Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Landrover Series 2

I don't need to add anything to John's post.
Enjoy the search and as Paul says take someone with you that knows them...

Thanks for your posts and recommendations. It definitely helps to get a picture. Even if my buddy is a bit focused on a Series 2, what would you say from which model year on is a Landrover/Defender drivable? Is it the change to coil springs? I personally could warm with a series 3 or with a Defender. Is a Series 3 already a "90", and does she have coil spirings, or when was the jump to a good performing car which could also make some miles on a regular road?

Series 3 had leaf springs, the 90 marked the start of coil-sprung Landies.

I drive my 1971 Series 11a around the country lanes of Devon- where its gearing suspension and steering are just fine. The children learnt to drive on it, it shifts things from here to there, it's fun if quirky to drive ( no synchromesh 1st to 2nd) and I love it!

As people above have said bullkheads are a real weakness and expensive to replace.

Almost everything on the 11 a is weld able, replaceable or fix able.

You will end up doing a bit of all that.

I think it does depend on what you are intending to use it for. Just trundling around country lanes, B roads and the like then a Series 2A or 3 is fine. If you want to do some motorway miles as well then I would go for a coil sprung Land Rover as they are a bit more comfortable but even coil sprung Land Rovers can be quite a hard ride especially the LWB versions if not loaded up. If you can find a 300tdi 90 in excellent condition they are still quite simple machines to repair but I would also not discount a 90 TD5. The ultimate would be the latest TDCi engine vehicles from 2007 they even have a great heater. I have had them all but the TDCi was probably the best with regards to creature comforts but good ones are not cheap and they still don't drive like a car. They do however have a certain charm, I put them in the same category as Morgans and Harley Davidsons. Hope this helps.

There a vehicle I wish I never sold ,a county series 3 last of the line before defenders

If going coil sprung (90) - the one to avoid is the 90 Turbo from around 1986. You need either the non-turbo (1985 ish or earlier) or the Tdi 300 (1994 onwards).

Also - if looking at a vehicle that has had chassis repairs, make sure they have been done properly. I have seen some very dodgy welding on rear cross members - nasty if you plan to tow anything heavy.

The pre 1986 2286cc Diesel is also not one of their best engines - worn ones emit huge clouds of smoke on start up.

My Landies - the Old and the New. Series11a and a Defender 2.4XS. Love them both.

As anyone who has been within 100 metres of Lord Unstone when he fires his up will know

Well it marked the start of the SWB coilers and they were actually called the "Ninety".
The "OneTen" was the very first of the traditional shaped coil sprung Land Rovers, in the early 1980s ('82 or '83 or thereabouts), it was approximately another year before the Ninety appeared. Even then, the Series 3 (leaf sprung model) continued for another year or so alongside the new variant.
The 90 and 110 designations didn't start until the "Defender" models for the '91 model year, so late 1990. This saw the introduction of the 200Tdi into the Land Rover, which had already been in use in the Discovery.

Lots of LR History sites, here is just one:
http://www.lr-mad.co.uk/