Chrissy

Chrissy, as I've christened her, is my Series III 88' Land Rover (hence the land rover cup in the post below).

After a year and a bit of work, she is at the local welder this week for the small welds needed to the chassis. The engine is running sweetly and needs but a service, the gearbox hasn't needed any tlc at all and is, according to other Series landy owners, exceptionally quiet.

The only further matters to tackle before she is back on the road is full oil change (even the axles and cv joints in these old motors need oil), replacement of the master/slave clutch cylinders, new windscreen wipers and possibly a new relay - then it's off for an MOT and hopefully back on the road come the camping season in April if not before.

I know a lot of people object to 4x4 vehicles and they are taxed heavily (mine is a classic and therefore tax exempt) but these vehicles are not neccessarily more polluting simply due to the type of transmission. I also feel that restoring a vehicle, even if it will produce some C02 whilst in use (I plan to fit an LPG tank as part of my wish-list of upgrades as the gas is cheaper and produces less damaging emissions*) is more energy efficient. It would use much more energy, and generate a helluva lot more Co2 to produce a new vehicle - this is recycling in action!

On a side note it is considered that the amount of energy and dodgy chemicals used, particularly in the batteries, in building hybrid vehicles means these vehicles, over their lifetime, will have caused the production of much more Co2 in comparison with a conventionally petrol-engined model.

Besides, classics like this are not meant to be scrapped - roughly 70% of land rovers built are still running according to Land Rover.

I hope to use Chrissy for camping trips and to allow me to get to more remote areas of the country to further my photography. I also do historic re-enactment so she should allow me to cart more stuff to fairs and battles.

Hope you agree she's a beautiful old classic!

First person to figure out why she's called Chrissy I will send a postcard and a local beer to!

*mooted upgrades - finance and SHMBO** permitting:

• Parabolic Springs
• LPG Conversion
• Roof rack
• Roof Top Tent
• Disc Braking
  
• Deep cycle second battery
• Split charging system
• Inverter
  
• Outer Roll Cage - under consideration
  

** She Who Must Be Obeyed (or Wife as they are also known)