Description
UPDATE: Since I was getting more interest without it, I have now removed all the camping equipment and lowered the price.
55644 km (1558 hours)
2. 5 Air Cooled Petrol
Left hand drive
Very rare 5 door 710K variant
Ex Swiss army
MOT and tax exempt
Ready to drive away on an adventure!
I bought this a year ago with the intention of converting it into a camper for my wife and I to explore the UK in. We had a number of great trips in it including to the Isle of Mull, Wales, the Lake District, and around the Yorkshire moors and dales. We’ve done around 5000km in total and it’s been 100% reliable other than a blown tyre (all tyres now replaced with brand new tyres).
We’re reluctantly selling as we’ve just had our first child and we’ve decided to get a more modern truck for adventures with a baby!
I’ve owned a number of old and interesting 4x4s but none of them have had as many comments, smiles and head turns during our travels.
It obviously takes a bit of getting use to, but once you do it’s actually surprisingly good to drive. The low gearing means that it feels nippy and keeps up with traffic fine although the top speed is limited (it will cruise at 55mph but I wouldn’t want to push it much more). The ride is really good and way ahead of a Landrover of a similar age, the unique suspension design works a treat over rough terrain (and potholes!). The build quality and engineering is also far superior to contemporary Landrovers. The one thing that is about equivalent to an old Landrover is the noise level! It does get pretty noisy at speed.
It’s rated at 3000kg gross weight so can be driven on a normal car licence.
The 4x4 system, low range and diff locks all work perfectly. It is probably the most capable 4x4 in stock form that you can buy with front and rear differential locks, 33” tyres and portal axles.
Parts are very easy to get hold of. Haflinger Technik in Scotland are great and have been able to supply anything I’ve needed. There’s also online shops in Europe and the US that sell parts.
Included with the vehicle is the original axe under the passenger seat, shovel underneath the vehicle and a set of snow chains. The hatch above the passenger seat also opens which is a great party trick! There is a desk and lamps in the back from its military days along with blackout blinds in all the rear windows and between the front and rear. There is also an original petrol auxiliary heater behind the driver’s seat but this was disconnected when I got it and I haven’t connected it back up to test.
When I bought it, it seemed like it had been off the road for a while so I spent last Spring replacing a lot of the serviceable items. In the last year the following work has been done:
- Engine oil and filter changed twice (last done at 55165km)
- All transmission oils changed (transfer box, gearbox, differentials, and portal axles)
- Removed points and upgraded to electronic ignition, this has worked flawlessly since but I have a spare ignition module that is included in case there is ever a problem with this
- Converted to standard civilian coil and plugs rather than the very expensive military originals. A spare coil is included.
- Fan belt replaced
- Crankshaft oil seal replaced
- Axle rubber gaiters replaced
- Brakes adjusted
- Air filter replaced
- Fuel filter replaced
- New starter batteries
- New starter motor
- Oil cooler and seals replaced
- New wiper blades
- New windscreen seal
- 4 brand new Toyo Open Country MT tyres. The spare is an old but basically unused BFG MT.
- Custom made roof rack
There are a few things to be aware of that were on my list to sort:
- the handbrake isn’t great, it’s ok for normal road use and seems to be working at the moment but I have had it not hold when on a steep hill so I was planning to adjust or overhaul it.
- when I bought it I bought wheel cylinders for all the brake drums. I ended up just adjusting the shoes (they don’t self adjust) so never fitted the new wheel cylinders. These are included so I’d recommend fitting them at some point. It brakes ok at the moment (for a 50 year old truck) but giving the brakes an overhaul wouldn’t go amiss.
- when I replaced the windscreen seal I managed to crack the top corner of the windscreen as I was fitting it. This is the passenger side so doesn’t obstruct the view but again would be good to sort. The glass is available from Haflinger Technik or I imagine any glass supply company could cut a piece as it’s a simple flat pane
- I’ve not done any cosmetic work to it and it’s been used offroad over the years so expect some mud and battle scars. The bodywork has dents, scratches, rust bubbles etc. The worst rust areas are on the drivers door and inside the boot around the wheel wells. The backbone chassis is solid with no rust issues at all.
- The winch needs attention. The remote is present and the solenoids click but it seems the motor is seized.
Viewings and collection at TS12, North Yorkshire.
