Series 2, land rover, soft top

[novocaine]

As a Jeep man I'd rather spend quite a bit less money on a nice WW2 era military Jeep, a truly iconic vehicle, and a much better head turner/talking point than any Landie will ever be. But whatever floats your boat, if you love them, as many do, then go for it. It's your money and your fun, doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Good luck with it.

how do you find getting parts for them?

 

[Fergie 307]

how do you find getting parts for them?

First thing don't go near a dealer, unless you have a newish one. They are bloomin useless! normal consumables like filters brakes and so forth are available from any decent motor factor. For anything else there are a number of specialists in the uk, both specifically for Jeep, and for Amercan vehicles in general. I buy most stuff from specialist suppliers in the US. I recently had to replace a rear ABS sensor on my 93 Cherokee. £240 from the dealer. £240!!! For about four feet of wire with a magnet on the end. Hence the saying that Jeep stands for Just Empty Every Pocket ! $85 including delivery for a genuine NOS part from a specialist in Texas. There are also specialist suppliers for just the military Jeeps, whether Willys or Ford manufactured. Suffice to say I have Never had a problem getting spares, but then in 140,000 miles all the Cherokee has needed outside routine servicing are two water pumps and a throttle sensor. Had a new radiator too but that was owing to a crow head butting it at 70mph on the M11, can't really blame jeep for that one, or the poor old crow! Looking round at the moment for a nice TJ Wrangler, great fun but must be a 4litre, everyone I have ever known who bought the smaller engine regretted it, likewise really wants to be a manual if your are going to use it off road. Have owned four Landies, but never looked back since buying the first Jeep. Best one ever is an old CJ with the V8, awesome thing off road and great fun, very rare here now but still common across the pond.

 

[Keith Cocker]

If my BiL's experience is anything to go by, then any LR, no matter how decrept, will be stolen!

Bod

I had a lovely Defender90 tdi that hardly gave an trouble whatsoever and was a joy to have. It was a 60th birthday/retirement present to my self. Had it three years kept on the drive at night. First time I ever left it on the road outside the house it was nicked and I never saw it again. Only consolation was that the insurance company gave me about £7k more than I paid for it. I’ve never got over the sadness and anger of loosing it.

 

[Fergie 307]

And if you do have an auto, fit a decent thermostatically controlled oil cooler. The thing Jeep are pleased to call a transmission oil cooler is a POJ. A decent cooler and stat is less than £100, but a lot cheaper than having the box cook itself, especially if you do a lot of stop start driving in town, not uncommon for the standard set up to let go after 80-90k miles.

 

[novocaine]

And if you do have an auto, fit a decent thermostatically controlled oil cooler. The thing Jeep are pleased to call a transmission oil cooler is a POJ. A decent cooler and stat is less than £100, but a lot cheaper than having the box cook itself, especially if you do a lot of stop start driving in town, not uncommon for the standard set up to let go after 80-90k miles.

replying to this one but aimed at both.
thanks. good information.
we had both a Cherokee and in very quick order a grand Cherokee. both new from stealer so no real parts required. why was it in very quick order? well the you see, the Cherokee had a 3.0CRD. better known as a Mercedes van engine. also know as an injector spitter, it fired 2 of them out in 5 weeks of ownership. lesson learned, don't by a Merc. (funny as a friend bought a sprinter with the same engine and had the same issue, I had to put a thread insert in for him, which was fun without the head off). the Grand was great, a bit utilitarian but towed well and it never got stuck in the mud at a race meet unlike a few far posher chunks of metal.

 

[paulrbarnard]

I had a lovely Defender90 tdi that hardly gave an trouble whatsoever and was a joy to have. It was a 60th birthday/retirement present to my self. Had it three years kept on the drive at night. First time I ever left it on the road outside the house it was nicked and I never saw it again. Only consolation was that the insurance company gave me about £7k more than I paid for it. I’ve never got over the sadness and anger of loosing it.

That is my biggest fear with mine. I do have a few levels of additional security on it like tamper proof ignition, pedal locks, gear lock etc but the main thing I do is park a sacrificial Volvo XC40, wife's car, in front of it every night.

 

[Fergie 307]

replying to this one but aimed at both.
thanks. good information.
we had both a Cherokee and in very quick order a grand Cherokee. both new from stealer so no real parts required. why was it in very quick order? well the you see, the Cherokee had a 3.0CRD. better known as a Mercedes van engine. also know as an injector spitter, it fired 2 of them out in 5 weeks of ownership. lesson learned, don't by a Merc. (funny as a friend bought a sprinter with the same engine and had the same issue, I had to put a thread insert in for him, which was fun without the head off). the Grand was great, a bit utilitarian but towed well and it never got stuck in the mud at a race meet unlike a few far posher chunks of metal.

I don't know what the newer diesel ones are like but the old ones were dreadful. The Morini engines in the turbo diesel Cherokee XJ used to crack cylinder heads with monotonous regularity. Totally gutless and you only got 25 odd mpg versus 20 mpg for the 4 litre that would pull your house over, so always seemed pretty pointless to me. Mine runs on LPG with a Gas Italia multi point injection system. Still only 20 mpg, but it's 57p per litre. Put off getting another Wrangler because of the fuel consumption, but now that the long range auxiliary tanks have come down in price you can convert one of these to LPG without having to have the tank in the boot, you just transfer the pump etc to the auxiliary tank and put the gas tank in place of the original fuel tank under the floor, which is what I will be doing.

