Life-long friend Richard Peck (RP) with his 1971 Chevy truck. Almost certainly, at some subconscious level, this kindled the flame of my desire of an old truck. For reasons unknown, RP got rid of his truck. Like snipping off a couple of feet of your soul because you don’t need it anymore.
George K. spotted this beauty in Columbia, MO yesterday. I had heard rumors there were some older Land Rovers up there but this is the first sighting.
UPDATE: Got in touch with the owner of this 1969 Series IIa. “It is largely original except the frame has been replaced and the charging system upgraded with an alternator. I just use it around the farm and for hunting and fishing. I bought it off the estate of an obstetrician in Pennsylvania. The doc used it to get around the mountains to deliver babies.”
We started the day with Barb taking me to pick up the newest addition to our automotive fleet. She has been fully supportive of getting an old pickup truck but had only seen photos of the new ride which she immediately proclaimed the Official Truck of the Bittersweet Garden Club.
I used the truck for some errands this morning before meeting George for lunch and a quick ride in Minty Fresh (we were unable to come up with a gayer name). George observed I was dressed the part for a beat up old pickup and there would be no need to add some Carhartt gear to my wardrobe.
Next it was a half hour at the Department of Motor Vehicles where I got a set of historic plates for the truck, followed by a safety inspection. A few (relatively) minor things need fixing before we do much driving (not that we’ll be doing much) but she has 40 years of wear and tear, some of which will get fixed, most will simply add character. I did use up a roll of Gorilla Tape on the seat which will have to be replaced or repaired eventually.
It was fun banging around in the truck but it will — for me — always have back-up status. Used for chores that would otherwise fall to Barb’s Lexus or my Land Rover. I was missing the Rover by the end of the day.
Gonzo Mechanic George Tergin went with me to “take a look” at the old truck I’ve been trying not to buy. It’s a 1977 Ford F150. Straight six engine. Manual 4-speed in the floor. Beat to shit, but in a good way. The current owner got it from a guy in Colorado who was, I think, the original owner. It looks…lived in…but that’s a topic for another post. Mechanic George saw nothing that alarmed him and gave me the green light. We tried to dicker a little but I had my checkbook in my hand, so…
Now I have two trucks. The pickup is called Minty Fresh (by the guy who sold it to me) because… it looks like mouth wash? Once it’s got plates and all that it will live in a storage unit from which Barb and I will retrieve it it for hauling, yard and garden work, or — god forbid — when the Land Rover is in the shop.
Don’t know what the original owner did with the truck but the bed is beat to shit (“distressed”). Driving this truck will up my Testosterone Index by five or ten points. Watch this space for updates.
Shortly after getting the Land Rover in late August I discovered I was unable to engage four-wheel drive. There’s a plunger-like doodad (with a bright yellow knob on it) you push down to switch from two-wheel to four-wheel drive. Mine just never worked and I had visions of owning the only Land Rover in America without 4WD (sob!).
My friend (and wizard mechanic) George Tergin investigated and determined some of the linkage in the transfer case (look it up) was worn so we ordered replacement parts. Since some of them had to come from the UK, it took a while but today he fixed the problem. After which we took the truck for a drive on the Tergin Motor Sports Off-Road Test Track (a field behind his shop)
Turns out it was a combination of worn parts, wrong parts and improperly installed parts. And he let me look over his shoulder (and occasionally assist) for three hours, patiently explaining what he was doing and why.
We’ll eventually get a big snow in mid-Missouri and I’m ready now.
Paul Bandelier loves old cars. Especially old Mustangs. But he’s got some sweet old trucks sitting outside his shop and I’ve fallen in ‘like’ with one. I’m hoping he finds a buyer for it before I brake down and buy the thing. Yesterday I stopped by his shop and introduced myself and he showed me his latest acquisition.
I can’t recall the year but he said he found it in Colorado and plans to “fix it up and find it a good home.”
Left my card in hopes the owner will get in touch and I can learn the story (got to be one) behind this little beauty.
I’m hoping I have the self-discipline to not buy this truck. I don’t need this truck. I don’t have a place to put this truck. But this is just sort of clunker I’ve been dreaming about. The idea was Barb and I could use this to haul mulch and rocks and shit for her yard and gardens. (Uh, our yard and garden) And on the rare occasion when The Truck is in the shop, I could fire this thing up for a few days. Lord, I hope someone buys it fast.
Looks like they’re still making Land Rovers. Just not for me. From Digital Trends:
It will be available with features like adaptive cruise control and hill descent control, and you can safely bet your next paycheck on the fact that the Defender will have a massive touchscreen in the center console. Bluetooth connectivity and voice commands? Check and check. Well-equipped models will even boast creature comforts like leather-upholstered heated seats and, possibly, a digital instrument cluster, features the original truck could only dream of.
What, I wonder, is the essence of a Land Rover? Is there such a thing as essence for a vehicle. It’s like going to see a legendary rock band whose original members are all dead. All that’s left is the name. Can you really say you saw the Rolling Stones if Mick and Keith are gone?
Not sure which is worse. Having several great old vehicles you know you’ll never get around to restoring… or to have the time and talent to restore old vehicles but no good prospects. The red and white beauty is a 1975 International Scout II.
The green truck is a 1971 Ford Bronco.
And this wicked window is in a 1961 Scout 80.
