Author Archives: Steve Mays
Jaguar Land Rover’s Restoration Shop
“Walking into the new Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works facility in Coventry, England — basically a massive 150,000-square-foot repair and restoration shop — the contrast is startling. Ancient, beaten-down Defenders, with their doors barely hanging on and their engines hopeless, rusted hulks, sit on spotless floors under lighting fit for a surgical theater rather than in gritty, equally ancient garages as technicians in crisp uniforms pore over them.”
Story and more photos »
You’ll always know where the spare is
Nothing says safari like a spare on the bonnet. Probably won’t leave it there. Couple of other options. Does look sorta bad-ass.
“Real driving”
I’ve been hanging out on some Land Rover forums and getting lots of advice, ranging from “this will be the most fun you’ve ever had,” to “Don’t sell the MINI.” Probably the most interesting came from Matt:
Your first driving experience in a Land Rover is likely to seem a massive let-down; what have I done? you might think. After driving modern cars the Land Rover will seem like some kind of antediluvian torture device but give it some time. You will need to learn how to drive all over again. It isn’t a driving experience like you’ve become used to. You will have to slow down, don’t expect it to keep up with modern traffic, especially as yours is a 2.25 diesel. Driving a series LR requires a lot of driver input, both physical and mental. It is REAL driving. Same goes for the maintenance but that will lead you gently into becoming more mechanically competent. Levels to check, fan belt to check etc. Give it time and you will probably end up loving your Land Rover.
If there’s one thing everyone seems to agree on it’s hanging on to the MINI. Was gonna sell it sooner rather than later but now think I’ll keep it for a year. By then I will know if keeping it is the right thing to do or that I’ll do just fine with only the truck.
Automotive Foreplay
Watching my truck (’79 Series III Land Rover) being (re)built piece by piece is delicious agony. They’re taking their time, ordering pieces as they decide what needs to be replaced and waiting for them to arrive from the UK supplier. Every couple of weeks they post four or five photos and I pour over them inch by inch. As much as I’ve enjoyed my MINI, nothing about it has this kind of attraction for me. Like all my other vehicles, it’s a way to get from A to B.
But this truck. Everything about it seems to pluck my magic twanger. Take look at the front bumper (below). It’s a big hunk of steel. No chrome. No curves. No ornamentation. Just a big metal bar. I guess the idea was if you happened to hit something (or something hit you) the bumper would protect the front of the truck. Is there a vehicle on the road to day that can take a bump at any speed without resulting in hundreds of dollars in damage? But function aside, I love the form of this thing. Could it be more simple?
And then there are the iconic Land Rover door latches. Grab. Pull. Gonna be driving through the bush? No problemo. Door handles are recessed, thank you very much.
And that lock. Won’t be needing that bluetooth remote for these. You need a key. (Even though these looks look like they could be picked with a paper clip)
I mean, there’s just no extra shit. Everything has a purpose. A function.