Sorry, I'm a horrible poet... LOL!
Why a Defender
I've currently got my 110, two D1's and a S2A, I've had RRC's too.
In the past, numerous FJ40's, Hilux Pickups, Jeeps, Dodge Forest Service trucks, Military trucks and even a Trooper.Ford's Dodges,Isuzu's Toyota's, GM and Jeep.
They all provided me with great experiences loads of fun and more great memories than any one person should be allowed.
Exploring the Western USA and Mexico.
The 110 was my most recent purchase and aside from the few new vehicles I have purchased over the years it was the most expensive.
I went over it in my head a lot. For what I spent on theis truck I could have two FJ80's in top condition, and a whole herd of D1's and RRC's.
Physically it's an aluminum box on wheels,I'll need to put in a roll cage, the heater is pathetic, the wipers are crummy at best, I wear a rain hat in the truck when it rains and use an ice scraper on the inside when it snows.
But the seats fit me nicely (don't ask this question to my log legged 12 year old when he has to sit in the back though). The dashlights are akin to glow worms and the ignition switch is on the wrong side of the steering column (well the steering column is on the wrong side of the car too).
Underneath it's got a great frame and suspension. But the frame holds water and mud like a safe and they rust because of it.
It came with a 300tdi Nice little tractor motor, get's about 22 MPG, Could be a bit more modern I suppose what about that Brazilian 2.8? And the R380 it's a good tranny for the application (could use a lower first gear and that gap between 2nd and 3rd is like the grand canyon) The LT230 is a great Transfer case! But why change T case ratio's instead of diff ratios for the heavier trucks?
That's right there's those LR Diffs that can break with low gears!
The Salisbury, now there's a tough pice of kit! A Dana 60 in British trim! But 24 spline axles? One could easily fit 30's or even 35's.
The brakes are decent.
That front diff though... Ugh... Easy enough, I guess, to fit a FJ80 diff in there... And the CV's Try as they might (I don't think they tried) LR could have had a great set up there from the existing parts bin. I'll have to fix that.
Cr_p! I've got a lot of mod's to do to get this thing! Why on earth?
It's simple, tough, easy to modify.
So far in a Year it's provided some great memories and loads of fun over the course of 4 or 5 trips
I blame Marlin Perkins... Even though those would have been Series trucks back then. It's the Romance coupled with capability, the head turning, the fact that it's not the same as the others. Superior in many ways but in many ways not. It's a Defender.
I don't know if it's worth the $$. To me it apparently was, although I wish it didn't need to be that way, but then everyone would have one. Silly? Yes, Exclusive? Yes. Fiscally responsable? Maybe, but only if I ever sold it.
Of course now I've just finished "First Overland" and now I want a Series 1 88"SW so bad I can taste it!