The Landy December 14

This 90 is an acquired taste. But behind those 20 alloys, theres a lot more to it than meets the eye Full story: Page 16

DIVIDED WE STAND!

Its quarter of a century since the Range Rover conquered the San Juan range on the Great Divide Expedition.

These days, a Rangey is a very different kind of vehicle. But its still the king of the off-roaders.

Land Rover North America has just proved that by crossing the Divide again. And leading the convoy of L405s was a survivor from that triumphant first trip.Full story: Page 22

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ISSUE 10 DECEMBER 2014

When did you last see an 88 going toe-to-toe with an L322 Rangey? Well, it happened at the latest Leics and Rutland LRC trials weekend Full story: Page 38

As the Disco 2 gets more and more affordable, could it take over from the 110 as the ideal overland truck?Full story: Page 30

Ive been a drIver, a navIgator and the thIng In the backThe northern French green lane run that brings Brits flocking back across the Channel year after year

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3Issue 10: December 2014w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242DISCOVERY SPORT GOES IN-SEINEBarge-based supermodel and big welly boot antics in floating Parisien public unveiling

The new Discovery Sport made its first public appearance at the Paris Motor Show or rather, aboard a huge barge on the River Seine.

Two Disco Sports turned tricks on a custom off-road course on the barge. Behind them, the scenery was made from seven pairs of giant, vibrantly coloured wellington boots a reference to the Disco Sports much-vaunted 5+2 seating format and credentials as a family vehicle.

The Disco Sport was joined on deck by model and actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who made an appearance after finishing her duties on the runways of Paris Fashion Week. After being chauffeured around the floating course, the British star posed with the Disco Sport alongside one of the pairs of enormous boots painted, naturally, in a Union Jack pattern.

Having made its big entrance, Land Rovers new star continued down the Seine past the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame. The vehicle is the first model in a new family of Discoverys to be revealed over the next couple of years, with attention turning to the Discovery 5 next year; its importance can be gauged from the fact that the Disco Sport was the only Land Rover on display on the preview day at Paris.

Following its digital unveiling last month at Virgin Galactics Spaceport

America facility in New Mexico, Land Rover announced details of a unique global competition which will see four people taking a once in a lifetime trip into space. For the rest of us who need to keep our feet on the ground, the Discovery Sport will go on sale in early 2015.

Designed and engineered to be the worlds most capable and versatile

premium compact SUV, this is a vehicle that will appeal not only to existing Land Rover customers but to a whole new group of people who may never have considered Land Rover before, commented Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer. It is quite simply the most accomplished vehicle in its segment.

Mike Trott

Left: Land Rovers design boss Gerry McGovern once sat for an hour in a room in a Coventry business park being interviewed one-to-one by our Editor. Were guessing that floating down the Seine on a sunny day while chatting with catwalk model and Transformers star Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is one hell remember more fondly

4 Issue 10: December 2014www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsEvoque buyers around the world are shortly to get the choice of choosing their vehicles dressed in a variety of Union Jack motifs. Land Rovers Inspired by Britain special-edition versions of the fastest-selling vehicle its ever made will only be sold in export markets but theyre set to win fans among anglophiles everywhere in addition, presumably, to patriotic ex-pats keen to display their allegiance everywhere they go.

Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in early October (where visitors might have been forgiven for missing it, such was the fuss surrounding the launch of the Discovery Sport), the SW1 edition features Union Jack dcor on its rear spoiler and elsewhere. The same design is dotted around the cabin, too, just in case you forget what it is youre driving.

The SW1 is available in two different forms, called Union and Monochrome. The former is based on the Dynamic model and also gets a white roof and 20-inch gloss alloy wheels to go with its red, white and blue highlights. The Monochrome, meanwhile, is based on the Pure and offers a choice of black, white or grey body colours, with the latter two getting a black roof. The Union Jack stickers are picked out in a single colour, too, rather than the full-on effect seen on the Union.

Inside the Union model, the upholstery, door inserts, armrests and facia trim are finished in Taurus

Ebony leather with Cirrus stitching. Ebony leather on the Monochrome is complemented by matching door trim and facia inserts, and both have a red anodised finish on the nine-speed automatic ZF gearbox paddles and rotary shift controller.

The Range Rover Evoque is a fresh interpretation of classic Range Rover design cues, commented Land Rovers Chief Creative Officer Gerry

McGovern. These special editions are a celebration of our Britishness. Evoque is designed and engineered in Britain and we know that resonates with our global consumers.

How many theyll sell to Top Gear fans in Argentina is anybodys guess. But you can certainly see these versions of the Evoque going down an absolute storm in America where the vehicle is already a smash hit.

Special-edition Evoque is a celebration of Britishness

Further exciting news for Evoque watchers is the adoption of a new integrated laser Head-Up Display (HUD), which is now available on the vehicle. Using world-first laser holographic techniques to project a second information point in the drivers line of vision, this improves on previous HUD systems through improvements in colour saturation, brightness and contrast, with better glare prevention.

The information in the display comprises of speed, selected gear, navigation markers, cruise control set speed and recognition of traffic signs ahead. The display is fully customisable and can be turned off altogether if required.

The HUD function is available on the Evoque now so long as youre buying a higher-end one in the first place. Not available on the Pure or Pure Tech, its listed as a 1000 option on the Dynamic, Dynamic Lux and Autobiography though you also need to choose the Solar Attenuating Windscreen option, which adds another 200 to the bill.

Laser tech for HUD option

5Issue 10: December 2014w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242Land Rover has furthered its involvement in protecting African wildlife, with the announcement that the company is to sponsor this years Tusk Conservation Award. The winner of the award will receive a grant of 15,000 towards their work.

The Tusk Award acknowledges emerging conservationists who have displayed true dedication to the cause of preserving Africas wildlife and environments. The sort of work involved includes the protection of endangered species or threatened habitats, supporting and building environmental education and assisting the growth of community-driven conservation.

Last years winner, Tom Lalampaa said: The award has been well received in Kenya by everyone from the British High Commission to the village elders in the communities I work with. The award was not about me, it was about the incredible people I work with and the Northern Rangelands Trust.

I was extremely inspired by the work of my fellow finalists last year and I applaud their commitment and achievements. I hope these awards will continue to inspire a new generation of conservation leaders in Africa and across the world.

Three individuals have been shortlisted for the 2014 Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa:

Amy Dickman (Tanzania), who has already been successful in teaming up with local communities

to reduce conflict with the lion population in one of the most carnivore-rich locations.

David Kuria (Kenya), who created The Kijabe Environment Volunteers (KENVO) a community-based forum which focuses on grass-roots conservation.

Herizo Andrianandrasana (Madagascar), who has inspired the integration of local people into conservation management and monitoring, leading seven different jungle and wetland programmes across a combined surface area of 3500 square kilometres.

Land Rover is proud to be sponsoring the Conservation Award, said Global Brand Experience Director Mark Cameron. The nominees determination and endeavour reflects the ethos that sits at the heart of the Land Rover

brand of going Above and Beyond. Having seen how each individual has contributed to conservation is truly inspiring. I hope these awards continue to recognise and reward these efforts so that conservation continues to grow in strength across Africa.

Land Rovers partnership with Tusk goes back 15 years, when the company first supported the Lewa Marathon in Kenya. Since then, Land Rovers have continued to support the Trust in carrying out its important work across Africa.

Charles Mayhew, founder and chief executive officer of the Tusk Trust, commented: Tusk and Land Rover have enjoyed a long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship in Africa. Their vehicles have become the reliable workhorses of many of our projects.

In Africa, sponsorship from Land Rover raises the profile of a major award for pioneers of wildlife conservation

Following the article which appeared in the October edition of The Landy, the trustees of the Dunsfold Collection would like to correct the statement made regarding the famous Range Rover Velar YVB 166H which won the first off road rally in the United Kingdom in 1971, The Senior Service Welsh Hillrally. This car is not owned by JLR but is in the custody of The Dunsfold Collection. This car is loaned out occasionally to JLR for special events such as the exhibition at Mulhouse and MotorFair, along with other vehicles in the Dunsfold Collection for which JLR make a donation towards the upkeep of the vehicles.

YVB 166H a correction

6 Issue 10: December 2014www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsFreelanders all round for winners of 2014 Rural BursaryLand Rover has revealed the winners of the Princes Countryside Fund Rural Bursary for 2014. In what is the second year for the initiative, these were selected from a range of projects and schemes designed to help rural communities with the preservation of Britains countryside.

