gavin.

So I eventually managed to get my deposit back. Surprisingly it wasn't the letters, trading standards, consumer advice service or the credit card company that did it. It was the factual account of my experience with them on the Google review (Google maps) that caused them to pull their finger out. As a closing gift to me, they offered me a "great price" on another ninety they had in stock as compensation. I can't say I was too tempted.

I did a body-off chassis change. It took two of us about a fortnight without rushing it and having never done it before. If you're going to this much effort it is worth considering replacing the chassis if it's completely shot. However, if you ever plan on exporting the vehicle, it is safer to have an original chassis...

After many years of faithful service, I sold my '96 Defender 90 to my brother. Since then I found out that I will be moving to the USA for 3 years. So, upon hearing this news, I did what any normal person would do. I bought a V8 Ninety to take with me! Let me introduce Nina the ninety which her freshly banded rostyles:

I did the chassis change thing on my '96 Defender a few years ago. I put a thread on the progress with all the parts and costs. The link should be in the signature block. Gav

So, last week I got an email from Walton (the first). The refund has been sorted and, you know what prompted it? The review I left for their business on google maps. Excellent.

Yes, that's the one.

A bit of a story of my recent experience for anyone considering using this company: I put a £500 deposit down on vehicle on 19 December, which after 5 weeks of phone calls and promises of "we'll call you back" (which never happened) they eventually told me that the engine was shot and they were cancelling the transaction. For several weeks now I have been chasing the deposit to be refunded. Another series of promises of "we'll call you back tomorrow" or "we'll get that refunded immediately" have resulted in no calls back and, indeed, no money back in to my account. My only smart move in this enterprise was when I used my credit card to put down the deposit on the basis that gave me a small amount of protection. I'm now resorting to having to use the credit card company to recover the funds on my behalf. To summarise my experience so far: 2 months of lies and evasion leaving me out of pocket and stressed. Next stop: trading standards.

We clocked up about 2000 miles driving to the Alps and touring around there before coming back in our 300tdi. 3 weeks ago I drove a 25 year old V8 ninety from Aberdeen to Bristol after buying it unseen off eBay. That was about 450 miles in an unknown vehicle. It was also quite a nervous journey...

Very tidy work there!

Good to know, ta.

Thanks Western Great stuff

Hey everyone, I'm trying to identify the colour of this 1989 landy. It's quite unusual and not one I've seen before, can anyone help?

They were saying it was in the region of 20k miles from new and all absolutely untouched. Fair enough, it's rare. I do wonder what they actually get for it in the end. Have people been following the prices in the USA recently? The ones I have seen weren't obscenely priced.

No doubt that it is nice. It's effectively brand new

97 days. I'm a realist.

They're definitely getting their air time. I'm not sure I believe the old adage that "any publicity is good publicity" though. Surely the fact that these vehicles are now becoming USA-exportable can't be reason enough to hike up the price of a car by a factor of 3? Oh. Just spotted a 110 van for £25k. I might get two.

I saw this Land Rover for sale recently on a well known independent specialist (whose name shan't be mentioned, but if you search for independent land rover sales in Huddersfield...) who were asking £25,000 for it. I thought this was a bit optimistic, and dismissed it as a bit of a punt by a dealer. Then I saw this one listed on ebay for £30,000 for sale in Worcestershire. My question is: are these dealers smoking crack, or has it really got to the stage when these cars actually fetch this much?

I thought I'd get a quote to repair the doors on my Defender 90. So I went to my local dealer and asked who they'd recommend. I phoned them on Tuesday arranged for an appointment for this morning. At 0900 I turn up and they have a look at the vehicle and tell me they'd get back to me. Two hours later I get a call with their initial estimate: £3,500+ Well, that cheered me up no end! Happy 2014 everybody! Gav

I did it last summer in 13 days for about 3k. Details here: http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=76114&hl=

Wow, this is going to be an epic build! That adapter plate is a lovely piece of work, too.

Another thumbs up for Richards' from me.

I was in a similar place in terms of damage (bulkhead, engine and axles etc all okay) and decided on a swap. Saved up for a year or so and planned the details out in full. All-in cost with a few bits of emergent work like a new radiator and fuel tank came to circa £3,000. You will either need a garage with a sturdy ceiling/roof setup which can be used to lift the body off the car like I did or do it outside using some sort of scaffolding rig which has been done by a lot of other people including here. I've listed all the chassis bolts I've used on the body attachments on my post, but you will need a very wide selection of BZP bolts sizes M4 to M8, including washers, split washers, nuts and nylock nuts. As for cost, with all suspension components and bushes and doing things like clutch, timing belt, engine/gearbox mounts is approaching £3k. If you plan on painting a galvanised chassis, budget about £120 and a day and a half!

I didn't want the new galv chassis on show (and I had a day waiting on spares, so I was otherwise idle). The jotun looks like it is a good, thick, black paint and the waxoyle was just the braces to the jotun's belt.

My twopence: If the chassis isn't separated from the body, don't paint - doing it properly with the body attached would be a pig to do. Galvanised metal ages well in my opinion. I'm in the process of changing my chassis to a galvanised on (see link in signature) and I have just mordant t-washed, etch primed, top coated with Jotun conceal and then waxoyled.

I think it may decimate my remaining budget!