New Life for Old
Meet the craftsman whose restos make leafsprung Land Rovers fit for modern driving
IT seems in recent years that utility Land Rovers and Series vehicles, in particular, have suddenly gone from humble workhorse to veritable fashion icon. This has led to a commensurate rise in prices as increasing numbers of rusty old farm hacks are dragged out of barns and rebuilt. Many specialists are getting in on the act, Yorkshire-based Twisted, for example, has now added modern interpretations of Series vehicles to its line-up. Land Rover itself has encouraged the trend too, with its Land Rover Reborn programme producing virtually factory new examples of these classics. Many owners however simply want a sympathetic rebuild to breathe new life into their tired vehicles. This is where Retro Works come in, with a mission to ‘restore, repair and refine’ old Land Rovers and make them fit for the challenges of modern driving.
I first met Retro Works owner Graham Archibald at Defender Jam in the Highlands and was impressed with his ethos of making Series vehicles more usable on modern roads while retaining their looks and character. I was also pleasantly surprised to hear how any modifications are always thoroughly tested on his private vehicles.
As the former owner of a battered and chronically underpowered Series III diesel, I could relate to this and arranged to visit his Scottish Borders workshop. The home of Retro Works turned out to be a classic stone barn packed with Land Rover projects in various states of assembly. The place oozed old school charm, and is also where his latest project – a 109 Series IIA pick-up – resides.
Using this project as an example Graham explained his restoration strategy – retaining as much of the original structure as possible while adding of few carefully chosen enhancements. In this case, that means a new Richards’ chassis powder-coated and complete with parabolic springs and Pro Shock system which will underpin the restored bodywork. Although the owner has specified a fresh paint job, all of the original cappings will remain to retain the classic appearance and appeal of the vehicle.
On the engine side of things, the original six-pot petrol unit will benefit from a few improvements to boost power to around 110 bhp. This is an important consideration as the client will use the finished vehicle to trailer his other classics to shows. Electric ignition will be fitted for reliability while front discs and calipers from a Defender will ensure it stops
Photos by Craig Allen
as well as it goes. Defender wheels and tyres have also been specified, a common fitting on Series Land Rovers and is in keeping with the working truck theme of this build.
Graham explained that he is working on a package of enhancements that can be offered to clients and can be also personalised, such as paint and trim. Each build will be recorded on a register and will come complete with a certificate of authenticity along with pictures of the restoration process. Graham also offers an after-sales service on his vehicles for maintenance and any further work required. Future plans include events such as road trips and greenlaning so that like-minded owners can get together. It sounds like a great idea and the surrounding Borders country offers plenty of opportunities for Land Rover fun.
Returning to Retro Works a few months later there had been a few changes with the business, now located in a modern riverside unit at Selkirk. Graham had also taken on some help in the form of ex-navy engineer James Boath. While impressed by the spacious and pristine new workshop I slightly missed the man-cave feel of the old place but could see it offered a far better working environment. In fact, it was quickly developing a character of its own with old signs and Land Rover parts lining the walls. It also offered more storage space for Graham’s current projects which include a Series II and former Auxiliary Fire Service Series I, along with the Series IIA pick-up I had met earlier.
This had come on leaps and bounds since my last visit and was now resplendent in Marine Blue paint with the modified six-cylinder engine sitting in the restored engine bay. This unit came from a period Rover saloon car and was de-tuned when originally installed. It has now been restored to its original horsepower and fitted with oversized pistons, a balanced crank, flywheel and polished cylinder head. It certainly looked impressive and will provide sufficient power for the pick-up’s intended purpose as a tow car.
In keeping with the ethos of re-using as much of the original vehicle as possible the bulkhead and front panel were repaired, galvanised and painted and the rest of the bodywork is original apart from the doors and tailgate. The galvanised trim has been restored and re-fitted, just needing some exposure to the elements to take off the shine.
Meanwhile, an overdrive has been fitted and the intention is to run oversized tyres on 16 inch Defender rims.
The emphasis throughout is on drivability and usability as this will be a working vehicle, not a show queen. In keeping with this, Dynomat has been applied to reduce engine and transmission noise with wiring, doors and trim next on the agenda. Once completed the vehicle will be given a thorough shakedown with all areas re-checked for fit and function as part of the quality control process. It will then be ready for handover to the lucky owner and the intention is to show it off at this year’s Defender Jam.
It seems as though Retro Works is thriving in its new home and I look forward to catching up with the guys at the show and seeing the completed pick-up in all its glory.