By Ryan - 7 Jul 2014
Hi all,
Recently joined and wondering upon a long term project.
On a bit of a whim (?) about three and a half years ago I bought a grey defender 110. After doing some, probably not enough research I've found it to be a decent buy. As in other than an outrageously expensive ABS modulator it's never let me down.
As it happens my Grey 110 used to be Tangiers orange and from what I gather was part of the first G4 challenge. Friends told me from the beginning I should turn it back to original but my stock answer was, 'I don't want an orange truck'.
Though recently I've been thinking it may be a good idea, and have been checking out google images etc, and the tangiers is really growing on me.
My Defender has lost a lot of its G4 charm. It's now grey (very scratched, but grey), no winch or winch bumper, no raised air intake/snorkel, no stickers, a Hannibal rack instead of a G4 one, it sits on steel modulars with BFG muds.
What it does have is a Tangiers bulkhead (engine side), tangiers floor and the Mantech window guards and stowage cage things and dog/load guard in the rear.
Basically I need to know if it's going to be worth me turning it back to original? I know it's not going to be cheap and I'd have to spread it over 3-4 years really as a bit of a project as I'd get other bits sorted as I go along.
My rough plan, as I see it;
Sell Hannibal rack and buy proper G4 one
Hunt down correct roof lights, RAI, bumper and winch
Assess what else can be sorted and/or sensibly renewed during the 'paint' phase i.e door bottoms, window rubbers, door seals, check cross member etc . A good friend is a sprayer so we'd prep it at mine and then drive it the mile to his work and he'd sort the paint (big mates rates expected here haha)
Fit the roof rack and other bits and bobs listed above.
Source correct stickers, G4 roof rack plate and wheels.
My my uneducated reckoning I'd be somewhere near having my ex G4 back to being a G4.....or am I mad?
My Defender is BD52CTV and I see it most months in the LR mags on the Mantech advert.
Any advice, input, ideas, donations most welcome.
Cheers,
Ryan
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By Xlb89 - 7 Jul 2014
Hi,
It took me just over two years to get mine to the original spec, I had to buy pretty much everything on the list that you can find on the 'about the vehicles' section on here.
Granted it was already orange but I would estimate I spent around £5000.
Scott
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By Pip66 - 8 Jul 2014
When you say worth it. Do you want to do it to make a quick buck, or are you doing it because you want to ?????
I brought mine 3 years ago and it was completely bare. Part of the fun is tracking down the missing bits.But also very frustrating as well, as they're very hard to find and fetch a premium.
I'd say if you're up for a challenge and want to drive something a bit different, then 100% do it.
Phil.
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By Ryan - 8 Jul 2014
Scott, thanks for pointing out the 'about the vehicles' section. The interior parts appear to still remain with the exception of the shelf and straps and shackles etc . £5k ish spread over a few years is doable while keeping the family happy I think.
Phil, not in it to make a quick buck but in the same breath don't want to go that route if it generally isn't worth it/stupid idea. Not something I'm just going to blunder into, hence my post.
I didn't want an orange truck, but as the poor grey respray will need sorting one day I 'may as well' spray it orange again. Or at least look into it. If I do it I'd like to go the whole hog and do it properly. Plus it's easier convincing the Mrs that a winch is essential as 'it should be there', instead of my current argument of 'they make it look awesome'.
I'm hoping (not fully researched yet) the sale of my Hannibal rack would cover the cost of the G4 rack. Lights and RAI are a quiet month with not a lot of family stuff going on purchase. Leaving the bumper and winch for the exterior sorted (ish). All this could be done over a long period. Stickers and the G4 plate would be near the end of the list.
I foresee me having a grey G4 until funds and time allow me to take it off the road to strip, sort any issues, prep and paint.
I've no doubt it'll be a long and sometimes stressful project but seriously thinking of giving it a go.
Thanks again.
Ryan
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By Kisangani - 8 Jul 2014
Hi Ryan,
sounds like a great project, exciting as you just bought a defender and it turned out to be a rather special one. Good luck on the project if you do go for it, keep us up to date with lots of pics too, I for one would like to see how it develops (why not have a chat to Mantec and LRO mag and see if you can't get support from the former and coverage from the latter).
Have fun either way.
Rich
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By Pip66 - 8 Jul 2014
Ryan,
In that case, I'd say do it. If you have the patience, the bits will turn up. It takes time and money. But as you say you're in no rush, then you should get there in the end.
Any of the G4 or Camel cars will fetch a premium because of the following they have. As I said mine was completely bare 3 years ago and bar putting a winch back on, I'm just about done.