The five winning candidates, who were chosen for their unerring community spirit and desire to make a long-term, positive difference to the community around them, receive a years loan of a Freelander 2 as part of their bursary. All five were introduced to their vehicles at Eastnor Castle, where they were taught off-road driving techniques and familiarised with the Freelanders towing technology.

This five winning candidates are: Tim Sidaway, from Garden Farm

LIFE in Derbyshire, who supports disadvantaged groups by using the farm and surrounding environment to provide them with enhanced welfare and opportunities.

Rachael Heatley, of Urban Farm in Lancashire a mobile farm which she takes round local schools to educate children on the countryside, and also to care homes whose residents are unable to get out and about.

Mark Cawardine, from Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) in Chepstow, Monmouthshire a voluntary rescue organisation which deals with floods, land and mountain searches and runs inshore lifeboats around the South Wales and Gloucestershire region.

Paul Harrison, who works for Bell View, a charity based in Northumberland which covers a 120 square mile radius delivering prescriptions and meals to the elderly in remote locations and transporting care workers to care homes.

John Fisher, of Petroc College in Barnstaple, Devon, who will

use the vehicle for taking students to moorlands and coastlines for research purposes and to gain work experience. This particular Freelander will also be used for enabling physical improvements to paths, borders and woodlands in Exmoor National Park and working on improving education and business partnerships.

Land Rovers Laura Schwab said: Building on the success of the first year, where five recipients of the inaugural bursary made a tangible difference to communities across the country, we are delighted to find a further five truly worthy projects which will no doubt benefit and grow with the provision of a Freelander 2. Land Rover is truly synonymous with the countryside and we are looking forward to seeing the benefit that our vehicles can bring once again this year, and to seeing the development and growth of the supported projects.

Helen Aldis of The Princes Countryside Fund added: In the past

year, with Land Rovers support, we have witnessed the positive impact the use of this vehicle can have not only on the lives of the beneficiaries, but the local rural communities involved. There are so many fantastic and worthwhile countryside initiatives that

exist to support local communities, and its an honour that with the support of Land Rover, The Princes Countryside Fund is able to recognise and further award five people with dependable and reliable transport to continue their valuable work.

Production of the Discovery Sport began at Land Rovers Halewood plant in early October. The first vehicle, an LSE Luxury model, came off the line to the usual fanfares before heading off to New Mexico, where it will be part of the Virgin Galactic fleet at Spaceport America.

The Halewood plant now employs 4750 people three times the number who worked there just four years ago. Land Rovers latest products have had much to do with this, with the Range Rover Evoque and now the Disco Sport providing massive volumes.

This latest launch is responsible for 250 jobs on its own as well as for more than 1000 in the UK supply chain.

Today marks another incredibly proud moment for the Halewood plant, its workforce and the region as a whole, commented Operations Director Richard Else. The decision to build the Discovery Sport here is a testament to our tremendous team, who are committed to delivering outstanding customer quality. Investment in the plant since 2011 now stands at 500 million.

Production of the Disco Sport signals the launch of a new Discovery family which will grow to include the forthcoming Disco 5. There has also been much speculation over the potential for an entry-level vehicle in this range which the Sports 30,000-plus pricing certainly leaves plenty of room for, even in todays premium SUV market.

These launches and many more are among a total of 50 important product actions Jaguar Land Rover expects to introduce over the next five years. With the Disco Sport alone accounting for a total of 3.5 billion in business awarded to 55 suppliers within the UK, the companys place at the heart of the manufacturing sector continues to grow apace.

Jaguar Land Rovers latest intake of 238 graduate trainees joined the company shortly after the Disco Sport was unveiled. The company, which this year climbed to number 16 in the Sunday Times Top 100 list of graduate employers, is currently recruiting for its next intake of graduates and work placements the dedline for applications is 31 December.

7Issue 10: December 2014w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242

Sniffing around old Land Rovers is always fascinating. Obviously, its something I get to do quite a lot as part of my job, which is nice, and youre forever seeing people crawling about under each others trucks at shows and events. As we all know, no two Land Rovers are the same (not older ones, at least), and its the differences between them, and how they got to be the way they are, that make them so fascinating.

At the risk of sounding just a touch pretentious, poking about under the bonnet of an old Landy is a bit like being on an archaeological dig. You dont know what youre going to find; often enough, youll know what you expect, but theres always a strong chance that youll be proved completely wrong and thats when you start learning things.

How often have you been looking at someone elses handiwork as how did they DO that? has turned into why did they do THAT?! There are some weird and wonderful vehicles out there, for sure, many of which bear testament to baffling examples of spanner work, but for every one that leaves you shaking your head therell be another that makes you nod in appreciation even if you wouldnt ever have thought of doing it that way yourself.

Theres nothing wrong with the workmanship on the 90 featured on pages 16-18 of this issue, for example. But how many people would think of building a vehicle using Tdi repower with a full-width intercooler then fit it with heavy-duty steering bars, an expedition roof rack and 40-profile road tyres on 20 alloys?

Whatever you think of the builders taste, its trucks like these that make old Landies such an interesting form of history. Who did it like that? Why? What were they thinking when they created a 90 that bucks every trend in the builders book? I dont know the answer, before you ask.

Actually, I do. Because Land Rover, to misquote what they say about art. And its definitely enough.

Alan Kidd, Editor

Comment

8 Issue 10: December 2014www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNews

The Land Rover Discovery is coming on for its tenth birthday, but its still winning awards hand over fist. The latest accolades come from the Caravan Club, which gave the Disco 4 top honours in two categories at its 2015 Towcar of the Year Awards.

The Discovery is no stranger to victory in towing competitions, and this year the HSE Luxury was judged to be best in the all-wheel-drive vehicles over 1800kg class as well as among all vehicles priced in excess of 40,000.

Back in June, the Land Rover Discovery walked away from the Tow Car Awards with a record fifth consecutive victory and seventh class-topping win in eight years, something no other model or manufacturer has achieved. This time, at the Caravan Clubs awards ceremony in London, the judges citation reported: Towing is effortless with Land Rover Discovery. The V6 3.0-litre TD engine, mated to an impressive eight-speed auto gearbox, propels you up, down and round at speeds that a large outfit such as this

would initially appear incapable of reaching. Greenhouse-sized windows give excellent rear visibility too.

The Discovery won from among a field of 39 vehicles for the Caravan Club test, in which five professional drivers were tasked with putting each machine through its paces to assess acceleration, braking and hill starts to find the most capable towers. A further two judges looked at the vehicles usability, while two more performed acceleration tests.

As with most of the new breed of Land Rovers, the Discovery is bursting with technology including Trailer Stability Assist, which detects the presence of a trailer and, once above 37 mph, monitors its behaviour by gently applying the vehicles brakes as necessary on individual wheels to help it steady.

Towing Assist is another device designed to assist manoeuvrability. This reversing aid, which also includes the optional Surround Camera System, predicts the trajectory of both the vehicle and trailer. It acts as a guide when coupling a trailer and provides

a predicted path for the car when reversing by displaying coloured lines over the image on the touch-screen.

We ran a towing test on a 2010 Discovery 4 in our May 2014 issue,

pulling much more weight than a caravan, and gave it a resounding thumbs-up. Our conclusion was that the vehicles real strength lies in a deep-seated design which means its high-

tech helpers dont actually make any difference in everyday towing; either way, we fully expect the Disco to keep on winning these awards until Land Rover takes it out of production.

Mike Trott

No let up in towing awards as Disco 3 closes in on 10th birthday


Editor Alan KiddAssistant Editor Mike Trott

Admin and Editorial AssistantGemma PaskArt Editor Samantha DSouza

Contributors Dan Fenn, Robbie Ronson, Olly Sack, Gary Noskill, Paul Looe, Vince Pratt

Photographers Steve Taylor, Harry Hamm

Advertising Sales Manager Ian Argent Tel: 01283 553242Advertising Production Tel: 01283 553242Publisher Sarah Kidd Email: [email protected] effort is made to ensure that the contents of The Landy are accurate, however Assignment Media Ltd accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions nor

the consequences of actions made as a result of these

When responding to any advert in The Landy, you should make appropriate enquiries before sending money or entering into a contract. The publishers take reasonable care to ensure advertisers probity, but will not be liable for any losses incurred as a result of responding to adverts

The Landy is distributed by Britpart. Details of your

nearest Britpart dealer can be found at www.britpart.comWhere a photo credit includes the note CC-BY-SA, the image is made available under that Creative Commons licence. Details are available at www.creativecommons.org

The Landy is published by Assignment Media Ltd, Repton House, Bretby Business Park, Ashby Road, Bretby DE15 0YZ

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BEHIND THE MASK This unremarkable looking 1985 90 plays its cards close to its chest. But underneath, there are signs of a fascinating history

An awful lot of the street-machine 90s you see have been modified to the point of vulgarity. This ones a bit different its looks and handling have been subtly enhanced, but its whats been done to make it quieter and more refined that really takes people aback


A quarter of a century after the original Range Rover first embarked on the famous Great Divide Expedition, its successor has returned to tackle the epic adventure once again.

