In a little bit of questionable salesmanship, the advert for right now’s Good Worth or No Cube Land Rover describes it as being “a primitive and uncomfortable trip on the freeway!” Let’s resolve what such a Paleolithic beast may fairly be value.
There’s an outdated joke about an accordion participant who’s touring in the future and, after stopping for lunch, discovers, to their horror, that somebody has damaged into their automobile and… deposited three extra accordions inside it. That’s to not say that the vendor of yesterday’s 2008 Pontiac Solstice GXP T2 SCCA Championship Version confronted such a dilemma, however their advert did supply two Solstices on the market. The one we had been serious about was a uncommon certainly one of 88 SCCA championship mannequin, and at $12,995, it barely pulled off a win, incomes a razor-thin 51 % Good Worth vote.
Having quarter-hour of fame, as Andy Warhol as soon as postulated, is the non-musical equal of being a one-hit marvel. Whether or not on TikTok, Instagram, or another on-line milieu, there’s at all times somebody rising within the common zeitgeist solely to ultimately ebb again into obscurity. Some do get away and revel in enduring fame, however most are rapidly forgotten.
One current recipient of a fast rise in fame who might have some endurance within the social consciousness—or at the very least in our automotive neighborhood—is a younger English lady named Tatiana Reed, who parlayed her love for her continuously breaking down Land Rover Collection III right into a shared expertise by way of social media. Reed, who has been documenting her travels and travails along with her Landy—Blue Tit—has been warmly embraced by even these exterior the Land Rover trustworthy for her plucky perseverance, unflagging enthusiasm, and witty, partaking persona. And to suppose, it began with a tough and tumble Land Rover.
To see what might engender such an expertise, right now we’re going to have a look at a 1981 Land Rover Collection III 109 diesel. As evidenced by the 109 within the identify, that is the lengthy wheelbase (109 inches) version, that includes a moderately distinctive convertible pickup truck aesthetic when the highest is eliminated. From the B pillar ahead, it’s the identical because the smaller 90, however the prolonged wheelbase permits for tons extra room within the again—sufficient so for a quartet of fold-down bench seats bolted to the edges. That’s along with the three seats up entrance, making this fairly the individuals hauler.
In fact, these individuals had higher not be in a rush because the Land Rover’s 2.25-liter diesel 4 solely manages a meager 62 horsepower, and, being 4WD, these vehicles are pretty heavy.
In keeping with the advert, this privately imported truck was taken on commerce by the vendor, who’s now promoting it. Along with the diesel 4, it gives the usual four-speed guide, however with an added World Roamer overdrive. That makes freeway speeds attainable, given sufficient flat street and no headwinds. The vendor, nevertheless, cautions that this truck is crude and ugly to drive in such a way, claiming it’s noisy, leaky, and rattly. For some individuals—just like the preternaturally plucky Tati Reed, apparently—that’s a characteristic, not a bug.
Different features of notice about this clean-title, 55,000-mile Landy: it smokes upon start-up however clears up when heat and is tough round all its edges. That is the later five-main engine, which is an effective bit stouter than the sooner items, but it surely’s nonetheless an outdated Land Rover oil burner and, therefore, will doubtless require some love alongside the way in which, most likely on the aspect of the street.
On the plus aspect, the truck’s 4WD system is claimed to work with out problem, and it comes with each the wagon roof proven within the advert and the shorter pickup roof that encloses simply the entrance three seats. It additionally comes with new BFG knobbies, plus refreshed aspect curtains and home windows for the doorways. It’s not solely able to rock and roll, nevertheless.
The vendor appears very forthcoming in noting each the driving expertise and the work nonetheless wanted to completely get pleasure from (or be reviled by) that have. These embrace chassis wiring points and repairing some rust injury within the body. The vendor is asking $13,500 for the chance to tackle this Land Rover journey—and probably change into the subsequent Instagram celeb.
What’s your tackle this Landy and that $13,500 asking? Does that seem honest, given the truck’s presentation? Or is that an excessive amount of for one thing that’s really being promoted as being disagreeable?
You resolve!
Portland, Oregon, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
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