[Tony Porter, IT Manager AND 4x4 Instructor, NORTHAMPTON] 2000 Discovery TD5 es

How did you find your project vehicle? It took me over six months to find the right one. It was a chance search on an auction website. It was advertised at a decent price so I straightaway made the 90-minute drive to take a look. Despite its high mileage (187,000 miles) it was straight and clean, the chassis was sound, while the engine sang like a bird.

Sounds too good to be true? It had a cracked front bumper and on the test drive I struggled to pull away and change gear. This helped to negotiate a lower price. As soon as I got home I topped up the gearbox fluid to solve the gear change issue.

Why a Discovery and not a Defender? With a growing family the additional comfort offered by a Discovery was a more attractive proposition. Also this is my everyday driver.

The main aims of this project? Having previously owned an expeditionprepared Discovery 300Tdi in Africa, I wanted to build a capable overland vehicle. I will be avoiding mods designed for heavy off-roading though.

What have you done so far? The first step was to ensure that the vehicle was mechanically sound and reliable so it was treated to a full service, complete coolant flush and any old or perishing parts were replaced. The vehicle has also been treated to a full underbody and chassis Waxoyl.

And modifications? Driver and navigator aids, such as a DVR, constantly recording front and rear (with storage) for around five days' worth of footage, additional interior lighting and a Hella map reading light. Rear windows are tinted to help keep the interior cool and reduce visibility of the car's contents. A range of onboard communications equipment is fitted, including VHF and HF radio capabilities. I have fitted Insa Turbo Dakar All Terrain pattern tyres and a full-length Flatdog roof rack for my trusty Trekking Oasis roof tent. What next? A winch bumper to house my 12,000 lb winch, additional long-range spots and fogs, plus a mini kitchenette on the rear door, which I've designed myself, and a cargo area storage system in the rear.

What about the suspension? I have converted the Discovery to run on heavy-duty springs all round, rather than the original air suspension. The simplicity of coils increases reliability.

We hear you're building a trailer? To allow us to travel further afield and be even more self-sufficient, I am building up a trailer based on a Sankey narrow track chassis to my own design.

Where will you be travelling? We have already explored France, Belgium and Holland. We are planning a trip up through Norway to the Arctic Circle, then a circumnavigation of Portugal and Spain, a trip to Morocco, the west coast of Ireland and possibly a trip to Iceland in the next few years.