It was back in 1989 that a group of Range Rovers travelled across the Continental Divide in Colorado, against a stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. In 2014, once again the convoys challenge was thrown down by hundreds of miles of narrow, rock-strewn trails.

This year, nine 2014 Range Rovers battled across 1000 miles of the original Great Divide route with the assistance

of a Range Rover Classic which took part in the original adventure.

The Great Divide route consists of various trails and unpaved roads with altitudes of more than 4000 metres, which pick their way via passes clinging to the side of the towering mountains. Land Rover has over 67 years experience of engineering vehicles to contend with some of the most challenging terrains and climates on the planet, said Solihulls Phil Popham. And for more than 40 years, Range Rover has proved the ultimate vehicle for conquering the toughest conditions, using leading-edge technologies.

Led by Tom Collins, a veteran of the Camel Trophy in Madagascar, the 1989 Great Divide Expedition covered 1128 miles as it traced the route of the Continental Divide between Colorado and New Mexico. And the 1990 model year Classic wasnt the only thing making this breathtaking crossing of the San Juan Mountains for the second time because now, as then, the expedition was led by Collins, who has lived in Colorado ever since that first triumphant venture.

Starting in Denver, the convoy picked its way south-west via rough old miners trails towards Mosquito

A quarter of a century after the original Great Divide Expedition saw a team of classic Range Rovers pick their way over 1128 miles of high mountain trails in Colorado, Land Rover returns to the scene of one of its greatest triumphs as the Mk4 Rangey sets out to prove that it, too, is up to the challenge


When youre 13,000 feet up in the sky, things are already tasty enough without a surprise carpeting of autumn snow. Not that the Range Rovers couldnt cope with it, of course though in conditions like these you cant see the view, and up here its well worth looking at

Pass where their arrival was greeted by a carpet of recently fallen snow and on via Leadville (the highest city in the USA at 10,000 feet) towards Aspen. Further on, beyond the old gold rush town of Telluride, the Range Rovers scaled the 13,144-foot Imogene Pass thats three times higher than the summit of Ben Nevis.

The 2014 expedition was unable to follow exactly the same route as the original in places, for the simple reason that some of the ground they covered back then has been eroded away by a quarter of a centurys mountain weather. Thats a fact of life in the sort of harsh environments in which Land Rovers have made their name. But while the trails have been degraded, the trucks coming out of Solihull have been getting better and better all the time. The vehicles which completed the 2014 Great Divide Expedition demonstrated

the capability and composure our customers expect from a Range Rover on and off-road, combined with refinement and exceptional luxury, continued Phil Popham.

The Range Rovers four-corner air suspension gives it exceptional manners on tarmac, while its Terrain Response 2 system monitors driving conditions and surfaces and sets up the vehicle automatically in accordance with whats required for the terrain ahead. Despite having lightweight independent suspension all-round, the Range Rover still achieves two feet of articulation at each wheel a staggering figure which explains much about the vehicles world-class ability off-road.

Its electronic traction control system and class-leading 900mm wading depth play their roles here, too, and a towing weight of 3500kg helps make it

a true all-rounder. Not that anyone was pulling a trailer on the Great Divide, where the terrain puts even the most accomplished vehicles to the test.

That the Range Rover came through with flying colours should be no surprise to anyone. It is the King of Off-Roaders, after all and, lets not forget, 25 years ago it had done it all before.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the expedition, Land Rover North America auctioned a fully restored 1990 Range Rover Classic built as a replica of an original Great Divide vehicle. The sale raised $55,000 which the company donated to Treadlightly! in support of the public use of American trails.

Recreational 4x4 use is much more established as a respectable pastime in the US as evidenced by car manufacturers use of trails like the Rubicon and those on the Great Divide as a proving ground for 4x4s. There is, however, still opposition from quasi-environmental groups, and LRNAs donation will help Treadlightly! defend the trails from pernicious attempts to prevent their use.

Treading Lightly for 25 Years

12 Issue 10: December 2014www . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsAlu-Cab has introduced the Shadow Awn a 270-degree awning which attaches to your vehicles roof rack and can be folded out to provide around 10 square metres of shade. The material is Tancate, a fabric with an aluminised acrylic coating which reflects sunlight. Alu-Cab says this keeps the shaded area around 5 cooler than simple canvas. Its also around 30% lighter in weight.

Supporting it all is a frame with solid stainless steel mounting points and hinges and boxed aluminium extending arms. It comes with mounting kits to suit various roof racks including those from Front Runner and, naturally, Alu Cab itself.

You also get a fixing strap for each arm, though Alu-Cab says it has yet to encounter windy enough conditions to actually need them on its own test rigs. Three pegs are supplied in a fixed pouch which is attached to the awning cover itself, meaning you shouldnt lose them, and you also get a fold out leg which, once again, Alu-Cab says youll only need in the worst weather conditions.

The unit is 2.6 metres long when closed down for travelling, and will add 24kg to your truck at roof rack height. Not a bad trade-off for all that relief from the African sun, or indeed the British rain. www.xs4x4.parts

Head torches are not exactly anything new, but this recently launched LED job from ARB is looking like quite the shining light (sorry about that). Its fitted with a full beam setting which, at 300 lumens, gives you three hours battery life; power-saving mode, which puts out 180 lumens and extends battery life to seven hours; and a flashing mode, which is ideal for attracting attention (and probably quite handy at raves, too).

The torch is powered by three AAA batteries, and you wont need much in the way of imagination to see how it could be a big help (especially if youve ever tried to change a knackered wheel bearing or rig up an awkward winch recovery after dark). With a RRP of 24, its a lot cheaper than some things with an ARB badge on them but every bit as useful. www.arbil.co.uk/4x4

Last month, we very skilfully published a write-up about Britparts new Discovery 3 coil-sprung suspension kit with a photo of the same companys replacement air-suspension compressor. Very helpful to those interested in either product, were sure youll agree. So, here it is again with the correct picture and next to it is last months picture with the correct text. Clever, huh?

If youd be tempted by an early Discovery 3, if only you werent so terrified of what the vehicles air suspension could do to your sanity (and bank balance), Britparts new Coil Conversion Kit could be just the thing you need. People have been converting P38 Range Rovers back to coils for more than a decade, and with the first D3s now coming up on that sort of age, a way of banishing one of the models most fearsomely expensive features has got to make sense.

The kit includes everything you need to do the conversion. That means four coil-over suspension struts as well as the all-important plug-in module necessary to stop the vehicles brain from thinking theres a fault with the air suspension and lighting up the dashboard like a Christmas tree.

This much hardware doesnt add up to a throwaway purchase, needless to say. Youre likely to pay something in the region of 700 so a bit of shopping around is definitely in order.www.britpart.com

So, the compressor, which you might recognise from last month. Oh, the shame of it. This is a direct replacement, made by the OE manufacturer in Germany, for all non-Hitachi air-sprung vehicles so, the Discovery 4 and Range Rover Sport, from chassis numbers 9A513325 and 9A215622 onwards respectively.

The unit uses all the original mounting hardware and pipework, making it a true direct replacement fit. You do need to change the relay, however, for the one included in the kit. There are separate models to suit the Disco 4 and Range Rover Sport, with typical dealer prices in the region of 340 plus VAT.www.britpart.com

New from Extreme 4x4 is a 12/24-Volt Dual Battery Voltage Monitor. This can be set to provide high and low

voltage warning levels on two battery circuits, which it does by highlighting the voltage on a display. You can set it to sound an audible buzzer as well, in case you worry about flattening your trucks batteries while youre engrossed with what the winch is doing.

The warning has a five-second delay so as only to sound if the voltage across the circuit really has dropped off. The monitor also has clock and automatic sleep functions, and at 56 x 20 x 66mm you can mount it somewhere out of harms way. Extreme 4x4s price for the monitor is 117.76 plus VAT.

Also new at Extreme 4x4 is a range of LED Rocker Switches. These offer the choice of either one or two-LED illumination and single or double-pole contacts; you can choose for the switch

to be constantly lit, if you need to be able to see where it is at night, or just to light up when youve switched it on.

