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LiftedDisco

Member Since: 17 Aug 2014
Location: Towcester
Posts: 349

Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time…

Many (many) years ago, there was a piece in LRO about building a Tornado - this being fibreglass bodied Defender-look-alike based on a Discovery or Range Rover chassis.

The back story was that I’d had an old Discovery for some time and got to the stage where I knew it would need some work the following year for MOT etc - most logical thing was, of course, to sell it and start on a far larger project!

So, take one £400 MOT failure as a Range Rover Classic, so bad where the previous owner had carved a panel out of the driver’s door to actually open the door and tear it down to chassis and running gear.

Then refurbish every bush, bearing and suspension, fit new calipers and make new brake lines throughout. Make a new fuel tank (lovely bespoke aluminium jobbie…) and fabricate seat mounts and fit RX-8 seats, including electrical adjustment etc.

Having chopped 18” off the back of the chassis, I was working on the basis that I would need to put the vehicle through an IVA test - I have a real thing about ‘bobtail’ vehicles having seen the Police impound vehicles following an accident - get it wrong and they’d be knocking on your door for a ‘Meeting without biscuits’.

Having mentioned to the Fun Prevention Officer that it would be an 18 month project (OK, about 8 years ago…), it went for IVA yesterday and passed!!!

Click image to enlarge

10th May 2023 10:01pm

landy andy

Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5416

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver

Nice to know it all passed.

Assume no issues and is now available for wedding duties.

10th May 2023 10:54pm

Bowbearer

Member Since: 12 Aug 2022
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 120

1985 Defender 110 200 Tdi SW Auto Baltic Blue

I remember reading about those kits but never saw one.

Good to see it, more pictures please.

reminded me of the fiberglass TD5 Defender concept at Gaydon.

11th May 2023 10:09am

LiftedDisco

Member Since: 17 Aug 2014
Location: Towcester
Posts: 349

Thanks Andy - we had a mad weekend in Mike’s workshop (as pictured) which was a real help…

Now waiting on DVLA to issue a registration number so I can actually hit the road - mind you, driving to Leighton Buzzard (through three different counties) with no registration number was interesting… all the paperwork (including an insurance document issued on the chassis number) in hand and not a policeman in sight!

@bowbearer… I’ll get some more pictures up soon…!

11th May 2023 8:29pm

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