Modern Defender or Range Rover, but vintage road tax?

Silvera

I have often thought I would like to have a Land Rover Defender (or Range Rover) but, as it would only be for occassional use I could not justify the high road tax on a modern version.

I have come across a few examples over the years where people have fitted a modern body on a vintage chassis and so can avail of vintage road tax.

For me, I would love a modern Land Rover 90 body on a vintage range rover (i.e. coil sprung) chassis.

Has anybody here done this?
Is it hard to come by a vintage RR chassis in good condition?
And is there a lot of work/money involved in doing so (versus say just buying a modern LR 90 commercial (with 288 road tax) ?


I'd love a Defender like this (with €48 road tax!)

blarneyone

had a bit of a gra for one of these but in recent times have started to notice that they are 2 a penny. Seem to see one most days. Usually they are spotless and look like they have never seen mud.

ji

I have seen a 94 range rover on a zv plate (wink wink) had full leather interior with the €50 vintage tax..Was impressed..Go for it beat the system...

Silvera

ji wrote: »

I have seen a 94 range rover on a zv plate (wink wink) had full leather interior with the €50 vintage tax..Was impressed..Go for it beat the system...

How do you know it was a '94?
Perhaps it a was a modern body on an old chassis? (or maybe just a chassis plate transfer from old to new. Illegal afaik, and not what I'd want tbh)

Rovi

Done correctly and legally, this is perfectly feasible.

The ONLY legal way to do it though, is to build up a modern body onto a correctly aged legal chassis. Under Irish law, the chassis IS the vehicle, so it MUST be done on an original chassis.

Be aware though, that building modern Defender bodywork onto an old Range Rover or Series chassis is very much a non-trivial task, and is really only practical if done as a labour of love by a suitably equipped and experienced enthusiast.
This sort of thing eats up vast amounts of time, so getting it done professionally will get expensive very quickly.

Getting 'creative' with VIN and number plates IS illegal, and carries serious consequences.

101sean

Buy a copy of "A 4x4 is Born" on DVD to see how it's usually done on a RR chassis. As Rovi says it's a hell of a lot of work and not cheap. There are a couple of Discos and 4 door rangies around that were transplanted on to earlier RR chassis, anything else is illegal, I've seen plenty of ZVs and early plates that are blatantly wrong.

Always plenty of hybrids (as they are commonly known) on ebay but a lot are bodges and dodgy re-registration is common in the UK as well although anyone trying that on ebay usually get spotted and shopped! The various Land Rover comics in Easons often feature hybrids.

ji

Yes it was the 94 body on the old chassic:D

dbar

I have a 110 body on a 1970 chassis, brought it in from the UK. It has a 6.2 v8 diesel for 48 Euro tax .
Its a bit tatty, needs a bit of work done.

Jonty

dbar wrote: »

I have a 110 body on a 1970 chassis, brought it in from the UK. It has a 6.2 v8 diesel for 48 Euro tax .
Its a bit tatty, needs a bit of work done.

With that lump under the bonnet I'd say she's a right ignorant sow to pull!!

101sean

Buying from the UK is probably your best bet as others have done above. Be aware the UK system works a bit differently, retaining an original registration is on a points system of which the chassis is only one part. Avoid anything with a Q reg as either it's age couldn't be determined or it didn't have enough points. Make sure the V5 is up to date with the correct details.

ji

dbar wrote: »

I have a 110 body on a 1970 chassis, brought it in from the UK. It has a 6.2 v8 diesel for 48 Euro tax .
Its a bit tatty, needs a bit of work done.

For sale?

dbar

Jonty wrote: »

With that lump under the bonnet I'd say she's a right ignorant sow to pull!!

Actually, pulls like a train - Its the engine that should have been put in all landys - I get well over 25 mpg as its only ticking over in top gear and i recon its well over the 2 ton mark.
I think it makes about 140 horses but thats across the full rev range and the burble of that V8 - sweet. All the sweeter on 48 tax!

dbar

ji wrote: »

For sale?

Maybe...

Slidey

ji wrote: »

For sale?

dbar wrote: »

Maybe...

Take it PM lads. Thanks

Jonty

dbar wrote: »

Actually, pulls like a train - Its the engine that should have been put in all landys - I get well over 25 mpg as its only ticking over in top gear and i recon its well over the 2 ton mark.
I think it makes about 140 horses but thats across the full rev range and the burble of that V8 - sweet. All the sweeter on 48 tax!

In the words of Carl Shelby - "Horsepower sells engines but torque wins races" and I'd say she makes swarths of it.