. Worst scenario is that they decide it's stolen or a write off and crush it. I have a document saying that it is neither from the Government database, so this is unlikely.

So the guy who sold it to me got a call today letting him know what had happened, that he'd be hearing from the Police, and that if I can't register the car I'll be after my money back.

I was a bit stressed about this yesterday, but today I can see the black humour it all of this. It's going to be a long time before Jezza gets to roar around a racetrack.

Will keep you all posted.

[MarkRado]

Hi Andrew,
sorry to hear that. I am sure those guys have never seen a car like that, so they just wanted to be on the safe side with this statement.

All the best
Mark

[Gfhug]

Hi Andrew

I echo Mark's comments and really hope you'll have the car on the track soon and we can all enjoy seeing video of you enjoying yourself. All the best for a good outcome

Geoff

[abowie]

I remain positive that this is just the usual bureaucratic bollocks.

As I've said, I think I'll get the car back. And if not, I'll loose my lawyer on the guy I bought it from.

It's just sad that those of us who just want to have a bit of well earned fun get messed around like this.

[abowie]

GREAT NEWS!

JEZZA IS OUT OF JAIL!!

Apparently (rolls eyes) when they checked the engine number, 2 of the digits were poorly/double stamped, leading Messers Holmes and Watson at the Bureau of Identifiying Cars to suspect skullduggery, blaggedry and common or garden foul play.

After 5 weeks they have decided that this is actually all OK after all and I can just come and get my car.

So now I get to go and get it, represent it for ID check (yes, I know), then on to a roadworthy inspection.

[vee12eman]

Fantastic news Andrew.
I hope to see Jezza in the metal one day!

All the best,

[AussieEtype]

That is great news - it always worries me when numbers need to go back on blocks, or the original was not done as good as they should.

My Rover V8 had its number originally stamped using the dot matrix style of automated stamping and was completely removed when I had the block skimmed - restamped using traditional means but I always worry when the number is checked.

Garry

[MarkRado]

Fantastic! But 5 weeks for two digits?

[H7OB]

Great news!
I bet you wanted to give them two digits!

[abowie]

Correct.