In my old company they ran a fleet of several hundred land Rovers, ones fitted with the V8 petrol engine, you were lucky to get 8 mpg less if used off road. I dread to think what the company fuel bill was just for the Land Rovers never mind the fleet of Transit vans and all the rest of the different vehicles.
saxo1
I had a 73 S3 swb too. Great fun especially off road. The 2.25 litre petrol engines were pretty thirsty but good reliable engines.
Old tech cars with no electronics, abs or power steering. It even had a starting handle.
I used to drive S3s in the RAF, probably did about 15 mpg less running about the flight line. They had a lower compression engine using military fuel called civgas which was about 2 star and was dyed red!
We didn't care about the mpg.
My favourite was the Lightweight swb, a lot of cash needed to get a good one now.
The military went over to all diesel, the later Defender tange were much better.
I replaced my S3 with a classic Range Rover 3.5 efi, its economy was about the same or slightly better with a lot more comfort and power.
Old S3 and Defenders fetch good money now, Rangie Classics too.
I looked at lpg on the Range Rover, you could put a big tank in the boot, or 2 smaller ones under the sills or take out the large petrol tank and put an lpg one in with a small petrol tank alongside.
The costs didn't make it worthwhile as it was a low mileage toy.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Yep 664DaveS, the Series 3 were easy to work on, and I remember using the starting handle on a few occasions, I fitted a "Lumenition" electronic ignition kit to replace the points in the Distributor, great upgrade at the time and a easy DiY solution.
Wow, starting handles! I don't suppose anyone under 50 even knows what one is unless they are into classic vehicles. Last vehicle I owned that had one was a yellow ex-telecom Bedford van, the van version of the HA Vauxhall Viva. Used it a few times too!
Some of the old buses I drove back in the early 1970s had them too, but I'm glad I never had to swing one of those over. I would imagine a 5 cylinder Gardner diesel would take quite a bit of swinging. They did have decompressors though, which would have made it a bit easier.
Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 11/3/2021
Yep martin734, back in 1980 I had a SWB Series 3 (HGW 306K) I think the engine was a 2.25lt petrol and I used to get 10mpg on a good day, but to be fair I did very few miles in it, as I used to commute the 10 miles to my work on my bicycle, I only kept the Land Rover for a couple of years, it was by far the biggest money pit of a car that I ever owned, but was great fun to drive, nothing else has ever come close.
Mine is used for my business. It is a (mostly) 1990 130 crew cab pickup. It started life with a diesel engine but has now been fitted with a 4.6 V8 from a dead Range Rover P38. It has had a few mods over the years including a Discovery gearbox and transfer box, suspension lift and an air brake kit for coupled braked trailers. I may have to replace it altogether someday, but if I do, it will probably be with another 130 as there is nothing else apart from a Unimog that has the same load, towing and offroad capability as well as ease of maintenance.
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 11/3/2021
Wow, starting handles! I don't suppose anyone under 50 even knows what one is unless they are into classic vehicles. Last vehicle I owned that had one was a yellow ex-telecom Bedford van, the van version of the HA Vauxhall Viva. Used it a few times too!
Some of the old buses I drove back in the early 1970s had them too, but I'm glad I never had to swing one of those over. I would imagine a 5 cylinder Gardner diesel would take quite a bit of swinging. They did have decompressors though, which would have made it a bit easier.
I used to have a series III 88" that I regularly had to start with the handle thanks to Lucas electrics. It took a bit of practice but I got used to it, though I have heard of numerous broken fingers or wrists from getting it wrong.
Martin your Landie sounds good.
We had Unimogs back in 74 in the RAF, they were used on the Harrier Force for towing Harrier aircraft on field deployments and on the airfield.
They also got them for the Jaguar Squadrons who went on exercise to Norway and Denmark.
Amazing machines, the German highway people had orange ones with all sorts of attachments for snow plough hedge cutting and sign washing!
I have also had a go in the Land Rover 101 they are big beasts.V8 too.
I quite liked the Bedford MK 4 tonner good fun.
I could imagine a youngster in S3, no,central locking, different keys for doors and ignition, no power steering and sliding windows!
Satnav, it's called a map!
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
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Topic: Dacia Duster
via mobile 11/3/2021 at 11:55am