All switches are dual 12/24-volt (theyre 20-amp rated at 12V DC and 10-amp rated at 24), and are protected to IP66 from the front. You can choose from various colours and lens legends to build exactly the switch you require, and the units can be housed in an industry-standard panel cut-out or gang-mounted on a choice of frames.

Prices vary, as there are so many choices available, but a simple rocker

switch will tend to cost a couple of quid and a two or three-position switch body will set you back about a tenner.www.extreme4x4.co.uk

13Issue 10: December 2014w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242People sometimes say you should always spend up to your limit on your bed, because youre going to be in it for such a large part of your life. Well, if youre the sort of person who spends a lot of time behind the wheel of your Land Rover, logic says that you should spend up to your limit on its seats.

If your limit is 1275 plus VAT, Exmoor Trim has the perfect answer. The companys new Elite Seat Mk2 is finished in high-grade automotive Nappa leatherette and has perforated panels incorporating a new Tartan Stitch option.

The latter features a design in black, red and green with contrasting white stitching. If that happens not to be to your taste, however, Exmoor can do you a seat in your own preferred hue Cornish Hunting Tartan, for example, is red, yellow, blue and black, and theres hundreds more besides (search out the Dundee District tartan online for proof that not all of them were designed by people with good taste)

When youre spending this much on a car seat, you want to know that youre doing the right thing. So if youd like a free sewn sample of the tartan you would prefer, send a picture of it to Exmoor trim and theyll look after you.www.exmoortrim.co.uk

Britpart has launched a new product designed to help you get the most out of the A-frame rear suspension used on the 90/110/130, Range Rover Classic and Discovery 1. The Fulcrum Bracket with High Articulation might not be the most snappily-named bits of kit to pass this way in the last few months, but youre unlikely to be trying to guess what it is right now.

The Fulcrum Bracket with High Articulation is, indeed, a fulcrum Bracket with high articulation. Its designed to replace the A-frame ball joint, providing significantly more articulation than the standard and most aftermarket joints.

How much is that? Britpart promises 45 of movement in all directions, which is a 50% improvement over standard. Thats how much.

Britpart says the bracket is easy to adjust using an everyday hex spanner. It has a grease nipple for convenient regular maintenance, too, and comes fitted in its mounting bracket meaning you just have to bolt it on.

If youre fitting the sort of springs and shocks that mean the ball joint becomes the limiting factor in your suspension, this is definitely an answer worth considering. The bracket is exclusive to Britpart, and putting one on your truck will cost something in the region of 50-60. www.britpart.com


One of the great things about having children is that they give you a great excuse to act like one yourself. You get to build Lego houses, play with train sets and chase a football round the park without anyone batting an eyelid.

But then your kids grow up and fly the nest, and you can go back to playing with toys of your own. Like a Range Rover, for example. This one belongs to Simon Burrough, and its even known in the family as daddys toy.

Some toys are more precious than others, of course. The ones you really value are those that were handed down by your parents, and thats exactly how Simon came to own the 1989 Classic.

The Range Rover was given to my father as a leaving present from

Whitbread for his retirement, he reveals. He specified how he wanted it

and Ive even got the note that said how much it was: 24,371.

Mike Trott

An old Range Rover on the wrong side of a head-on crash sounds like an open and shut case for a write-off. But when that happened to Simon Burroughs, his insurer reckoned without an owner who really cares for his car

One Of my friends managed tO get stuck in 100ks wOrth Of new range rOver, and i came up the hill and sailed On by!

DADDYS TOY


My father passed away eight years ago and the Range Rover was one of the things left behind. We needed to decide what to do with it. Naturally, I said Ill take that!

Ive used it for the last few years when I go shooting and when I need to get about in the winter I live out in the sticks down in Sussex, where there are a lot of single lane tracks and steep hills about. Without it Id be completely stuck.

Simons Classic isnt going anywhere just at the moment, though, because its currently undergoing work done by a mutual friend of ours John Bowden at Gumtree 4x4.

John and I went to school together, even if it was more of a nodding acquaintance. But since Ive taken ownership of this Classic, John has been the man responsible for its general upkeep.

The Range Rover has gone off to spend some time with John with a view to having one big final overhaul so that it lasts until Simon cant drive anymore. It has currently done just over 70,000 miles, but it hasnt been plain-sailing all the way.

In 2010, a Citroen van representing the local meals on wheels company managed to lock up its brakes 80 metres from Simon and plough into the Range Rover. Cue a set of bent wings, pillars and so on, requiring a major rebuild or if youre an insurance assessor, a date with the knackers yard.

Luckily, it was John who picked it up, explains Simon. It was good to know where it was, rather than it being in some insurance compound somewhere.

The insurance company told me I could have 6000 and never see it again, or 5500 and I could do what I want with it. So John and I spent the 5500 doing it back up.

Its had far too much money spent on it as it is the body panels have all been resprayed at least once but I love it. When you rock up in one of these to a shoot, it raises eyebrows and it looks so beautiful when polished up.

I spotted a Classic on the front of a shooting mag a few years ago with the headline The Coolest Cars to Go Shooting With. I copied the front and showed the PDFs to my kids and sent a copy to John. His reply was: At least I have one cool friend!

Now that John is able to relax about his social life, hes been busy sorting out the Rangey. While from the outside it looks very smart, underneath its a different story. John describes it as a bit rotten.

As a result, the sills, floor, crossmembers and so on have all been getting new steel welded in to replace the rusted old stuff. After that, theyre due for a proper coating in Waxoyl to stop them from turning straight into more of the same.

There is lots and lots and lots of welding to be done, John acknowledged at the start of the job. But its worth doing because the bodywork is beautiful. Simon loves it and it will be good and solid again when finished.

The fuel pipes are rotten, too. Its not an immediate problem but, seeing as we have the floor up, we may as well sort it out. Theyve been causing me a bit of aggro, actually, because I ordered the new pipes in from Land Rover and found that the ones used previously are different to the correct ones, so Ill have to figure that out.

With the work progressing nicely, though, at time of writing Simon is looking forward to getting back on board and taking his much-loved

Range Rover shooting again. At this point, hell be cool once more not that his colleagues on the shoots have any doubt on that score.

In fact, there have been occasions when hes even left them flabbergasted at just how cool his Rangey is compared to their new ones. One of my shooting friends had managed to get himself stuck in 100Ks worth of new Range Rover, recalls Simon, and I came up the hill and sailed on by. That did make me laugh. I said to him about his vehicle depreciating and mine going up in value, and jokingly asked if hed want to swap when they meet in the middle! We can guess the answer to that one.

Simon does around 2000 miles a year in his Range Rover, although he only uses it where it counts for when only a Land Rover will do. So daddys toy is a bit more than just a toy, really its a toy, a badge of honour, the definitive shooting bus and a foolproof way of getting about the Sussex downland in winter.

And, of course, its cool. Cooler than pretty much anything else Simon could ever imagine driving.

Which of course means its cooler than everything. From retirement gift to heirloom, this is a Range Rover thats going to be keeping it in the family for many, many years to come.

Beneath its smart bodywork, the Rangey went in to Gumtree in a pretty rotten state. Simon wanted it to come home refurbished to the point where it would last him out which meant lots and lots of welding was in order

you might think it looks odd but whatever, it sure looks

You see work 90s, hardcore 90s, refurb 90s, bling 90s, adventure

90s and then you see this 90. Its not quite sure which of them it is does that make it more or less than

the sum of its parts?

Theres no vehicle with a greater spread of appeal than the Defender. Its often said that blokes who muck out pigs drive them, and so does the Queen which pretty much says it all.

A result is that you see several types of 90: the farm hack, the bling wagon, the off-roader, the adventure truck And most can quite easily be pigeon-holed into one of these categories.

But every so often, a Land Rover surfaces that takes what you thought you knew and stands it on its head this 1991-vintage Defender 90, for example, which recently cropped up at used car specialist Salter and Selby.

Operating out of a tidy barn on a farm in the North Leicestershire village

of Plungar, this is the sort of outfit that makes you warm to the used car trade. Tom Salter and John Selby are both car enthusiasts Toms the Landy fan, while Johns into old BMWs. They mainly sell one-owner repmobiles and family motors, but Tom says they always like to have a few Landys in stock. That may or may not be because he just likes having them around (on the day we visited, hed showed up to work in his own ex-Army nat-asp 90) but John confirmed that they always sell well, so either way its good for business.

