Killedmydefender Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 Last week I was involved in an accident which caused my defender to roll and end up on its side in the road. It seems like the issues are all body work with most panels sustaining damage. Dashboard has also been damaged. Engine, radiator, internal seats are all fine. I would be interested to know if anyone has managed to repair / replace the whole body of a defender 110 and what the rough cost was? I'd love to be able to repair it rather than allow it to be scrapped but don't want to take on something that isn't possible or will run into ridiculous levels of cost. Any advice would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 Provided the chassis is straight, replacing body panels & bulkhead is fairly straight forward bolt on job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 A picture paints a thousand words. Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaklander Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 There’s a seller on eBay that seems to occasionally pop up who assembles whole bodies and then ships as a whole single unit. That may give you an idea / option. It wasn’t cheap though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 1 minute ago, Peaklander said: There’s a seller on eBay that seems to occasionally pop up who assembles whole bodies and then ships as a whole single unit. That may give you an idea / option. It wasn’t cheap though. Yes I think this would be the only real option unless you spend the rest of your life looking for individual parts on ebay. A truck written off in a front end crash without damage to the bulkhead would have everything you need except wings and bonnet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Are you 100% sure the chassis is OK though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 13 minutes ago, L19MUD said: Are you 100% sure the chassis is OK though? That’s what I was thinking - I had a 90 that flipped over and at first I thought it was just panel damage, then realised the engine had bounced off its mounts and the chassis was bent. It seems that the problem is that they are almost worth as much in parts as they are running - which I guess is why they are stolen and broken .... so I fear that even if the chassis was straight, you could end up putting a lot of effort and money in to get it right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaklander Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Here is the seller I was thinking about link to eBay The listing says LHD but they also say RHD available. This is for Puma and you have a TD5 but it's interesting to read. I'm not sure that I'd buy at that price, unseen etc. etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Wow! £18k!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverik Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 In short assuming you're new to Land Rover rebuilding, it would be a long emotionally draining process (unless you've got a good level of cash to throw at it). If its as bad as you've described hopefully you're adequately covered by your insurance you'll get a equivalent value back to allow you to find another vehicle in which there are a few good bargains to be had out there just now (I know as I've been on the lookout). The BUT of the story is if you have slightly sadistic tendencies (as most folk on here do...) or if you have a emotional connection with the vehicle then go for it... but you'll probably then end up with 2 land rovers as you'll want to drive one as it will take so long to rebuild the other... - just my own personal experiences... It will always be more expense that you first think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 2 minutes ago, Maverik said: but you'll probably then end up with 2 land rovers as you'll want to drive one as it will take so long to rebuild the other... - just my own personal experiences... Haha. Yep. We have ended up with three, just so we are able to work on one and still drive the others! There is still a high risk that we end up with two off the road though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 1 hour ago, Peaklander said: Here is the seller I was thinking about link to eBay The listing says LHD but they also say RHD available. This is for Puma and you have a TD5 but it's interesting to read. I'm not sure that I'd buy at that price, unseen etc. etc. Those are the ones taken off when they build the tourist road train things. Theres a chap in the UK that builds bodies to spec, his business is called Carriage Auto Services. They specialise in defender insurance jobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjan Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Ouch......... Look at those prices. Not funny. I'm getting a Ninety chassis next month for the Mrs. Ninety. It will be dipped before the build. Having done a few vehicle builds, you really need to be 100 % sure that the chassis you have is really straight. Measure it, measure it again and try to understand what is involved in doing a full body off rebuild. It is a lot of hard work and more costly than you could imagine when you buy the separate bits. Quite a few of those bodies are LHD - so please make sure you get what you need if you decide to go that route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Yes they are a lot of money but when you start to add up the cost of the individual parts it gets scary really quickly I have just bought for my 200tdi 90 a headlining, window trims, elec window kit, central locking, heated screen, MUD demisters, new interior lights, heated mirrors and a few other bits and managed to spend nearly £2.5k.... With those you are getting abrand new body and bulkhead plus the dash and all the elctrics. Have a look at how expensive seats are complete at Exmoor trim....all adds up and you have to build it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjan Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Yes.... It does add up. Glad to have spare bulkheads, axles etx.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cackshifter Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Or maybe turn it into an ibex? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 I'd look round for an MOT-failed Defender with a crusty chassis but reasonable bodywork and build one out of two, buying a complete vehicle is often cheaper than buying the parts you need - plus you can potentially sell the 2nd engine & gearbox, axles, etc. or add them to your spares pile as appropriate. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 1 hour ago, FridgeFreezer said: I'd look round for an MOT-failed Defender with a crusty chassis but reasonable bodywork and build one out of two, buying a complete vehicle is often cheaper than buying the parts you need - plus you can potentially sell the 2nd engine & gearbox, axles, etc. or add them to your spares pile as appropriate. The most obvious answer and missed by everyone else! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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