In a little bit of questionable salesmanship, the advert for right now’s Good Value or No Cube Land Rover describes it as being “a primitive and uncomfortable trip on the freeway!” Let’s determine what such a Paleolithic beast may fairly be value.
There’s an outdated joke about an accordion participant who’s touring at some point and, after stopping for lunch, discovers, to their horror, that somebody has damaged into their automotive 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 have been all for was a uncommon one in every of 88 SCCA championship mannequin, and at $12,995, it barely pulled off a win, incomes a razor-thin 51 p.c Good Value 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 all the time somebody rising within the fashionable zeitgeist solely to ultimately ebb again into obscurity. Some do get away and luxuriate in enduring fame, however most are shortly forgotten.
One current recipient of a fast rise in fame who could have some endurance within the social consciousness—or no less than in our automotive neighborhood—is a younger English lady named Tatiana Reed, who parlayed her love for her continually breaking down Land Rover Sequence III right into a shared expertise via social media. Reed, who has been documenting her travels and travails along with her Landy—Blue Tit—has been warmly embraced by even these outdoors the Land Rover devoted for her plucky perseverance, unflagging enthusiasm, and witty, partaking character. And to assume, it began with a tough and tumble Land Rover.
To see what might engender such an expertise, right now we’re going to take a look at a 1981 Land Rover Sequence III 109 diesel. As evidenced by the 109 within the identify, that is the lengthy wheelbase (109 inches) version, that includes a slightly 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 heaps 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 folks hauler.
After all, these folks 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 vans are pretty heavy.
In line with the advert, this privately imported truck was taken on commerce by the seller, who’s now promoting it. Along with the diesel 4, it provides the usual four-speed guide, however with an added World Roamer overdrive. That makes freeway speeds attainable, given sufficient flat highway and no headwinds. The vendor, nonetheless, cautions that this truck is crude and unsightly to drive in such a way, claiming it’s noisy, leaky, and rattly. For some folks—just like the preternaturally plucky Tati Reed, apparently—that’s a function, not a bug.
Different features of be aware 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 models, however it’s nonetheless an outdated Land Rover oil burner and, therefore, will doubtless require some love alongside the way in which, in all probability on the aspect of the highway.
On the plus aspect, the truck’s 4WD system is claimed to work with out difficulty, 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 totally able to rock and roll, nonetheless.
The vendor appears very forthcoming in noting each the driving expertise and the work nonetheless wanted to totally take pleasure in (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 presumably turn into the subsequent Instagram superstar.
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 truly being promoted as being disagreeable?
You determine!
Portland, Oregon, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
Assist me out with NPOND. Hit me up at [email protected] and ship me a fixed-price tip. Keep in mind to incorporate your Kinja deal with.
