Drove a 1983 Defender 110 today....

[GunshipDriver]

...funny story.. I actually was the high bidder on an auction on Ebay that closed today.. Xmas Eve and made it down to the stealership that was selling it as well and took it for a spin.

Here's the link to the ebay auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320464024935#ht_500wt_1146

It was a great price.. and a good vehicle... probably worth every penny.. however, the dripping oil and rust on the frame were not part of what I was looking to take on with two little ones at home (1 and 3 year old boys).

It reminded me of driving my 1981 Diesel 40 series Land Cruiser and boy did I want the vehicle... oh well.. as the years go on I will hope (imported) Defender prices come down to this price on average as better specimens are imported..

 

[JohnnyS]

I wouldn't have been able to control myself and would've bought it.
Smart move though.

 

[Wander]

Too bad it didn't work out. Did you get a chance to see registration? If so what year did it have on it?

The e-bay add shows 1964 but then says it's an 83 Defender which is incorrect as the Defender's did not start until 1990. If it was an 83 it would still be a Series III and as it still has cappings along the side I think it is an older Series or maybe a Stage I that had a new front end put on to look like a Defender. It's got some nice kit on it and with some work would be a nice truck. With the rust issues discovered was the seller willing to deal on the price? I noticed nothing about the frame or bulkhead was mentioned nor are there any pictures of those areas.

 

[GunshipDriver]

Too bad it didn't work out. Did you get a chance to see registration? If so what year did it have on it?

The e-bay add shows 1964 but then says it's an 83 Defender which is incorrect as the Defender's did not start until 1990. If it was an 83 it would still be a Series III and as it still has cappings along the side I think it is an older Series or maybe a Stage I that had a new front end put on to look like a Defender. It's got some nice kit on it and with some work would be a nice truck. With the rust issues discovered was the seller willing to deal on the price? I noticed nothing about the frame or bulkhead was mentioned nor are there any pictures of those areas.

wow.. interesting.. I was told it was a "1983".. and that that it was registered in CA. It did have coil springs front and back.. the front did have a good deal of rust on them.

If the seller lowered the price a little I might have budged... It was probably worth it thinking of it now.. but I don't have the extra money or time to put into it unfortunately...

 

[Alaska Mike]

Well, you're right and wrong there. The Defender name wasn't used until 1990, but the Land Rover 110 was introduced in 1983 and was a Defender in everything but the name. It's certainly not a Series. Since most buyers of Land Rovers in North America pretty much know only Defenders (except for the few '89 models), the seller marketed it as such.

To my simple mind, if it looks kinda like a Series but has factory coil springs, it's a Defender. I know I'm wrong, but I'm good with that.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I think it's a NA 2.5 also which is a pretty gutless little engine, probably the largest single drawback but an awesome truck nevertheless...

I have to say and I hope its appropriate to mention it but I would be pretty pissed if I had someone bid to win a vehicle and showed up and scoffed at oil leaks and such to not buy it in the manner you appear to have... It is a 1983 Land Rover, of course it leaks. You were bidding to purchase a vehicle for christsakes... The seller also has to pay probably close to $60-100 in auction fees for your (lack of purchase) purchase...

 

[CharlieV]

X2, how far was the dealership? Maybe a pre-bid trip down may have been in order.

 

[overlander]

I wouldn't have hesitated to pull the trigger on that one for the price it sold at. Even if there were some leaks and rust on the frame, which I would expect for that age, the remainder looks to be in pretty good condition. Examples of that age being imported that I have seen are selling for $25k+ all day long.

That full external cage alone is worth $3k-$5k.

Looked like a great deal to me. It's great to see them starting to come into the country now.

 

[Blueboy]

the dripping oil and rust on the frame

lol!!!! just classic.


Jaime

 

[Wander]

Hey Mike,

I was going on the info I gleaned from the LR site in their "history" section but I know that this period of production is kind of vague. There is a listing for an 83 Series III 109 here in NC and it has the older style dash/interior and looks pretty similar from the bulkhead back to this one. When did the cappings get painted over on production vehicles-1990? I thought it odd that the seller listed it as a 1964 in title but then called it an 83 in the desciption. I also found a listing for an 83 "110" that I think is a stage I as it has the 3.5 V8-is this correct? I think the seller is using the Defender name in an attempt to get Defender money(which is crazy high to me)but in reality it's an 83 110 at the most-but a nice looking one at that.

Pictures attached

 

[GunshipDriver]

I think it's a NA 2.5 also which is a pretty gutless little engine, probably the largest single drawback but an awesome truck nevertheless...

