1957 Series 1 Land Rover 109
After
several years on the 'backburner', due to both the many other things
happening, such as the impending move from Pyramid Hill to Avoca (Victoria,
Australia) and the general depressing (or 'character-building'!) aspects of
the work required, in mid 2020 I got back into getting this characterful
Series 1 109" Land Rover back into active life. Finally, on the 2nd
September 2020, in the midst of the Coronavirus lockdown, the old girl was
back on its wheels.
This first stage of its recommissioning involved rebuilding the front suspension, replacing most rubber components, fully rebuilding the brake system (reconditioning the original cylinders, fabricating all new brake lines, relining the brake shoes and machining all drums), all new hub seals, replacing just one set of wheel bearings (the others were fine!), and a LOT of scraping and water blasting old grease and dirt deposits from the chassis and mechanicals.
This old Series 1 109" Landie has had just two previous owners. The first owner was apparently a well-known horse trainer who used the vehicle unregistered at the Flemington Racecourse (Melbourne, Australia) for some years. He sold it after some years to the next owners, the Howards (Shane Howard will be well-known to Australian music fans, especially with his band Goanna) who owned property in the Upper Yarra Valley, near Warburton. The vehicle was registered for road use at this time, so the first registration is in the 1960s, not 1957. These owners later purchased a farm property near Heathcote, Vic, and that's where the old girl was once again let out of road registration, as it was used exclusively 'on the farm'.
It was from this farm, and from these owners (a brother of Shane Howard), that I purchased this old gem. It had been advertised with the following description:
"This Land Rover has been used on the farm only for checking on sheep, fences and general use, always kept clean and tidy and driven quietly. It is still in use and goes well, odometer reading is 25236. Ideal for a Land Rover lover. Body number 1446, Serial 109-1446, chassis 123700921. The sale is for pick up only. Reason for sale, ready to retire."
The original plan was to get the vehicle up to registrable standard, while retaining its original patina, which would be a shame to 'restore'. However, for now at least, I will simply enjoy this vehicle as a workhorse on our 20 acres. For full registration, all that is required now is to rebush the rear springs, some new bearings in the front swivels, some electrical work to get wipers, horn and brake lights operating, and set of new tyres. Maybe in the future...
For now, I'll just enjoy it as a functioning workhorse.
The only modification, easily reversed - a Holden Stromberg carburettor and air filter in place of the original Solex.
