A Flashback Friday Edition:
The iconic Ford F4, circa 1948
Photo credit: FoMoCo
Category Archives: vehicle
The Celebration Line
Land Rover has recreated the 1948 production line used to manufacture its first four wheel drive vehicle, The Series I. The “Defender Celebration Line” details the history of the Wilks Bros., who were the founders of the Land Rover. The exhibition is located in one of the original buildings at the Solihull factory.
Replica models are showcased at various stages of production, each one built using original parts and in the original method of production, which usually meant hand tools. Land Rover turned to the curator of the Dunsfold Collection, Phil Bashall, to oversee the creation of the “new” Series I’s. Dunsfold is home to the world’s largest collection of rare and unique Land Rovers and parts.
Working alongside Bashall was Roger Crathorne, who is otherwise known as “Mr Land Rover”. Crathorne was born in Solihull, and started working as an apprentice at the Land Rover factory in 1963. He retired from Land Rover in 2013 after 50 years of service to the company.
Is that Oxford?!
Despite the 8000 original Land Rover parts that Bashall had in his collection, it still took a period of months to collect the parts needed to recreate the assembly line. Then another 5 weeks for Bashall and Crathorne to assemble the five vehicles that appear in the “Celebration Line”.
Tours are open to the public for 45 pounds. The display lasts through 2015, which is the Defender’s last year of production at Solihull. I am overdue for a visit to the UK.
All photos are courtesy of Land Rover
Spongy Clutch
With it being another nice day in the far north, I was back in the Rover Hut today to pick up where I left off in Rover Refurbishment. A spongy clutch had me concerned that the clutch slave cylinder needed to be replaced. Several years ago, I chose to replace the seals and rebuilt the slave cylinder instead of replacing it. After removing the transmission tunnel, which I really didn’t want to do again, and pumping the clutch, I quickly saw that it was the hose from the slave that was seeping fluid.
Removing the old hose went easily, one of the perks of previous oil leakage. The bracket holding the hose to the firewall had a broken set of rivets, so even with drilling the old ones out and riveting the bracket back in place, the hose replacement took less than 30 mins.
Both the hose and bleeder are on the top of the slave. I took the bleeder out for ease of getting at the hose in the back. Note to Land Rover: A swivel fitting on the slave end of the hose would have been a really nice design feature.
Anyone who has tried to bleed a Series system knows that it’s best to have a supply of Scotch nearby on the day the bleed is attempted. It’s one of those nasty activities that one needs to mentally psych up for, before even opening the can of DOT 4. I hate to say it went well, but it turned out to be only a beer night and not a Scotch night.
I am not quite ready to put the floor panels and tunnel back in, however. It’ll be a challenge with last night’s fresh snow, but I’ll just lay the floor boards in and get it on the road first before I tighten everything down. Past experience tells me that I have a few bubbles to shake loose first.
Ras-ta-ra-tion: Part 2
Bob Marley’s Land Rover before restoration.
Bob Marley’s 1973 Series III Land Rover has been undergoing a complete restoration by Sandals Resorts International and their affiliate ATL Automotive in Jamaica.
The Series III after restoration.
ATL really did quite the job. There is a video that I will also post. It’s just over 10 minutes long, but they go into the restoration fairly well for a clip. When you look at the condition the truck was in prior to ATL getting their hands on it, you really get a feel for how much work they put into it.
30 Degrees!
It finally warmed up enough to get the new radiator in The Rover.
Leakage source
The missile launched was a direct hit on the not so old radiator. Damn trucks running mudders.
The new, matte black radiator in place
It wasn’t a bad swap, but this time the holes on the shroud did not match up with those on the new radiator’s framing, which was a bit of a surprise, since last time it was perfect. I bought a new radiator hose pick that really worked slick. Well worth the purchase. I replaced all the hoses, but the old ones will go in the tool box as emergency spares, since they really were not very old.
I installed my cold front today as well. Not to increase my heater output, but to protect the new radiator from incoming missiles.
The Best, and I mean Best, Valentine’s Gift Ever
From Land Rover, With Love…
Classic.
Some of us Land Rover owners in Alaska wouldn’t mind a little attention. Maybe just a break on the freight. After all, those guys gave up on their Rover. Why not reward the ones still having a go at it? Something to think about, Land Rover… something to think about.
Five Star Woop Woop
The Holden Jackaroo (1981-2002) was a rebadged Isuzu Trooper out of Australia. The five speed manual transmission and 2.8 ltr turbo diesel would be the option I’d be interested in. And according to Jackaroo adverts, that’s the version that brings families together in the Outback.
The Jackaroo Rigout Package… Only $29,950!
Just look at those features! Seat trim insignia and decals? Who does that these days? That’s not much of a roof rack, mate… but at least the truck has the kangaroo bar & five-star woop woop.
For those of you who don’t speak Australian, like me five minutes ago. Woop woop is defined as “the middle of nowhere”.
Example: “Where do you live?”
“Out woop woop, man.”
Thanks to readers in Milwaukee for putting the Jackaroo onto our radar.
Rasta-ration Update:
The video is a time-lapse of the restoration of Bob Marley’s Series III Land Rover. ATL Automotive of Montego Bay is undertaking the frame up rebuild.
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