So get her booked into the paint shop and make a start, you know you want to really !!!!!! Or you wouldn't be here. ;)
Plus the wealth of info and help on here, you'll soon have the bit between your teeth.
And as for driving around in a bright orange Land Rover....... There an't nuffink better :D:D:D
Phil.
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By DurtyDisco - 8 Jul 2014
Hi Ryan
As a forum member, at the moment you wont have access to the vehicle database held by our technical officer Adrian.
If however you pay the £25 lifetime joining fee, and a small £7.50 fee for the vehicle history you could save yourself a lot of time, trouble and money if it isn't one of the 2003 challenge trucks.
Just a thought also, as a club member you can get access to the genuine decals we have in stock for your vehicle to put it back into full original trim.
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By Ryan - 8 Jul 2014
Rich, that's a really good idea. I doubt that LRO would be interested just yet due to the amount of time it'll take me, but I will deffo drop an email to Mantech to see if there's any way they can help.
Once it's a deffo go I'll get a thread going with photos showing my slow process, as well as asking people to keep an eye out for bits I need.
Rich, the paint will be near the end I think. When I get round to that phase I'll be having a very good look at the door sills and cross member etc. Thanks for the push in the orange direction!! haha
Andi, a fantastically timed post as I was going to read through the site and ask on here to see what I get for the £25 fee. The a decals will be a long time away yet but but thanks for the heads up!!
Thanks all, the research continues!!
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By Pip66 - 9 Jul 2014
Looking forward to following this.
Phil.
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By Kisangani - 9 Jul 2014
Hi Ryan,
nothing like a bit of peer pressure, hey!!
After Andi's post I thought I'd see if there was any previous info about your truck, and found this on our site. Little doubt its a real G4 Andi. http://www.g4ownersclub.com/forum/Topic13593.aspx?Keywords=BD52CTV Before and after BD52 CTV.
Don't discount LRO, it might well be the sort of thing they would be interested in, LR heritage etc.
As Pip says, there is nothing as smile generating as driving around in an orange truck, the smiles, waves and double takes of other LR owners is great.
Rich
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By Ryan - 9 Jul 2014
Rich,
Haha, peer pressure has been a big down fall of mine all my adult life!
As for LRO, maybe I'll drop them an email when I have the full vehicle history and explain the full picture. The link didn't work for me, but I'll try again once I've become a fully fledged and payed up member (later tonight most probably).
I'll take your word on the orange truck feeling, for now. Though I do occasionally see a G4 D2 near Wallingford and the driver always looks happy, I can't give him a wave as I use my motorbike everyday and he'll just think I'm mad.
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By Emon - 9 Jul 2014
Hi,
Welcome to the forum and I hope you become a club member. We are keen to encourage for G4s to be restored to original. To answer the financial question posed earlier and whether it is worth it obviously depends on the current state and mileage. Some points to mention:- Defenders are best to restore, there seems to be more demand than the other models;
- Due to the demand for a Defender, the premium can be as much as ~75% for a G4 compared to a non-G4, just search on eBay there is one there for sale at the moment. For example if a standard 2002 County is valued at £8k, a fully kitted to original G4 spec could fetch £14k.
- Therefore your purchase cost + the cost to restore will determine whether you potentially remain in 'positive equity'
As others have mentioned already, you will restore it to orange because you want to and love to. It is an emotional decision at the end.
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By Ryan - 9 Jul 2014
Emon,
Thanks for the welcome and reply.
The cost of the vehicle doesn't come into it really as I've had it coming up 4 years now. The mileage is just over 73k and the important parts are all in really good order and anything that isn't will be back to 100% when it goes through the paint phase. I've considered selling in the past, even advertised it once due to lack of use, had a load of interest but just couldn't do it. I think it's a keeper.
Just filled in the form and payed the £25 via paypal to become a fully fledged member of the G4OC! I guess I wait now till I'm given full access, and then I'll be all over this forum and website researching, planning, prepping and generally getting involved where I can.
Regards,
Ryan
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By Farmer Chalk - 10 Jul 2014
Have you finished it yet?
Welcome to the club..... That must be brilliant uncovering the history as good as yours and is definately worth keeping.... Painting it orange is a must!
Not only will it increase its value but also makes it unique and knowing the Defender theft issue certainly less theft prone !
You will be amazed the reaction they get with people stopping in their tracks when they see one! It's sometimes like they've seen the Holy Grail!
It's definately worth trying the LRO route as it would make a fascinating story.... And following it as a project vehicle actually makes it a better long term story than a short article....
Well done again you lucky lucky man!
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By stu_007 - 10 Jul 2014
Sounds like it had similar history to my first D110, GHZ!
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