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In my opinion this is the ultimate uplift vehicle, capable of sloggingthe average trailer up pretty much anything, but it’s a good laugh tothrow a few bikes in a little trailer, and rag this baby up the hill,or just forget the trailer and go for a good old bumpy ride, with aterrified passenger..............
It all started a few years ago, when myuncle told me he was going to build a Land Rover, at the time I thoughtnothing of it, because it was just a set of axles and a few scrappedvehicles off E-Bay. Basically over time it evolved, with a shortenedchassis, a big engine and a roll cage that was made from somescaffolding that was never returned.
Whenit was finished, it was brought up to the farm to pull trailers, thewinch was used to pull down trees, and I learnt to drive it whichproved to be lots of fun. As winter came along, it was given awindscreen and roof, and a heater for driving on those cold mornings.“The buggy” as it has been known is now an extremely capable off roadmachine, and lots of people who have had a try have always asked “howmuch can you make me one for?” but my Uncle currently isn’t buildingthem on request, because of the amount of hard work put into it, andthe fact that he loves the thing too much. But we all know that everyman has their price…
For all you Landy tech-heads out thereit has a shortened discovery chassis to around 80 inches, a 200 Tdiengine (I wish it was a 300) , A discovery gearbox, and random bitsfrom a Volvo and other scrapped cars. Plus some fresh bits ordered in,tyres, winch etc.
If you come up to visit I’ll happily take youfor a drive, but for the real deal you’ll have to let my uncle take youout, on a the few occasions I’ve been a passenger, I’ve jumped out infear of my own safety, as he almost rolled it once from trying a jayturn coming down a steep bank, now that was scary.
The sadthing is it lacks many things to pass an M.O.T test, so I wont becruising into sixth from in this bad boy anytime soon. But you neverknow, with some indicators, mirrors, and other bits and bobs and itcould be road legal, but it might take some bargaining with my mumbefore I‘ll be allowed to cruise around the valley. Also there arerumours of a new model on the horizon, with a pickup back end toaccommodate bales and other farm stuff (read bikes). Lets hope so.
Thebest thing about it is it didn’t cost 30 odd grand to build, it hasthat ghetto feel we all love, plus its mega fun to drive and itsbombproof as hell.
More articles soon…
Jolly-DHP
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