Drew's the name and whilst being around Land-Rovers for 22 of my 39 years, I've never owned a Stage One V8...Admired and yearned; just never owned. That was until recently, when a fellow off another forum, which I co-administer, took the decision (financially and time-wise pragmatically) to actually give his taxed and tested van body model away...Yes! for free!
Well, I was the lucky chap with his hand up first and this is what I got...
Some moron of a previous owner (not the kind donor, I add) had messed it up royally with this metallic 'British Racing Green', leaving patches of the original 'Java' in the engine bay, inside the motor itself and, shamefully, behind the rear number-plate
The big thing which caused the giveaway was the fact that a new chassis is needed...Which I was fortunate-enough to also get, only yesterday.
But as for the motor itself, it was in Sheffield, whilst I am in SW France; a gap bridged by a couple of friends who gladly drove the thing down here for me, with the only hiccup being running-out of LPG at one point, in a motor which is a little happier running on that than the alternative petrol at the mo', ('tho Stromberg overhaul and new air-filters will likely sort that out). Moved in the end and all was well.
The re-chassis and re-build will be happening, once I've renovated a Santana S2 for somebody, for which I'm being paid in-kind with another Stage One
...Will this bonanza ever end?Will be swinging-in for wisdom from time-to-time.
Until then,
Au revoir.
