With several Land Rovers in use across the company, we’re often installing replacement parts or upgrades that we sell on the website. Occasionally, we come across a part that’s so good, we have to use it across the board.

Today, we’re going to look at the latest of these parts, and explain why we think they’re the best thing since the last best thing we found.

You’re probably already aware that we’re well into our restoration of the Forward Control, and have just started working on the Series IIA 109 LWB. When we decided to keep the 109 on the road (see this post), one of the issues that needed resolving for the MOT test were the headlights. If any of you have ever tried to drive a Series II at night and had to rely solely on the original lights, you know it can be a ‘memorable experience’, especially if you are used to driving with the best ballast bulbs available today. As the man in charge of getting the 109 through it’s MOT, Jim looked at replacement headlights from the range we have on the site, and selected Britpart’s RTC4615C for the job.

The good news was that these lights are a very simple and clean fit. They went straight in without any hassle and look (we think) excellent. Duncan however, had an opposing opinion. He was mortified that we’d fitted something to the 109 that wasn’t appropriately ‘authentic’ looking. It passed the MOT though, so he settled into a general grumble about the new lights, mentioning them every time he talked to someone about the 109.

It all changed recently though, when Duncan had to use the 109 at night.

The very next morning, Duncan burst into the office and insisted we had to tell everyone about these lights. We’d already told him that the lights would be better, but it wasn’t until he’d had to use them that he realised just how much difference it would make. The manufacturer of the lights claims they produce around an extra 25% of road-legal light; now we’ve used them, we think that’s a conservative guess.

If you need even more light output, for example if you live off the beaten track and have no street lighting to help, you can fit high-output Xenon bulbs. A bonus of this is being able to increase the light from your car without having to fit additional lamps and bars, keeping your vehicle looking just as original as before.

Britpart’s RTC4615C is a pack of 2 right-hand-drive replacement headlights. The lights are fully road-legal and E-marked. The standard 7″ fit is compatible with Series, Defender, Range Rover Classic, and any other classic car with a 7″ fitment.

The kit doesn’t come with bulbs, so we opted for a pair of Ring Automotive’s xenonmax bulbs – VPLDV0061.

We’re so sure of the difference this will make to your vehicle, we’re offering these headlights with 10% off the list price, and a no-quibble money-back guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied (and impressed).

To claim the discount, add one of the RTC4615C kits into your basket, and use this discount code when checking out: BL-RTC4615C-14

In May of this year I was offered a 109” Long Wheel Base 2.6L 6 cylinder Land Rover, initially we planned to break it, as the Bulkhead unusually was in excellent condition. It had never been welded, and the gearbox appeared to be in good condition too, both parts being in need for the 2B restoration.

However, we got Coastwide’s Gold Coast mobile vehicle checks to do a closer inspection DPF394J and it was found to be totally original and in sound condition, so breaking it was out of the question; we decided to MOT it, and after some fettling by Dave at All Wheel Drive Services she finally passed her MOT test and was legally on the road.

She came with both a hard top and truck cab, we intend to fit the truck cab when the weather changes but for now we will drive her as she is with the roof off.

Since the MOT, we have fully rebuilt the swivels with new chromes and other parts and have fitted four new wheels and tyres. The tappets are now adjusted and she sounds like a sewing machine, what a beautiful engine these old 6 cylinders are. I personally prefer them over the V8, so quiet and smooth.

All of us have now piled into her for a road test, some of our guys had previously never driven a series Land Rover, all came back with big smiles on their faces.

Driving this old girl brought back so many memories for me, you can’t help but smile as you wander down the road, or rather side to side down the road. I love it, having been spoilt by my L322 Range Rover – it has bought it back to me what it is like to actually take control of a vehicle, where air con is a vent flap and you have to force your foot through the floor to get it to stop (ABS on this vehicle means Ankle Breaking Service!).

One other phenomenon I have noticed which I have not experienced for 30 years is that other Land Rover owners wave at you! I had forgotten that, having been cocooned in the luxury of a Range Rover. This never happens now, I was overtaken on the A12 yesterday by a brand new 2014 Range Rover, he not only hooted, but leaned across into the passenger side to wave wildly as he went past….at least I think he was waving……

It is not just Land Rover owners, I can see other road users coming towards me break into smiles, evidently remembering their youth and experiences with the old Land Rover.

We now plan to have this into the workshops next year when the forward control rolls out, we will
then totally strip it and rebuild her to how she once was, I am already looking out for panels and
parts ready for the big day. One thing that will not last until then is the engine – unfortunately the big ends are a bit rattily under load, and so rather than wait for the engine to seize we will get Jason from J Moore Classics to swap the engine for a good 3 Litre one he has in stock. Then the original engine will be sent to Pat Seager at Seager Engineering for him to apply his skills to fully rebuild her ready for next year; anyone who has not seen his work yet are in for a treat, we will shortly be posting up some pictures of what he has done to our Forward Control engine. It is hard to find a really good engine specialist who still does things the old way, but Pat is one of the best.

Now it is time to sit back and enjoy some classic motoring for the next few months, as long as I can get it out of the staffs hands – it is amazing how quickly they volunteer for any local delivery or collection jobs, for which DPF is always the first choice.

If anyone out there has a set of hood sticks for a 109 truck cab going we would be very interested!

Duncan Mansfield

In the month of April all invoices were entered into a prize give away, the winner was picked at random.

Congratulations to Mark Wood for winning a Sealey welder.

If you want to have a chance of winning a Cordless Lithium-ion Hammer Drill/Driver, simply place an order with us to be entered into this month’s prize draw.

There are quite a range of swivel Housing Kit available for Series Land Rovers, Range Rovers, Defenders and Discovery 1 vehicles.

Here’s a Video which toursandtales.com has kindly let us use, showing how a Defenders swivel comes apart, and goes back together

We found this great Video on you tube and thought we would share it !