I have to say and I hope its appropriate to mention it but I would be pretty pissed if I had someone bid to win a vehicle and showed up and scoffed at oil leaks and such to not buy it in the manner you appear to have... It is a 1983 Land Rover, of course it leaks. You were bidding to purchase a vehicle for christsakes... The seller also has to pay probably close to $60-100 in auction fees for your (lack of purchase) purchase...

It did feel gutless... The seller at the dealership was pissed.. it was an interesting exchange at the end. If the multiple oil leaks were stated in the auction as well degree of rust on the undercarriage and door sills mentioned I would not have had any issue with the listing.

A pre-bid visit would have been a good idea--or the seller being more truthful in the listing. The seller can use the mutual non-purchase function in Ebay which would save the seller ALL of the auction fees. I have bought and sold a dozen vehicles off Ebay before... all of which went more smoothly then this and did go through completion whether it was me selling or them buying.

I would love a project vehicle... My '89 BMW M3 is one.. it too leaks oil. I don't want another project. In fact I sold my 1981 Diesel 40 series a couple of years back with the arrival of the second little one as I didn't have for a project with its rust and leaks. I should be finished with my Masters this summer and a little more time to do projects with.. just don't think I want to be fixing a vehicle vice taking my family camping with that new found time...

 

[Alaska Mike]

The chassis code listed is for a '83/'84 Land Rover 110, at least according to LRFAQ. Also interesting that the vehicle likely had an engine swap from a 2.25L, at least going by the numbers. You think it's gutless now...

I think you made a good call based on your needs/wants now. However, I would have been all over that puppy.

 

[IPSC_GUY]

Hey Mike,

I was going on the info I gleaned from the LR site in their "history" section but I know that this period of production is kind of vague. There is a listing for an 83 Series III 109 here in NC and it has the older style dash/interior and looks pretty similar from the bulkhead back to this one. When did the cappings get painted over on production vehicles-1990? I thought it odd that the seller listed it as a 1964 in title but then called it an 83 in the desciption. I also found a listing for an 83 "110" that I think is a stage I as it has the 3.5 V8-is this correct? I think the seller is using the Defender name in an attempt to get Defender money(which is crazy high to me)but in reality it's an 83 110 at the most-but a nice looking one at that.

Pictures attached

It is a 110, which would become the Defender in 1990. I am told that they did that to differentiate it from the new Discovery coming out then. This is not a Series vehicle, might have a title as one.... Funny thing is the 110 is really a 109 inch wheel base and the name 110 was just to differentiate it from the series III. I believe that Land Rover continued the Series 109 model production up till 1985 along side the newer 110 line. Calling it a Defender is not totally incorrect but yeah your right they are trying to get some of the cache off of the Defender name. I do not refer to my 83 as a Defender.

Couple of Questions and some observations.

It looks to be a Safety Devices cage, is it? Or did you ask? If so there should be an inner hoop behind the B pillar and some more internal bracing in the rear.

When you saw Rust on the frame. How bad was it?

It looks to be a good starting point. A galvy frame swap, a stronger engine and better axles might make this a REALLY nice 110.

My 110 is an 83 and it has had a Functional resto in the UK before it came over, New Bulkhead (THANK YOU GOD ! ! !) and bits of the frame replaced and Waxoiled. I am thinking Frame swap down the road plus I live in Idaho so the rusting process will be slowed due to the environment. Mine also has a 300 TDI and I had a Safety device cage off of a NAS 110 along with the NAS rear bumper and ladder. I probably have double that purchase price in mine.

Like I said, I think if someone were looking for a project, this would be a good starting point. If your not looking for a long term project I would pass on this one too. This thread might help get the thing sold as there are people out there looking for exactly the above vehicle.

IPSC_GUY
SIERRA II ALPHA

 

[Blueboy]

and don't forget about the SIII 109 Stage 1 which had a 3.5 V8 and the at the time Rangie full-time 4wd running gear although with leaf springs.

available from 1979 to 1985.

as it had the "flat" front, some folks mistake it for a 110.


Jaime

 

[TeriAnn]

A couple things to keep in mind:

1. The British are not good at oil seals. Expect British vehicles to leak 90 wt unless someone went through some extra effort. Leaks comes with the territory.

2. The roads are salted during UK winters. That's why there is a replacement frame industry. Assume any 25 year old truck imported from the UK to have frame rust issues unless there has been a very recent frame replacement & bulkhead work done.

When looking to purchase a new UK import truck that is 25 years old or older just assume you will need to also buy a new frame & maybe bulkhead and figure replacement into your budget unless you preinspect the vehicle and find out otherwise.

Just a observation and suggestion