1980 SERIES III 109
JASE CARTS, TEACHER, PERTH, AUSTRALIA
Tell us about Rhonda, your Series III
I bought Rhonda before I had seen her, a week before Christmas last year. She was on a vineyard three hours south of Perth and had been owned by the same brothers for most of her life. I went there on Christmas Eve and ended up driving Rhonda back without a single mechanical issue. I did have to quickly stop when the family of wasps, who were living under the dash, decided to find a new home.
Did it have a roof?
When I picked it up it still had the full-length roof which I quickly got rid of once I got home by converting it into a ute cab. I like the idea of being able to chuck the dog in the back and head down to the beach.
Tell us about the engine
It’s running a Holden 186 straight-six 3.0-litre petrol engine. It was a very common conversion back in the day in Australia as they were everywhere and parts were so cheap.
Are you planning on replacing it?
Definitely not. Its super-reliable and even though its an old engine it still gets pretty good fuel economy.
What are your plans with it?
Drive it and enjoy it, of course. Once I have completed the respray I’ll get a canvas tonneau cover made up and then drive it until something breaks! The missus isn’t a big fan of the heat coming from the exhaust so I’ll have a look into some heat insulation inside the cab. I’ve had project cars before and have made the mistake of pulling it apart and tackling it all at once, which never ends well. I’ve said to myself that no matter what I do to the old girl, I need to be able to drive it at the end of each day. It keeps me in check and makes sure I don’t take on any jobs that are too big and will keep her off the road for too long.
What have you done so far?
Removed the wagon roof and converted it to a ute as I said, replaced the crumbling foam in the seats and chucked in a Mexican throw rug. I’ve also done a backyard respray job, serviced it and rebuilt the brakes. Inside I spent five hours removing 37 years worth of crud.
What is the hardest part of this project?
Not being able to work on it full time and having to go to work.
When will it be finished?
It will never be finished!
Who is helping you with the project?
The missus offers advice on the aesthetics, while Potato, my dog, is always there for moral support.
Any other projects on the go?
I have a 2001 Td5 Defender which is my daily driver and camping rig. She always likes a bit of attention.
Tell us about some of the other Land Rovers you have owned?
I’m fairly new to the Land Rover game and have well and truly caught the bug. My first one was a mustard yellow 1978 Series III 88 inch. I was not a fan of the lack of space so I sold it to a mate who is doing a full resto on her. It’s nice to know it went to a good home.