Buying a Series 3 - Insurance Problems

[beko1987]

This will seem a very vague post, so apologies in advance!

Currently going to view a 1983 reg S3 109" Pickup on Saturday. Currently, the landy has a Harvey Frost winch on the back, as the current owner uses it for moving cars around on his yard. Done 83,000 miles and has a 2.6 petrol under the hood.

According to the DVLA site, Little Landy PMA 124Y was built in 1978 and registered on 25 07 1983. When I put that plate into tesco compare, money supermarket etc it isn't found. (Although that could be as the vehicle is being taxed tomorrow for the first time since 01/06/1998, not sure how that part works!)

Was the S3 LWB available in a cab back back in '78? Havent got any chassis numbers to check, and to be honest I doubt the guy would know where to look for it. Is there any way I can trace the landy using the above info?

Also, what is normally the reason for a 5 year gap in-between the landys manufacture and registration? My boss said that back then you could buy a car unregistered, so it could have had an agricultural life for its pre-teen years.

Any info you guys can supply would be great! Going to view it in Stoke-on-Trent on Sat morning so will hopefully get to see some paperwork for it and can update you if I buy it or not.

Cheers Landy Lovers

[LiamC]

It could possibly have be an ex-army vehicle as it wouldn't have been registered with the DVLA until it left the army.

[rtbarton]

As long as the reg no. on the DVLA site matches the description of the vehicle you should be OK.

The VIN should be on a plate fixed to the bulkhead near the red lever.

The 5 year gap could be because the vehicle is ex- military.

[loiner1965]

As long as the reg no. on the DVLA site matches the description of the vehicle you should be OK.

The VIN should be on a plate fixed to the bulkhead near the red lever.

The 5 year gap could be because the vehicle is ex- military.

my 109 was made in 1984and regestered in 1997 as an import lol....its an ex military one

[Les Henson]

You still can buy a car and after the initial first tax, declare it SORN for however long you like and still use it on private land (with no public access). To know the original spec of the vehicle when it left the production line - then the Motor Heritage Centre is the place to contact - for a mere £28, they will give you all that info, and a certificate that's recognised by the DVLA. Because your truck doesn't appear to be 'on the system' isn't as serious as you might think. This is quite common for vehicles that have been in a barn (for example) for years. If the you have the V5 (log book), then there's not much to worry about. I recently put a series 3 back on the road that had been left in a shed for several years. The MOT station didn't have the details in the new system, but it was tested ok and the certificate is still valid. DVLA didn't know anything ( which is not that unusual), but the owner got it insured, registered and taxed still - on the old log-book and new MOT. The DVLA just update available details and it's back on the system, so speed cameras can nick you, ANPR know about it, and her Maj can bring in the cash

Les.

[sotal]

It's on the DVLA system so shouldn't be a problem anywhere:

Date of Liability 01 06 1998

Date of First Registration 25 07 1983

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2625CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour BLUE

Vehicle Type Approval null

The information contained on this page is correct at the time of enquiry.

Vehicle Excise Duty Rate for vehicle

6 Months Rate £101.75

12 Months Rate £185.00

The tax is a little overdue though (by 10 years)

Where abouts in S-o-T is it? I'm just on the edge

[FridgeFreezer]

Make sure the 2.6 is in good nick, they're lovely when they're working (torque & burble not unlike a V8) but parts can be expensive. The exhaust manifolds crack for a pastime and are over £100 too.

[beko1987]

The guy apparently uses it in his yard, so prob why there's no tax. picking it up from Tunstall.

RE the 2.6 post, anything I should look/listen out for? all I managed to get with my vague questions that it starts fine when cold and the choke goes back in on it's own! Taking a friend who owns and has rebuilt the engine/gearbox etc on a 1987 90 with a 3.5efi rangie lump in it, so hopefully he should be able to say yes or no to it! plus he's insured to drive it home, im not

[beko1987]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...9447%26_fvi%3D1

Right, having major insurance problems with this one.

The above link is the ebay listing for it, what would it come under insurance wise? Don't want to drive it back uninsured for 150 miles and then find out I cant get insured on it at all!

Any ideas? need them pretty quickly I'm afraid, leaving (potentially) at 6am.

[rtbarton]

I'd ignore the mainstream insurers and go for the Landrover specialists, I've used Peter Best in the past. You may be able to get a 24 hour policy to drive it back.

Can't your friend drive it back?

[beko1987]

I'd ignore the mainstream insurers and go for the Landrover specialists, I've used Peter Best in the past. You may be able to get a 24 hour policy to drive it back.

Can't your friend drive it back?

Good idea, but it's a bit late now sadly. No, he's only 3rd party on his 90 and only 21. Hey ho, better keep looking! Anyone got a s3 for sale mot and taxed for under 650 quid give me a buzz!

[beko1987]

Well, it may be a happy ending after all! Turned out, at about half 8 that the landy is on trade insurance, which the guy is willing to leave on for 24h, so a quick phone call to my mates insurance and we're good to go! Little Landy may still find a new home yet! Will start a new thread with pictures etc when/if she comes home. Happy and excited now.