1979 Series III Landrover - and a happy son! (pics)

Benw

New member
Very nice! Those front seats look more comfy than stock ones, what brand are they?


They are - I'll have to check, but I suspect they've simply been sourced from a scrap vehicle of some sort. The sliding rails have been bolted straight to the landy's seatbox (so access to the passenger-side underseat cubby has been lost unfortunately) but they're certainly an improvement on the standard offerings without the awkward access of a bucket seat!

We resolved the slight issue with reverse gear selection today, unbolted that section of floor and tweaked the reverse 'stop' adjuster. works perfectly now!

There's some cabling to tidy up (for the rear spot), replacement of the carpet fitted in the rear, rear bench seat to source, Valves to replace in the rear tyres (maybe some new rubber while we're at it), fix an intermittent sidelight, unjam the driver's side sliding window (it works but very very stiff), free up the driver's door lock (again very stiff), source a battery clamp (it's currently just 'sitting' in the battery tray) and probably a better battery (it is new, but quite small, not sure it's really man enough for the job!)

and, bless him, he's talking of building in a stove, coolbox, water supply etc :)
 

Snagger

Explorer
Very nice, Ben, and a great choice of vehicle for a youngster - it's hard to drive, encouraging thinking ahead and good situational awareness, and it's simple enough to fix and service DIY, so he'll learn a good deal about vehicle maintenance and mechanics. I was turning 19 when I got my 109.

Those seats are definitely from another vehicle. While they look quite comfortable and supportive, they block access to the fuel tank and the tool box under the left seat. They may also block the lid under the cubby box. Fitting Defender front seats gives a good level of comfort while curing those access issues (the lower cushion lifts out) and would not constitute a modification for insurance purposes as they were fitted as standard to late SIII County Station Wagons.

Another mod I would recommend is the Wright Off Road cabin matting system - it reduces noise enormously, helps with warmth and looks great. A Defender heater system also helps at this time of year. They're on my blog, if you want a peek at how they can be done.

As for tyres, I can't recommend BFG ATs enough - they're excellent on dry and wet roads, and I had no problems in the Alpine tracks or our recent weather (the members from the NE US coast must be sniggering at the UK's inability to cope)..
 

BIGdaddy

Expedition Leader
wow. that's a great lookin' rig. He looks to be "happy as a clam".

My dad, just this year, helped me "buy" a vintage subaru wagon from a friend of his. (For the whopping sum of $1.00). Although I had to sell due to need a bigger rig, (thus financing my Jeep cherokee) I was SO appreciative of his generosity.

You're a good dad, sir!
 

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