The Old Land Rover Arms

General Category => Say hello ... => Topic started by: Kiwi S3 on September 18, 2018, 09:05:12 am

Title: Hi from New Zealand
Post by: Kiwi S3 on September 18, 2018, 09:05:12 am
Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum, but have lurked around other forums for a few years, so thought I better introduce myself properly.

I'm originally from north Lincolnshire, but moved to Wellington in New Zealand in 1996.  There has been a Landrover of some kind in my family since I was a kid - starting with a new 1973 station wagon, moving on through to a LWB v8.

I've owned 3 Landrovers since moving to NZ - the first was a 1994 V8 Discovery auto - which was fantastic but the fuel bills put an end to ownership as we used it as our daily commuter vehicle.

Then in 2013 I bought a 'project' 1961 Series 2 SWB pickup that I did some jobs on. I continued tinkering with it into 2014 before realising I had neither the skill nor time to give it what was needed to get it into a roadworthy condition, and sold it. 

In the meantime, I had an altercation with a skip while driving my Alfa Romeo, which demonstrated that skips are made of sturdier steel than Italian cars. I therefore needed a new vehicle and decided that I'd buy an old Landrover that was 'ready to use'. After much searching for one with its original engine, I located an original looking 1978 S3 SWB hard top a ferry ride away in the South Island, and in March 2014 drove it home. 

Apart from a snapped rear half shaft at a busy uphill intersection when the free-wheeling hubs were disengaged (the LAST time they were ever disengaged) - ownership has been great with no major issues.

Looking forward to using the forum and learning a thing or two about repairs & maintenance that will stop me throwing my spanners around the garage.

Here's a pic taken on the last off-raoding trip:
(https://i.imgur.com/l4bdbBf.jpg?1)

Cheers,
Mark, NZ.
Title: Re: Hi from New Zealand
Post by: Gossamer on September 18, 2018, 05:53:34 pm
Hellooooo and welcome
Title: Re: Hi from New Zealand
Post by: Tom on September 18, 2018, 07:21:29 pm
hello! nice landy there, how do you find New Zealand vs the UK?

I hear there are more sheep than people which to me as a welshman sounds great to be honest  Shpsx
Title: Re: Hi from New Zealand
Post by: hippydave on September 18, 2018, 08:13:00 pm
Boo dude welcome along.
Title: Re: Hi from New Zealand
Post by: Rambler on September 19, 2018, 04:21:19 am
Nice one.  Welcome along.  I used to live in Spilsby, now in Canada for my sins. 
Title: Re: Hi from New Zealand
Post by: Kiwi S3 on September 23, 2018, 03:57:57 am
Thanks for the welcome everyone.

I love living in NZ - I only planned to be here for 2 or 3 years, so after more than 20, there's not been anything to tempt me anywhere else. it's a very compact place and you are never more than an hour or twos drive away from stunning coastline, mountains, ski fields, lakes... whatever you want.

The weather is very UK like - moderate most of the time with occasional sunshine and snow.  One of the best things is that they don't put salt on the roads in winter, so old vehicles can be in surprisingly good condition.

Tom - there are a lot of sheep - about 6 for every person I believe, but not that many around the Wellington area - I think I saw more in Cardiff!

Cheers,

Title: Re: Hi from New Zealand
Post by: Lurch on September 24, 2018, 11:34:00 pm
Welcome along
Nice looking motor