Commercial Defender - vintage insurance?

Yawlboy

Hi

I'm looking at getting a late 1980's Defender for messing around at weekends. I am thinking of getting a 2/3 seat commercial due to the lower tax (€333). Can I still get vintage insurance on this? I've tried calling a few insurance companies and its very difficult to get a straight answer. Anyone here done this?

TIA
YB

JoeySully

pre April 1984 non commercial tax is €56, surely you would be better off on a non commercial Defender?

Yawlboy

JoeySully wrote: »

pre April 1984 non commercial tax is €56, surely you would be better off on a non commercial Defender?

if you can find me one I'd happily buy it.

JoeySully

like this one ?
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/landrover-series-3-petrol-plus-trailer/6703256




suppose yer looking for a daaasul

corktina

i'd fancy that myself!

Yawlboy

I really need it to be able to tow, launch and recover a 3.5 ton boat. Are the petrols up to it when it comes to towing?

corktina

I'm not sure any Insurance Company would be willing to cover you for such a purpose on Vintage Cover. I think you need standard private insurance for that

Yawlboy

I only want to launch and recover the boat once a year - half a mile from shed to slip and back again. I've seen lots of classics with trailers, why do you think it would be an issue?

The rest of the time I plan on using the Landy as a weekend driver and some easy off roading.

corktina

Just a thought. May be worth checking out.

Yawlboy

corktina wrote: »

Just a thought. May be worth checking out.

I will do thanks for suggesting it.

Any suggestions on an insurance company to deal with? FBD won't quote me unless I give them my membership number for the Vintage Club of Ireland and Carole Nash said they would call me back but ....

corktina

I don't know for commercials tbh.

Thinking more of it, I reckon you'd be OK for the usage you intend on a vintage policy as it probably would come under SDP

101sean

A petrol series Land Rover is as well capable of towing as a diesel, vast majority were petrol up to the mid 80s as the 2.25 diesel is so noisy and gutless. The 2.25 petrol is a lovely engine but most Irish drivers are allergic to petrol in anything bigger than a Micra :rolleyes:

You'll get 18-21mpg out of a petrol, not much more from an old diesel. Both my weekend toys are petrol which is fine for the amount of use they get.

If you're looking at late 80s, they will mostly have a 200tdi which is a huge improvement on earlier diesels and pretty much killed off petrol engined ones. You can transplant the later diesels in to earlier LRs fairly easily

Insurance wise, they aren't too bad on a normal policy but you should be able to get vintage with a pre 84.

Yawlboy

Thinking of going to have a look at this 1988 2.5 Petrol http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/land-rover-defender-2-5-litre-petrol/6410929

101sean

That looks worth a punt, low mileage and being petrol no one here will want it! Most likely an ex utility 110 from the UK so probably very well looked after. By that stage I think 2.5 petrol was special order only.