Interesting Land Rovers...

[60seriesguy]

Just this week I've seen TWO non-NAS Defenders, one was an early (late-80's) D110, Aries Blue, RHD, with the funky stripes, spotted on I-495 near Washington, DC. I also spotted a D110 pickup truck, white, LHD, diesel (200 TDI?) in pretty good shape but with rust flakes on the frame, parked on a side street near Eastern Market in NW Washington DC, close to North Carolina Ave.

Anyone know either of these trucks?

I've seen my share of non-US Land Rovers in the last couple of years, too. Spotted a weird Conniston Green D90 with the euro-spec rear lights and NO VIN number at a 4x4 shop in VA a few years ago. Then I saw a red, RHD D110 with Utah plates in Zion National Park about 6 weeks ago.

Last November I spotted what appeared to be a Camel Trophy D110 support vehicle going northward on I-17 in Arizona, about 30 miles south of Sedona. It was RHD and loaded to the gills, but I couldn't get details because I was driving in the other direction. Very cool spotting!

I don't know who's bringing these vehicles in or which loopholes in importation laws they're taking advantage of, but whatever it is, my hat is off to these fellas, KUDOS!

[roverhybrids]

It's possible that some of these people were on vacation with a temporary importation use.
Rovers North imported a few 110's in the late 80's. I believe they all had the 3.5 V8.
And some were probally well restored series trucks.

[Cutter]

im moab I saw a D130 crew cab from new zeland (!)

[Rover Addiction]

It is legal for foreign nationals to bring non-NAS vehicles into the US for some time as long as they sign paperwork promising to remove them from the US at the end of their stay. I think there are time limits on these as well, maybe a year or so.

I did look at a gray market (mid 80s) defender brought in right before some loophole in the law was closed. Apparently, you could bring in a vehicle if you lived abroad for a length of time. There are a few of these running around, both rangies and defenders. Unfortunately, many of these trucks have fallen apart due to poor maintainance and general apathy of the owners about the exceptional piece of machinery they own.

I know another way to do it is to disassemble the vehicle, bring it into the US in separate boxes as auto parts, and then reassemble it. These sometimes have kit-car titles or otherwise, series rover titles taken from a totalled truck. I guess that's one way to keep your old beloved series truck from disappearing off the earth completely!

I have also seen several rebuilds of either series trucks or defenders into non-stock configurations. Since they are so easy to disassemble/reassemble, this is a practical solution to the urge for that Defender pickup you always wanted!



-John

[Rover Addiction]

Oh yeah, and an interesting solution for Camel trophy trucks: If you can prove historical significance, you can bring a vehicle in as an historical vehical. However, with these there are restrictions on how many miles per year and other things, basically to keep you from making it a daily driver.

Soo... if you can find a camel vehicle with a documented history, you can likely bring that in with little trouble.

-John

[Robbie]

Actually saw a convertible Freelander here in Vienna, VA last week. He had diplomatic plates so that may be the way they did it. Didn't even notice now if it was rhd or lhd.

Robbie

[60seriesguy]

I know all about the temporary importation because I helped with the paperwork for seven Land Cruisers imported in this manner by an expedition group in 2000. Both vehicles I mention above spotted in the DC area had Virginia plates, so they were at least gray market vehicles.

I looked into the historical vehicle clause, but the restrictions are significant, to the point where even attending an event in another state might be a problem without towing the rig.

I definitely buy the earlier Series converted into a Defender and the reassembled "kit car", both are fairly common among Cruiserheads as well...

Just curious, if you guys knew a surefire, *cheap* method, I want IN!!!

[evilfij]

How "cheap" do you want?

I expect to have 15 tops into my 1964 110 dormobile. Completely legal. I could do it with a used RR drivetrain for under 10. Getting the last bit of cash saved for the engine is what is holding me up now.

Believe it or not making a 110 out of a 109 is not too hard. As long as you are not concerned with having everything current 110 spec you can keep the costs down. Of course it helps to have some idea of how rovers work and what is interchangable and what parts are available but you could certainly do an ok job if you know how to turn a wrench and are not afraid to ask questions.

Here is a hypothetical with list prices:

New 110 Frame 1750
Front axle, PS box, column, engine, tranny, t-case, front DS, wheels, fuel tank pump etc., rad (salvage whole Rangie minus resale) 2000
Early Series III 109 (body, doors, title, dash, lights, seats) 2000
Rear axle (salisbury) 500
Springs 250
Lengthen Rear DS 100
Shocks 250
Brake lines 100
New d90 bulkhead (transfer SIII dash) 600
Wiring harness 300
D90 hood 250
D90 front panel 150

Probably will cost you 10 in parts by the time you are done with some mods and a new set of tires and such and this is assuming you don't find any good deals. I am doing mine a bit differently (more series) but it is not too hard . . . as long as your other rovers don't use up all your engine money

Ron

[Rover Addiction]

Well.. someday when I have my shop built, I'll start building up another 110 or something more interesting, but for the moment, I have to stick with something pre-assembled.

Ron definitely has the right idea for someone who wants to really know their rig because if you build it, you can get EXACTLY what you want and by the time you're done, you'll know how to repair any problem that might come up.

All it comes down to is time and money!!

-John

[brianbonner90]

There is a guy in canada that does it legaly. He has contacted me. I just don't have the cash. Titled and all