Dan B

So I'm looking around for a different car, and have been browsing a while. One thought I had was to pick up a nice cheap never break down Landie Defender. However, they are ridiculously expensive over here!!?? Say, $30,000 for a 1993 model. What is that all about?

I'll probably get a Disco though. They are normally priced

discoviking

It's supply and demand. Defenders have not been imported to the US since 97 (could not meet the new Federal safety standards introduced at that time), and thus are in limited supply. I have a 97 Disco myself - and I am never getting rid of it. British engineering at it's best in my opinion - and I'm not even british.....

penguinsix

New Defenders have to be rebuilt basically to comply with US safety standards and it's quite expensive (I've seen a few custom shops that will do it though--google is your friend).

motors.ebay.com is really a good place to get a general idea of how popular a car is and how many are available. Like any slightly different import, parts are the real issue (problem). I still want to bring over a London Cab as a weekend "family truckster" but haven't sorted out how I'd care for it.

discoviking

You won't be able to legally title a new Defender (past 97) over here. The 'New' ones offered by some custom shops are typically hybrids built on a pre 97 chassis, using that VIN. A ridiculously expensive proposition, and a legal gray area with it's inherent liability risks should you ever get into an accident. Importing post 97 Defenders have been discussed ad nauseam on the Land Rover boards for years. I have yet to see anyone do it successfully - and manage to get it street legal.

Land Rover parts isn't as much of a problem over here as you might think, if you know where to look. Google Rovers North, British Atlantic or Expedition Exchange for example.

penguinsix

I thought I saw a Defender listed on this site once, but it seems to have disappeared. Might have been seeing things or it was the VIN / rebuild thing you mentioned.

http://www.eastcoastrover.com/

I saw these guys claim they could do something like this but haven't investigated fully:

http://www.globallandrovers.com/main/site.php

It's pretty frustrating how 'closed' the US is to cars from overseas, especially since there are a lot of models that would be a bit fun to drive over here but are basically locked out at the docks. Besides a black cab I'm also looking to get one of these:


http://www.aussiecoupes.com/max.html

discoviking

I'm aware of East Coast Rovers, they actually have a very good reputation in the Land Rover community over here. Their claim to fame is impeccable restorations/customization of Land Rovers that are already legally here, I haven't seen them claim that they can get a new Defender street legal.

There are also companies that specialize in bringing in Land Rovers older than 25 years, as they are then considered classic cars and are exempt from the import restrictions. Quite a few surplus MOD Land Rovers have been brought over that way.

Optimus Prime

Coals to Newcastle.

penguinsix

Oh hell yeah, but my son would love to be dropped off at school with his dad driving 'the last of the V8 Interceptors'.

$45,000 last time I asked them for a quote to build one for me. Maybe next economic bubble.

Optimus Prime

That pic wasn't the car in the movie though. If you look at the blower pulley theres no clutch mechanism on it which there was in the movie. Remember he operated it via a pull switch on the gear lever.

Edit!!! D'UH...just noticed theres another in the background.

Dan B

Well, anyway. Once Obama gives me my economic stimulus I'll be on the hunt for a 03/04 SE7 Disco. Suits my needs perfectly

Looks like parts are not a problem either

http://www.roverparts.com/Model/DiscoveryII.cfm

Optimus Prime

You do realise that using that particular avatar that you are filling a big pair of shoes? Do a search on a member called "Rompers". Doesnt post much anymore but had that avatar. Was a funny bloke.

Tarkak9

Look up D110 prices

If you get a D90, consider converting it to a tdi.

penguinsix

I read something about the blower being faked in the movie. The scenes of it being turned on in the movie were actually just scenes of the car starting up because the mechanics of making it work off the clutch were too complicated (some say impossible for that car or that supercharger or something).

See the section on blowers here:
http://www.madmaxmovies.com/cars/Rep...ack/index.html

If you google Mad Max Blower you'll find lots of hot rod types talking about how to recreate it.

Tarkak9

All this time, we were lead to believe that Roland was busy being dad...
he's been a busy gearhead.

Optimus Prime

I've had a few of those blowers rebuilt. Its a GMC 6/71 off of a Detroit diesel engine originally.
My own personal point of view is that is would be a total waste of time putting a clutch on a Roots supercharger even if it were easy. If you dont wanna go fast just dont put your foot down as much and if you dont wanna go fast...why supercharge the car in the first place?

It does look faked, even in the movie because on top of the supercharger should be the injection system and fuel lines leading to it but theres very little connections to that area, just the Scott air intake scoop/ injector body. This leads me to believe that the blower case has been emptied of the rotors and they put a regular carb inside the blower to make the motor run. I think I might have also ready that years ago in some car magazine or other but its an old trick for hot rod show cars.

Still, it all looks good.