JACK DOBSON

My previous column finished with the news that I was about to be evicted from my workshop. I always knew it was coming – the place was earmarked for redevelopment so it was only a matter of time before planning approval would be granted and they could start knocking the place down. I had just hoped I might get a bit more than two weeks’ notice!

Mild panic set in pretty quickly, I had two Land Rovers in various states of undress and neither was in a position where it could even be rolled let alone driven so the next two weeks saw me racing against the clock to get them mobile and also find a new place. I checked out various units and was surprised by a couple of things. A) landlords want to lock you into at least a three-year lease and B) industrial units are very expensive.

My foray into restoring Land Rovers full time is very new and remains to be seen if I will actually generate a worthwhile income from it so did I really want to commit to a long lease? As I say, the rent also really surprised me. With the pandemic, I expected lots of industrial units to be empty and landlords struggling to get tenants but apparently not. The real estate agents were telling me more and more people are starting their own manufacturing businesses so demand for industrial spaces is very high (had I been after an office space the story would have been quite different).

My criteria for the new place were pretty simple – I wanted enough space to fit four cars and space be able to work on them. I also wanted somewhere with good lighting and proper security. For months I have been struggling to see what I’m doing under awful fluorescent lighting and I have been in constant fear that someone would break in and steal my tools and/or damage the vehicles. It has been a source of many sleepless nights! Security cameras set up on the main entrance way to the old workshop would regularly catch people peering in during the night. It felt like only a matter of time before someone struck.

I eventually managed to find a new place and the lease was signed barely 24 hours before eviction. It was certainly cutting it fine and I was beginning to think I might need to handcuff myself to the railings. Somehow I managed to get the two Land Rovers to a point where they could roll and steer so they could be loaded up on a tilt-tray and taken to the new place. I arranged a temporary permit for the 130 Defender so that could be driven which proved to be slightly terrifying – as I hit 88 kph things got very shaky. I think it might need new suspension bushes.

Although the new place involves parting with large sums of money each month I could not be happier (except maybe if it had air conditioning). Just being able to see properly makes all the difference and decent security means I am far less anxious. Although I think when it comes to Land Rovers, security is always going to be a concern sadly.

IN OTHER news, I am getting my hands on a new 110 Defender at the beginning of the year. It’s a one-week loan courtesy of Land Rover Australia. Although I have shared my negative thoughts on the vehicle I am still looking forward to trying one and with all the positive press I am expecting it to be fantastic to drive but will the styling grow on me? I am open to changing my mind.

I am more excited by the Bowler Defender however! With prices around $365k it will be a while before I can afford one but I love that it’s a continuation of the original silhouette with a monstrous V8. Unnecessary? Maybe, but in a world where everyone is talking electric vehicles it’s pretty cool to have a true gas guzzler.

Speaking of gas guzzlers, my IIA V8 has been craving attention again recently. For the first time in 20 years I snapped a rear halfshaft. Now the naysayers will tell you, if you stick a V8 in a Series you will forever be replacing gearboxes and halfshafts but they are wrong! I think 20 years is pretty good going and I think driven with a bit of care the transmission seems to cope with the extra horsepower. That said, I will be even more careful in future – fixing it was a painful process. I had heard that you can sometime fish the snapped end out of the axle using a magnet. Well, I made several attempts but there was no way it was coming out and I ended up having to take the rear differential out (yes after unbolting the propshaft and those impossibly difficult bolts). Even then it was incredibly difficult to get the sheared end out. It took me an entire afternoon. No more burnouts for me.

Amongst everything else, I am also stripping off all the paintwork on my 109. My intention is to get it repainted in the new year. Much as I like the patchwork quilt she currently sports I think she deserves to look slightly less derelict. I am a bit torn on colour, whilst I love the pastel green could it be time for something completely different? When Brit Jack Dobson emigrated to Australia in 2010 he took his passion for Land Rovers along with him.

“My criteria for the new place were pretty simple – I wanted enough space to fit four vehicles and to be able to work on them, good lighting and proper security”