WORK IN PROGRESS
MAX STUDER AND JOHNNY MOCKETT
Who are you and where did you get this stunning 80in?
Max is an agricultural project manager and I’m a design engineer, we imported it from Australia. Hence the condition. We’re both from Worcester although we met whilst living in Abu Dhabi a few years ago, we’re now house mates just outside of our home city.
Why a Series I?
We’d toyed with the idea of a joint project whilst working from home during lockdown, then as it started to ease slightly we started talking about it a bit more seriously. We’d discussed a few different options, but in the end it was a pretty easy decision to go for a British icon.
How did you get one from Down Under?
A friend of mine has a company who imports Series Is from Down Under, so we went for a walk around his yard looking for a full rebuild project. He’s got a lot there in all kinds of condition, it’s like Series I heaven. So if anyone is in the market for a pretty solid one, Marc from exmod.co.uk is your man. We had a look at a few options, weighing up costs and condition. A few days later we had one parked up in our garage.
Tell us more about it
We’ve had it for a few months now. The first few weeks were spent just stripping it down to a bare chassis so we could assess the damage. There was a bit of rot in a few of the crossmembers, and the bulkhead needed a small amount of patch work but all in all it was in very good condition. Fortunately, Max is pretty handy with the welder, so the chassis is now all back in one piece, primed and painted, ready for another 70 years of graft.
What else have you done?
We’ve since stripped down, cleaned and painted most of the sub-assemblies, and we’re systematically rebuilding each one. So far we’ve done the front axle and diff completely, new seals, bearings and gaskets all round. Complete overhaul of the springs and shackles, and we’re currently tackling the rear axle and diff with the hope of being back to a rolling chassis in the next week or so.
What about the engine?
We’ve actually just sold our engine as it was completely seized, so we’re in the market for either a 1.6 or 2.0-litre petrol. If you know anyone with one knocking around you know where to find us!
What next?
I think next we’ll attack the brake lines and the steering assemblies, before getting the bulkhead on and build on from there. Although we’re currently undecided on whether to paint it blue like the Cool & Vintage 86in or leave it with its sandy patina, we need to decide before the bulkhead goes back on.
When will it be finished?
Hopefully we’ll be finished around Christmas or the new year, although now we’re both back in work it’s harder to find the time when we’re both about to really make a dent in the progress. When it is done, it’ll be very much a pub goer and beach cruiser, although it’ll take a bit of time to get there from the Midlands!
How can LRM readers follow your progress?
We can be found on Instagram, see @thebush80 for full progress reports.