This 90 came to them from a fellow dealer. It was modified by a previous owner but in a way which, though theres nothing wrong with it, might leave you scratching your head a bit.

Lets start in the obvious place. Mounted on the ends of the axles, using a giant set of ally spacers, are 20 multi-spoke alloys wearing 275/40R20 Continental SportContact tyres. The sort of thing youd expect to find on a Range Rover Sport, but a Defender? You might well think it looks a bit odd, a bit wrong, a bit garish but whatever, it sure looks. You notice this 90.

A lustrous coat of red helps see to that, of course. This contrasts with the black of the wheelarches and bumper and the wing tops and the side steps and Front Runner roof rack oh, and the roof itself, and even the bonnet. Somebody wanted to be noticed alright.

That roof rack is one of the items that makes this 90 a bit unusual, though.


words Paul looePictures harry hamm

SPLIT PERSONALITY

With vinyl seats (yes, they really are, despite appearances) and rubber floor mats, this is a true hose-out Land Rover. We cant imagine many things with a Momo Nero steering wheel in them getting hosed out, but theres a first time for everything. Tom Salter, who was selling the truck when we photographed it, says he assumes the dash is one that went on when whoever built the vehicle put it together if its original, youre looking at a 32,000-mile 90 here, which sounds a little improbable

17Issue 10: December 2014w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242Youve put it on massive rims and rubber-band tyres, making it look like some sort of hot rod on steroids, and now youre bolting on an expedition accessory designed for mounting a tent? To most people, low-profile tyres like that say speed (until you drive something with them, at which point they start saying scary steering), and a roof rack even one as tidy as this say, well, the other thing.

But this is a 90 with a handy turn of pace. Thats because its builder went shopping at Allisport, too, and came away with an armful of tasty swag including a full-width intercooler.

Actually, weve skipped ahead. Matey needed something to intercool

Continued overleaf

Things that would be useful tools on some Land Rovers but come across more like bits of bling on this one include heavy-duty steering bars and a Front Runner expedition roof rack. Those 20 alloys would struggle to look what youd call useful on anything with a Defender badge on it, but they definitely make a statement

first, and a 300Tdi did the trick nicely. The 90 is from the middle of the 200Tdi era, but it started life with a non-turbo unit, hence the swap in imagine driving something with a 2.5 n/a and 20 alloys

The intercooler was plumbed up using bright red silicone hoses (their colour seems relevant somehow), which jostle for attention under the bonnet with an Allisport PAS reservoir and header tank. Lots of eye candy, then though the engine itself hasnt

had any detailing, so the overall look is a bit hit and miss.

And heres another one to make you scratch your head. The suspension doesnt appear to have been played with, so theres no pretence at this being an off-roader. But look underneath its front end and you see a pair of heavy-duty steering bars. Maybe matey just liked the look of a gold passivated drag link, but surely no-one is going to be admiring the track rod unless youve actually run them over?

Inside, you might be expecting to see a pair of Corbeau buckets. But no, driver and passenger luxuriate on pure best vinyl. Theres a set of rubber floor mats, too, so this is a fully hose-outable Land Rover. A fully hose-outable Land Rover with a Momo Nero sports steering wheel, if you dont mind.

It adds up to a 90 thats intriguingly mysterious, and more than a little baffling. No-one needs to justify their taste, of course, but you certainly dont see many Landys like this which throw

together elements of the performance, style, off-road and expedition scenes.

Modified Land Rovers are often a handful to drive, and on its low-profile tyres this 90 is very willing to follow contours in the road rather than going where you want it to. Its surprisingly forgiving over the bumps, though, so even if the suspension height hasnt been changed, its damping shows signs of having had money spent on it.

With an R380 behind the engine, this is a 90 built to answer a question. What

that question is, and whether anybodys actually asked it, is a different matter. But for as long as Landys like this are taking shape in peoples garages, trying to work out what was going on in those peoples minds will always be a fun part of examining the results.

At the time of writing, the Defender was for sale through Salter and Selby for 6495. Theyre between Grantham and Nottingham and can be found with a visit to www.salterandselby.co.uk

18 Issue 10: December 2014w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNews

You couldnt accuse the 90s engine of being blingy, exactly, though theres plenty of eye candy beneath the bonnet. The vehicle dates from the 200Tdi era, but it left the factory with something less exciting in there this is a repower fitment using a 300Tdi. Its boosted by a full-width Allisport intercooler, and further attention-grabbing stuff from the same company includes the header tank and PAS reservoir. Youll have noticed the bright red silicone hoses, too, which can hardly help but add a bit of boy racer cred

Whatever this 90s history might be, its past comes right up to the present both propshafts have gone on very recently. The R380 gearbox is a natural fit with the 300Tdi engine, but check out that track bar who would fit a heavy-duty one behind the axle when they werent planning on any heavy-duty off-roading?


Britain and Italy have a lot in common. Both have proud, if chequered, histories going back to the days of empire and beyond; both are home to some of the worlds most exceptional art and architecture; and either can, quite reasonably, claim to have made the greatest cars of all time.

Britain gave the world the Mini Cooper, E-Type Jag and Aston Martin DB5, for example: Italy might counter with the Ferrari California,

Lamborghini Miura and Lancia Stratos. Definitely the work of two A-list car-making nations.

Now, you may think Ive gone and overdone my medication this month, and forgotten that this here publication is about Land Rovers. But bear with me.

Ive recently been chatting with an Italian chap who goes by the name of Lucio Meneguzzo. And he has a thing for a classic vehicle or two, some of them more conventional than others. The show-stopper, pictured here, is his Land Rover.

No, it is. You see, Lucios Land Rover is a Land Rover Bentley tribute.

Obviously, you dont see so many of these things going about. When I say its a Land Rover Bentley tribute, you might take it to mean that theres more than one. So, to be more accurate, lets confirm that this is the Land Rover Bentley tribute.

To distil a great deal of head-scratching down to just a few words, the vehicle was made by dropping a vintage Bentley body on to a 1983 Land Rover chassis. The driver sits centrally in the cars only seat, and the 3.0-litre Ford V6 engine beneath the centre-hinged bonnet drives a five-speed manual gearbox.

Who else but an Italian would dream up such a work of art? Well, actually, a Brit. The Bentlandy came from right here in the UK, which is where Lucio saw it advertised in 2010.

Not unreasonably, he decided he just had to have it. So did quite a few other people, probably, but the difference was that Lucio could afford it. He could afford to have it trailered home, too, which, living near Venice, cant have been all that cheap either.

I just love the look of it! says Lucio, by way of explanation. Its really fun to drive, very involving, because there are no ABS or electronics, and has a perfect distribution of weight. Its also very smooth. Ive driven it all over Italy and like to go down to Tuscany in it.

You would too, though, wouldnt you? And can you imagine pulling up to a petrol station on the autostrada? If we could only see inside onlookers heads! This thing looks like a proper

Mike Trott

There are some very unusual Land Rovers in the world. But few can be quite as odd as the Defender-chassised Bentley tribute that was exported from the UK to Italy four years ago. Its a vehicle to make purists scowl unless theyre the kind who just love driving, or appreciate imaginative engineering. And now it could be getting ready to come home

its really fun to drive, very involving, and has a perfect distribution of weight. and i just love the look of it!

Left: At first glance, you might be forgiven for wondering what on earth this is doing in a newspaper about Land Rovers. At second and third too, actually because its not until you start looking for technical clues that you see whats really going on underneath that evocative bodyworkRight: Its a centre-steer Land Rover, but not the one Series I enthusiasts dream of finding in a barn. It might look like an act of pure workshop folly, but the Bentley lookalike is actually a pure driving machine too

21Issue 10: December 2014w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242old race car from the 1920s, the kind Woolf Barnato, Tim Birkin and Benjy Benjafield used to pilot in the great days of Le Mans. And with all that open air above your goggles, you can enjoy every minute of the instinctive driving experience.

Its unbelievable, confirms Lucio. But I dont like to go down the streets too much. I prefer to take it out into the countryside and down the lanes. Well, it is a Land Rover

Whether for turning heads or enjoying a driving experience like no other, this is quite a car. Or is it quite a truck? Back in the days when the Bentley Boys kept giving Bugatti a bloody nose at Le Mans, the exasperated Frenchman described their vehicles as the worlds fastest lorries.

So maybe putting one on a Land Rover chassis isnt so outlandish after all, more of a nod to history. After all, the Bentleys of the day were powered by 3.0-litre engines, so the Ford V6 is more appropriate than anything fetched out of an old Capri ever has the right to be.