 

[Fergie 307]

That is my biggest fear with mine. I do have a few levels of additional security on it like tamper proof ignition, pedal locks, gear lock etc but the main thing I do is park a sacrificial Volvo XC40, wife's car, in front of it every night.

Many moons ago I just used to fit a hidden micro paddle switch which triggered a relay controlling power to either the ignition or injection. Coupled up to a flashing Led somewhere if you want. Providing you hide the switch with some imagination, not in the glovebox, then this would still be quite effective as it is going to take some time to work out and bypass, and there are loads of suitable nooks and crannies where you can hide the switch on a Landie!

 

[novocaine]

Many moons ago I just used to fit a hidden micro paddle switch which triggered a relay controlling power to either the ignition or injection. Coupled up to a flashing Led somewhere if you want. Providing you hide the switch with some imagination, not in the glovebox, then this would still be quite effective as it is going to take some time to work out and bypass, and there are loads of suitable nooks and crannies where you can hide the switch on a Landie!

we used to do the same with a reed switch. put the magnet in the right place and the car starts. no evidence of it from the outside and completely hidden, impossible to get to in order to disable it.

 

[Fergie 307]

we used to do the same with a reed switch. put the magnet in the right place and the car starts. no evidence of it from the outside and completely hidden, impossible to get to in order to disable it.

amusingly she I bought my then girlfriend a BMW automatic I fitted one of these. I removed the centre console and positioned the switch underneath it. To operate it you had to poke your finger in between the two sets of bristles in the gearlever slot, you could then feel the end of the switch and flick it up or down. I thought this was a very ingenious concealment, until I showed her how to use it. Her immediate observation was, " only a man could have though of putting it there, or do you think I'm a lesbian? " I remember being very red in the face when I contonned on. She obviously wasn't to bothered as we have now been married for 24 years!

 

[AndrewS]

@doctor Bob, just my tuppence worth as an owner of a handful of Series vehicles, including the current 1960 S2 and 1961 S2a:

I love them. They make me smile, they make others smile, they attract lots of waves from other motorists and, provided you’re comfortable with their limitations, they are instantly recognisable, timeless, classless icons.

Regarding value, originality is all. How many components have been overhauled and preserved vs replaced? Aside from the obvious, e.g. engine, gearbox axles and registration number, little things like the carburettor, distributor, lights, switchgear, original accessories, etc. all make a big difference.
If in doubt, consult James Taylor’s excellent book:
Land Rover Series II and IIa Specification Guide.

There is a general preference for SWB (88”) petrol models but all will find a home.

As you’re likely aware, there is also a significant difference between a Series II (1958-1961) and a IIa; they may look near-identical but approx. four times more IIa’s were built.

Finally, the Series 2/2a club, forum and Facebook group is a fantastic resource, well worth the annual subs.

I hope it’s what you’re looking for and be sure to post a pic if you go for it!

 

[alz]

Having run a 1960 ex-army Lightweight Land Rover for years, I have more enjoyment out of driving it than any of the Discovery models I have owned. So I have been happily using the necessary meccano-build skills over past year or two to restore an ex-RAF '84 Lightweight - my wife says I am simply reliving my youth.
True, I guess, as I even have the parts of an old Nissen hut that I rescued waiting to be rebuilt . If you remember Nissen huts then you can guess my age....

 

[doctor Bob]

The Land rover is lovely, absolutely mint, looks like it's out of a show room.
However a few things came up in a friendly discussion
we can't agree on a price
He is not 100% sure he wants to sell it
It's a series 3
i'm not sure I want a series 3

Hence we have left it for the moment.

 

[akirk]

For me the series three loses some of the character of the older ones but doesn’t gain enough of the benefits of a newer one - probably my least favourite- but to be fair still lovely characterful cars

 

[alz]

The Series 2 and 2A - and certainly the S1 - are the the machines to cherish. Reasonably priced ones can still be found but need to be checked carefully. My old '68 was a great find in a farm steading (barn) and took a bit of work, and the '84 I only bought as it was a Lightweight.
The demise of the Defender has led to ridiculous prices for Landies and I wouldn't pay big money for a S3 however pristine.

 

[1steven]

If my BiL's experience is anything to go by, then any LR, no matter how decrept, will be stolen!

Bod

Happened to my last one but did get her back

 

[1steven]

That is my biggest fear with mine. I do have a few levels of additional security on it like tamper proof ignition, pedal locks, gear lock etc but the main thing I do is park a sacrificial Volvo XC40, wife's car, in front of it every night.

Do you have a tracker fitted? They are worth it.

 

[paulrbarnard]

Do you have a tracker fitted? They are worth it.

Yes, complete with live tracking and move notifications to my email.

 

[1steven]

Yes, complete with live tracking and move notifications to my email.

They found it then

 

[paulrbarnard]

They found it then

It can give me a scare when I’m away on business if my wife uses it.