And the good news? Four years of ownership has proved enough for Lucio. Its a very special car, he says. But I dont have as much time to drive it any more with other projects and so on.

Which means its for sale. Its more expensive than any standard Landy of its age would be, save perhaps for an unbelievably well preserved one with next to no miles, but then its a lot cheaper than an actual Bentley in any kind of driveable condition. Either way, when Lucio finds a buyer, this truly unique piece of work could be on the way home where we can safely say itll carry on turning heads every bit as much as ever.

IN WINTER, THERES NOTHING YOUD SOONER BE IN THAN A LANDY

Most people in Britain dread having to drive in winter. While owning a Land Rover doesnt make you immune from rubbish traffic, though, the onset of snow and ice is when your choice of motor comes into its own. All you have to do is make sure youve got your Landy prepped and ready for action, and winter need hold no fear

Driving a Land Rover can give you a tremendous feeling of invincibility. Enjoying the security of four-wheel drive as you look down on the road from your lofty perch, you can cope with whatever the world throws at you.

Its true, too, at least to some extent. But as we all know, Land Rovers have a bad habit of throwing their toys out of the pram if you dont look after them well. And as winter approaches, that means prepping them to deal with cold and potentially snowy weather.

As everyone knows, theres nothing youd sooner be in than a Land Rover when conditions get nasty. All you have to do it make sure its ready for what lies ahead because if its not, then neither are you.

So here are some tips for preparing your Landy for the cold spell. Its all pretty simple stuff the sort almost everyone overlooks. And every year, its the sort of stuff thousands of drivers find themselves wishing they had bothered with. Over to you to make sure youre not among them

BATTERYThe colder it gets, the harder the engine becomes for the starter motor to turn over. This means that in cold weather, firing it up puts a much greater draw on its battery.

Batteries have a limited lifespan. They become alternately hot and cold during everyday use, and this causes the lead plates which make up their internals to warp. After a while these

22 Issue 10: December 2014w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsWINTER? BRING IT ON!

Left: A load tester is the belt-and-braces way of checking whether your Land Rovers battery is on the verge of letting you downAbove: The terminals on a battery will develop a coating of rust over time through the natural process of oxidation. This will ultimately interfere with the contact between the terminals and the leads; to counter it, give the terminals a liberal coating of grease


plates can end up in contact with one another, causing a short. The other main problem is oxidation of the plates, causing an increasing layer of sediment to settle, which will also end up shorting them out.

To find out whether this is starting to happen to yours, take it to a battery supplier and ask them to test it. They do this by drawing a high load with a battery tester monitoring the decrease in power. If the battery is on its way

out, this should give you early warning that its soon going to let you down.

Also, dont forget to check the levels in the battery: the fluid should reach about 10mm above the lead plates you can see. Top up as necessary, only ever using de-ionised water.

Next, unbolt the terminals and give both them and their clamps a going over with a wire brush. Take care while youre doing this, as the wire brush will cause a short if any part of it touches

anything with the opposite polarity. Reassemble and spray, smear or paint with grease to stop oxidation on exposed electrical parts.

antIfreezeInvesting in an antifreeze tester is a good idea, not least because they only cost a few quid. There are various kinds: the ones with the coloured balls in are easy to read and understand, so thats a good option.

Consider what are the coldest conditions your vehicle is going to have to endure, not forgetting the wind chill factor. Check the level in your radiator (only ever release the cap when the engine is cold) and header tank, and top up as necessary with antifreeze. Add sufficient for the minimum temperature your vehicle will come up against, which could be minus 15-20C if youre going skiing in the Alps but may get a lot lower if youre planning an epic winter assault on the Nordkapp.

If you have an aluminium engine, whether in whole or part, make sure your antifreeze has the necessary inhibitors to prevent corrosion and, if need be, is aluminium-safe.

fLUIDSWhile youve got your bonnet open, have a look at your engines oil level, along with those of your clutch and brake fluid. And while youre about these, look out for any sign of water in the fluid which, if it freezes up, can push past the seals in the master cylinder, causing a total brake failure.

arOUnD tHe VeHICLeOn the subject of unwanted water, its a good idea to spray some WD40 or similar into your door lock mechanism, as this will help to prevent it freezing up. And while youre about it, get some winter screenwash and increase the concentration before it gets cold, so as to prevent your washer jets freezing up when you need them most.

WInDSCreenHowever well the jets resist freezing up, though, itll still happen when the water that comes out of them hits your windscreen. Because your windscreen is freezing, innit? Theres not a lot you can do about this short of actually warming your vehicle properly before setting off (do try not to get it stolen in the process), but take heed. If there are any cracks or chips in your windscreen and a little water gets in to them, guess

There are many different types of anti-freeze tester. Any will work, but the kind that uses multi-coloured balls is as easy to use as they ever get. Its as cheap as they come weve seen them advertised for less tha a couple of quid and has the advantage of being nice and pretty

Finding signs of water in your brake and clutch fluid is like finding a ticking bomb under your bed. Because when that water freezes, itll bust open the seals in the master cylinder and youll be staring down the barrel of a fully fledged brake failure. When youre checking the reservoir, look for cloudiness or even droplets of water in the fluid if you see anything like this, a full flush and renew is in order, along with investigations to find how it got there in the first place

24 Issue 10: December 2014w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewswhat happens when it freezes. Yes indeed, it expands. And guess what happens after that?

Talking of frozen things, the way to free off your wipers when theyre frozen to the screen is not to just yank them off, ripping them to bits in the process. Give the blades a squirt of de-icer when youre doing the rest of the vehicle and theyll come away just fine first time you operate them.

Do check their general condition before the onset of winter, too. Not just because cold conditions are hard on

them, but because a clear windscreen is traditionally much easier to see through than one with a load of grime being smeared back and forth as you try and see whats going on up ahead.

TYRESContrary to what many people assume, aggressive off-road tyres arent that great on snow. Thats because theyre designed to be self-cleaning, which is the opposite of what you want.

This is because snow is very good at sticking to itself (think about the way

you see thousands of tons of the stuff clinging to the side of a mountain, and youll get that). Unlike your off-road rubber, the winter tyres you can get for most cars are designed to fill up with the stuff which is the next best thing to having chains on.

Talking of which, chains and/or studs are required by law in some countries during winter, but its illegal to use them if they damage the road surface. That more or less rules them out in the UK, where serious snow is almost unheard of, but the fabric snow

If you use your Land Rover for playing off-road and have ever taken to wading it, drain the oil from the axles and check for signs of water ingress. If its still in good condition, you can just pour it back in: if its not, youve just saved yourself the cost of a full axle rebuild. The same might go for your gearbox and transfer case, too

De-icer, spare screenwash and an ice scraper. Keep a can of de-icer in your house, too, in case your locks freeze up

A first aid kit, fire extinguisher and warning triangle. These are recommended in the UK and required by law in many other EU nations

Jump leads heavy-duty and extra long, so you dont have to manoeuvre so close to the dead vehicle in icy conditions

A snow shovel

A clockwork or battery torch (plus plenty of spare batteries, if appropriate), plus head torch

A tow rope and whatever other recovery gear you want to carry

Basic tools

A pin or needle for poking the ice out of your washer nozzles

Spare clothes (several layers are warmer than one thick one), including a hi-vis jacket

A sleeping bag for if it gets really gnarly

Food and water for if you get stuck overnight

An emergency charger for your mobile phone

A battery-powered radio, for keeping up to date with traffic and weather news if youre stuck in a dead truck

In America, youre advised to carry distress flares in winter. A bit OTT in Britain, but some fireworks would be a cheaper alternative if you want it

Maps. Because when the main roads get clogged with stuck cars, your Land Rover is your passport to getting home on the little ones

WHAT TO CARRYOnce your trucks ready, its time to think about what you should be carrying in it. Depending on the severity of the weather you might face, some or all of the following will be in order:

socks you can get are a pretty good alternative. Cheaper, too, and easier to take on and off.

In the real world, whatever tyres you have on your Land Rover, simply letting some air out will probably make all the difference youll ever need. So long, of course, as you drive more defensively than youve ever done before.

EXHAUSTThe realities of winter driving mean theres a chance that youll have to spend time sat in your vehicle with the engine running to keep warm. In this case, its exhaust needs to be gas-tight or fumes could seep into the cabin.

The MOT test should point up any leaks, but no harm in getting it checked again at the start of winter. Obviously, a proper replacement is the only cure.

MORE FLUIDSGoing back to the ability of water to get where you dont want it, regular off-roading means it may have got into your axles, gearbox and transfer case. Rather than risking it freezing, drain your axle oil.

If it comes out clean and water-free (use a clean bowl), you can just pour it straight back in. Some drain bungs have magnets in them, so check yours for swarf and clean away any debris before replacing it.

CANT BE BOTHERED?Its jobs like these that make it very tempting to turn your back on the idea of prepping your Land Rover for winter. But youll wish youd made more of an effort if disaster strikes halfway across a bleak Welsh moor and youll still not be best pleased even if the worst you have to put up with is a breakdown on the way to work.

At the very least, working on your Landy is far more pleasant in a garage than at the roadside on a perishing winters morning. Youve got the truck to do the job: sending it into battle with one hand tied behind its back wouldnt make any sense, would it?

If youve got elderly neighbours, stop by and ask if theres anything you can do to help. Dont assume therell be someone in their family doing it they might not have a Land Rover, after all. It costs nothing to ask.

Most people who live in very isolated homes tend to have 4x4s these days, but theres no harm in popping a note through the door to offer your help if things get bad.

Doctors, nurses and health visitors still need to be able to get around in bad weather. Local health authorities cant always cope, and volunteers are usually welcome.

When winter bites, you always hear stories about local Landy drivers helping out the Meals on Wheels service.

Care homes get a remarkable number of daily deliveries, and some are in quiet rural locations. You dont need to put on a full courier service, but being on hand to assist could make a big difference.

Something as simple as offering to give your kids classmates a ride to school might stop them losing a days education and, if nothing else, do your bit to reduce the number of cars on the road. Your kids classmates will

hate you for this, obviously, though at least theyll get to turn up at school in a cool truck.

The most basic form of volunteering comes when you stop to assist another motorist. They cant move, but you can, so take a moment and put your rope to good use.

There are various 4x4 groups, including the National 4x4 Response Network, which the emergency services and voluntary bodies can call on to help them getting from A to B. Joining up is probably the biggest thing a Landy driver can do by way of being a good citizen.

Driving a Land Rover gives you an advantage when the weather gets bad. So, what better opportunity to do your bit for society by helping others? It wont change the opinions of any dyed-in-the-wool haters, but so what? People do appreciate it and anyway, its worth it just for the pleasure that comes from helping others:

GOOD CITIZENSHIP, LAND ROVER STYLE

25Issue 10: December 2014w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kWere on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyukTo advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 Leave (much) more time for your journey. Warm your Landy before setting off, and make sure the lights and windows are clear of snow and ice.

If theres a non-stop howling noise when you start your engine, the water pump is frozen up. If the temperature gauge starts climbing abnormally fast within the first few minutes, sos the radiator. Time to scold yourself for skimping on the antifreeze.

Driving on snow and ice is a lot like driving off-road. Keep your speed as low as possible, drive as smoothly as you can and avoid sudden inputs on the gas, brakes or steering. Everything you do is a bid to avoid losing traction.

Low box is perfect for the speeds youll be doing on snow-covered roads. If your Landy is an auto, winter mode (or the snow setting in Terrain Response) is well worth using. In general, being in a higher gear means less chance of wheelspin, but take care not to let your speed build up.

Anticipation is key. As a rule of thumb, your stopping distance will be ten times greater in snow. Assume everyone else is about to skid towards you, and that theres black ice round every corners. However well prepped your Landy is for snow and ice, drive like its not.

As normal, you control a skid by steering gently into it. Dont stand on the brakes; once the wheels are locked, it doesnt matter what youre driving, youve got no-wheel drive at all.

Fact is, if youve got into a skid its because you werent in control. Slow down. And it makes no odds if it was someone elses fault. It was still your fault for not assuming they might mess up.

Climbing hills on snow is just like off-roading. If youre going up, wait until the car in front of you has cleared the hill. Drive it in low box, but use the highest gear you can. Get moving, build up your momentum and keep it there. If you dont make it, come back down in reverse.

Steep descents are definitely a case for low box. Use the lowest gear you think you can get away with, then just concentrate on steering.

If you dont have low box, engage hill descent control if your vehicle has it, and first gear at any rate. You can cover the brakes to stop speed from building up, but dont stamp on them and if you start sliding, get right off them straight away. Finally, if some clown starts coming the other way and theres any danger that you might collide, get on the horn and flash your lights like a psycho. He can stop and reverse, but youre committed.

On a wet road, the borderline between wet and frozen might be very indistinct. Its also the case that when its pitch black and everyones being dazzled by each others headlamps, a wet surface can make the white lines on the road far harder to see. It goes without saying that youll get less traction, but for this reason the traffic around you can be more of a hazard, too.

You get better traction in virgin snow than on a road with a densely packed covering thats been polished by thousands of tyres. And driving in these conditions is one of the most joyous experiences youll ever have. But even in a Land Rover, you might be surprised by how little snow it takes to bog you down. Deep drifts can be a hoot, if youve got a

shovel and dont mind half an hours back-breaking labour. But when youre out and about, be very wary.

Being a Land Rover driver is always a good idea, but it gets better than ever when winter closes in. But though your Landys abilities mean youre better equipped than anyone else to deal with extreme weather, it doesnt make you invulnerable. Youve got the best vehicle and with everyone else struggling, its your job to be the best driver, too

WINTER DRIVING

Above: Four-wheel drive is very reassuring, but if you drive like youre on a rally stage its just leading you up the garden path. What if you were giving it the beans like this and somebody came round the corner towards you in the middle of a full front-end wipeout?Below: Even in a Land Rover thats been modified for off-roading, it only takes a suprisingly shallow depth of fresh snow to get you bellied out

all the interior had been eaten by flies and maggots

Land Rovers end up in all sorts of situations, but few can have suffered the ignominy that befell Ian Hitchens when it was stolen and used as a skip for dog bones. It went on to become the archetypal unfinished project, before Ian took it on but these days, there are literally no flies on it

You hear all sorts of stories about the state old Land Rovers get into. But few people can hold a candle to the horrors that befell Ian Hitchens 90 in the days before he turned it into the off-road machine it is today.

Many of the familiar boxes are ticked. Police auction? Oh dear, yes. Unfinished project? Yes, that too. Massive infestation of flies and maggots? You what?

Lets go back two years to when Ian bought the vehicle. I bought it off a lad as an unfinished project. He had bought it from a police auction.

Heres where it gets haggard. The cops had recovered the 90, which happens but when they did, it was full of dog bones. Picture it if you dare.

When he got it, says Ian, all the interior had been eaten by flies and maggots. So, not a nice life for her.

Indeed not. And things have become no less testing since then for an old Landy, albeit a whole lot more dignified. From me getting it, says Ian, I have fitted the lockers, built the winch trays, strengthened all the cage and basically made it the monster it is today for myself and my two sons.

Its no surprise at all to anyone who knows him that Ian built the Defender the way he did. Though you might possibly raise an eyebrow at the amount of time he took to turn his attention to the hardcore scene.

Ive generally been into Land Rovers since I was a child, he says. My dad bought me and my brother our first

Lightweight, a 2.25 petrol, when I was 12, and since then Ive never looked back. Ive had Series IIs, Series IIAs, numerous series IIIs, 90s and a Range Rover Classic. So Ive always been off-roading, though I only recently got into winching.

Having decided to see what all the fuss is about, Ian has quickly become part of the inner circle of Trans Pennine Off Road Clubs challenge faction. Theyre a good bunch of lads whose motors are all about honest hard work rather than just spending huge wads of cash on the latest kit, and Ians 90 is typical of the trucks they run.

Of course, matey with the maggot problem had already done some of the work before losing his appetite for the job, so what Ian took on from him was


Words Paul looePictures harry hamm

PICK THIS OUT OF THE BONES

A Superwinch X9 on a fabricated front bumper was among the very first mods the Disco was given. That and an internal roll cage were enough to see it through years of green laning well, that and a diligent cleaning and servicing regime


much more (or less, if thats the way you see it) than a standard 90 waiting to be built. It already had a cage and some handy suspension, which takes some of the hardest graft and biggest spending out of the equation, and just as importantly it had been left well alone in areas where trying to make sense of someone elses mods can leave you in tears. The 300Tdi engine, for example, was unmolested, as was the rest of the drivetrain, though the axles are a 110 unit up front and a TD5 job at the back.

Which brings us up to the point mentioned above, when Ian rolled up his sleeves and started finishing off a project someone else had begun. Finishing it off and improving it, too, with the roll cage and its chassis mounts beefed up to give him the sort of peace of mind you want (we were pretty grateful for it, too, when he stood it on its nose at the bottom of a steep drop on our

photoshoot with Yours Truly in the passengers seat)

As this might illustrate, Ian has a cheerfully gung-ho driving style.

But, in keeping with most people you come across wholl happily give it

Continued overleaf

Above left: The front axle started life on a 110, which isnt a bad start. Not that Ian was content to leave it at that. Inside, a Detroit Truetrac diff turns hardened halfshafts from Ashcroft, while bolted to the ends are enlarged calipers to keep three feets worth of Fedima Sirocco from getting unrulyAbove right: Resplendent beneath the rear tray and winch mount is the back axle from a TD5. This too is stuffed with hardened halfshafts, though in this case theyre turned by an ARB Air-Locker. Those Siroccos are a very, very popular tyre one reason being that, although it says 35 on the case, the tread moulded on to them is so thick that they actually measure out at 36.5

You werent expecting to see a pair of namby-pamby trailing arms here, were you? Sure enough, these mighty great HD beasts, which are also cranked for more droop, come from Qt (as does the diff guard wrapped around the back axle). Between them, the axle pivots about a standard A-frame. Suspension is taken care of by +2 springs and +5 shocks at both ends, with Gwyn Lewis dislocation cones fitted all round

death off-road, theyre only like that because of the diligence theyve put in back at the workshop.

Hes more than a welder-upper, too, having installed a Detroit Truetrac and ARB Air-Locker in the front and rear axles respectively. There are people who basically do everything themselves, but draw the line at tussling with that job, so fair play to him.

And then he installed a pair of winches. You dont have to go far in the challenge world to come up against someone whos spent more on one winch than you did on your entire car, but you wont see any twin-tops here just a good, honest 7.5-ton Goldfish with a Bowmotor 2 and narrower drum.

How many off-roaders would at this point talk about how theyd like to be able to afford something cooler one day? Not Ian. The big winch on the front will pull a house down, he says. Its just not the fastest. But, in general, it all works pretty well together.

So much so, in fact, that theres not a lot about it that Ian would change. Is there anything hed do differently given his time again, we ask. Get a cheaper hobby is the unequivocal reply.

This is motorsport in the real world, where success means knowing what you need to do to have fun rather than dreaming about how you might be able to turn your truck into something you really know its not. Ian might not be able to winch as fast as someone with loadsamoney kit, but hell try pretty much anything in the truck hes built and at the end of the day, thats what its all about.


Pretty isnt a word you often hear people using about challenge trucks. And you wont hear it being used about Ians rock sliders, which he fabbed from sections of box and used as a mount for the rear hoop of a full exo cage. He describes this as just generally a giant kids climbing frame, but not one bit of the body is left unprotected by tube including the front wings, which arent so much protected by tube as made of it. Skinned out in chequer plate, theyre every bit as strong as the originals are vulnerable. Beneath the gnarly rock sliders, the fuel tank guard tucked just inboard of the nearside one is as neat a bit of work as youll see under a competition Land Rover as is the rear winch mount, which Ian fabricated to replace the standard crossmember while also bobtailing the back of the chassis. It sits beneath whats not so much a trayback as a frameback, with no surplus metal visible anywhere

its easy to get carried away and start bolting on all sorts

The Disco 2 is rapidly gaining its place in the conscience of Britains off-roaders as a truck whose time has come. But even at 10-plus years of age, a good Disco is capable of being more than just a toy. For overland travellers, this might just be the answer to the enduringly high price of buying a Defender

Over the last half a decade or so, Britains Landy-modders have been slowly coming to terms with the Discovery 2. Its still not as popular as the Mark 1 model became, but with more and more kit available for it, the lardier, more complex D2 is starting to become a more common sight off-road.

Quite obviously, thats because its price is coming further and further down. Yet despite almost a decade hav-ing passed since the last one rolled off

the production line, there are still some sound examples out there. That makes the Disco 2 an increasingly tempting alternative to the ever-dear Defender whether youre looking to build an off-road toy or, as is the case with the one you see here, an expedition truck.

This one was built a few years ago by Devon 4x4. Since then, Disco 2 values have only gone one way, so you could pick up a V-plate TD5 like this for around 2000-6000, depending on its mileage, spec, condition and how much

youre willing to believe what the dealer tells you its worth. Its not a Defender, of course, and for many people that would be a deal-breaker. But a used Disco is a lot less likely to have been hammered off-road by persons unknown and, though its a more complex vehicle, is it actually any less simple than a Defender of the Puma era? Answers on a postcard. Its certainly nicer to sit in for the odd 20,000 miles, anyway.

Whether or not youd take a Disco over a Defender for expedition use, this


words gary noskillPictures steve taylor

A DISCOVERY FORDISCOVERERS

One thing about modifying a Landy for overlanding is that youre not looking to turn it into an extreme off-roader. When your life depends on your vehicle, after all, you go out of your way to avoid extreme terrain. So why, then, is it the Defender that everyone chooses without a second thought? The Discovery 1 and 2 were exceptionally capable off-roaders themselves, and arguably far better suited to being sat in for thousands of miles on end


truck makes a strong case for at least thinking about it. Theres stuff on it that you wouldnt get these days no doubt thered be an LED bar instead of the IPF spots, and the old-style BFG Mud- Terrains are no longer available but the bones of the build remain sound.

Basically, the Disco is lifted by 2, protected as much as possible under-neath and fitted with a winch, snorkel, twin battery system and various camping and expedition gear. Were skimming the surface there a bit, but in terms of deep technical stuff theres very little its not so much a modified Landy as an accessorised one.

Thats as it always should be on an expedition truck, of course. The very last thing you want to be doing is making for-the-sake-of-it mods to a Land Rover youre about to trust with your life. Its very easy to get carried

Continued overleaf

For a Land Rover thats been kept as standard as possible, theres a lot of mods visible here. Youll have noticed the Devon 4x4 steering guard and winch bumper, the latter housing a Warn Powerplant winch-cum-compressor. Behind these, a Safari snorkel leads you up past a bank of IPF spotlights to the roof rack, which is home to an ARB roof tent and the Trip-Net waste bag seen here. And dont lets forget the tyres, of course, which are 265/75R16 BFG Mud-Terrains in the original pattern (below) which you cant get anymore

away and start bolting all sorts of things on and stuffing things in places where they dont really belong, in Devon 4x4s words. But its certainly not a successful way to build a vehicle. Appropriate technology is the best way to describe it; its making sure youre using the right things and that theyre being done properly.

Doing it properly is something Devon 4x4 has been famous for ever since the days when its proprietor, Simon Buck, was sweeping all before him in the fledgling challenge scene. And the expedition Disco was built to the same standard, if not the same purpose, as its competition cars.

Its not just a vehicle with lots of stuff thrown on it, the company told us. It has been prepped for use. Its a balance between saying These are all the cool products we do, and This is how we prep a vehicle, its got to be right and work properly when you need to depend on it.

There are a few things which are Devon 4x4 signatures. One is using quality products: its just not worth putting cheap products on a vehicle youre going to depend on.

Second is simplicity. Well only ever put on a vehicle what we believe needs to be there. Attention to detail is the other key; its making sure that the job is finished properly; for example, that cables are fixed and routed properly.

Something you might take from this is that bolting top kit on to a cheap old Disco might not sound like the best idea. And yes, its true. Experts at this sort of thing will always advise you that the best way to get a build underway is to start with the best base vehicle you can possibly afford.

But what if that means your choice is between starting with a

late-letter 110 and only being able to afford cheap kit for it, or a Disco 2 that means you can afford the sort of kit Devon 4x4 sells? Well, the answer is probably that there are Disco 2s and Disco 2s: whatever you choose to go with, the trick is to make sure you get a good one.

Doing that in D2 land no longer costs big money. And thats why these vehicles are gaining in popularity all the time.

As we said, theres a way to go before they reach the level the D1 attained in its off-road heyday. But with builds like Devons around to showcase the possibilities, theyre well on the way.

32 Issue 10: December 2014w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u k ClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNewsLeft: Something expedition vehicles have in common with the hardcore winch trucks Devon 4x4 is known for is that they need serious electricity. Two Odyssey PC1200s definitely take care of that. Charged via a Genesis system, these were chosen for their quality but also for the simple reason that they would fit within the Discoverys standard battery trayRight: This is why the extra juice is required. However up to the job a standard 4x4 might be, theres no such thing as a showroom vehicle that was designed to be able to power a fridge. Add extra lighting, over-volting for the winch and the small matter of it really, really mattering if your engine wont

The Landy December 14

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