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My interest in different vintage vehicles is a bit like the tide: it comes and it goes. When it comes, it is hard to swim against the desires of knowing more and wanting to eventually acquire the subject of whatever kick I may be on lately.
Most Recently this kick has come in the form of vintage 4x4s, which began when I saw this old Alfa Romeo Matta at the Best of France and Italy show a few weeks ago in Los Angeles. Seeing the Matta stirred up the feelings for acquiring an old off-roader. This isn’t solely out of the norm for myself, as I have had a few 4x4s in my past, the most “vintage” (take this word with a grain of salt) being a 1988 Mitsubishi Montero 2 Door. I purchased the car for $500 and had so much fun taking all over the mountains of Utah and regret selling it a number of years back. As much as I loved the old Montero, I now have a desire to pick up something a little more vintage and lately my evenings have been consumed with scouring many web forums dedicated to Land Rovers Series I, II, and IIIs, FJs, Broncos, and Jeeps.
All of this searching and scouring the web has left me wondering: what vintage 4x4s excite you the most?
Photo Sources: Petrolicious’ Instagram (@PetroliciousCo)
67 Series IIA w TDI On the transporter now n can’t wait
My first car was a 1980 Jeep Cherokee Chief widetrack with Levis denim interior. I think that will always be my favorite because nostalgia wins.
Despite I ranked it on 3rd place in earlier posting, I will go to get a Lada Niva tomorrow (#Top Gear talk ON: SUB ZERO COOL !!!! Top Gear talk OFF#) It will be a present for my wife’s birthday. (eeek! 5 car in ownership then…. becoming a fleetmanager in leisure time too?)
Since she had her driving license she loved off-roading. The nimble Niva also stole her heart with its iconic apearance and perfect offorad skills. It will be taken to Czech Republic where we have a holiday house. The nice hills and forests will be fun to drive!
1985 Subaru Brat, missing the targa stripes and bed seats. Not sweating about that detail, I can’t ride back there and drive. Just add a 17mm and you can fix itr with the included tool kit. Most complicated thing is the carb. Added the 1982-83 GL Cyclops ‘passing light’ because it’s my car and it bolts in. Basic evaluation: great vehicles, also a great tendency to rust in vital areas. 4 speed with hi/lo select. 4wd can lock up if used incorrectly. Not fast. Australians and other maniacs have been known to put a newer motor in these for sub-light… Read more »
jensen FF? class, V8 and 4×4!
A Volvo c303 please.
A Land Rover series III. AWL DAY
best vintage 4×4 is the Jeep Commando ,Long wheel base, V^ power, top comes off, no computer or electronics and parts interchangeable with the whole CJ range so easy repairs and upgrades. So light it barely needs 4WD on my local beach
Not sure if it’s my favourite of all… but very close at least, is my current daily driver, a Range Rover Classic Tdi from 95.
Stylish, confy on road, reasonably frugal, a absolutely capable off-road.
I enjoy my 1982 Jeep CJ-7 immensely. It has a soft top and hard top but they are rarely used. Off-road the windshield gets folded down. Doors? Who needs doors?
LOVE the old Suzuki Samurais. Like a budget, mini-rover.
Also, I wish they brought the Skoda Yeti over to the US so we could try that out. People seem to rave about it abroad.
1987 Dodge Raider 2.6 w/weber conversion and 87 Suzuki Samurai hardtop. Pure 4×4 love.
Early Broncos! Here’s my ’66, been in the family since it was new!
The late 50s to mid 60s Dodge Power Wagons were always my favorite. An unstoppable off roader and legendary for its toughness. I’d love to get one and swap the 251 cube flathead six with a lightly modded Cummins 4BT turbo diesel to give it more every day usability for the modern world. After that, hit the trails with the ol’ Dodge.
I also love the Suzuki Samurai and Toyota FJ60.
Soviet Lada Niva
http://www.autowp.ru/pictures/vaz/niva/autowp.ru_vaz_2121_niva_3.jpg
Still made today almost equal to 1977.
The FJ 60 I have. I would also like a Panda.
My favorite “vintage” 4×4, I already own it. My Mitsubishi Montero 1989 4-Door, is slow and heavy … but for me, it’s the most fun car I driven.
The slowest, least powerful, least comfortable vehicle I have ever owned is my 1989 Pajero 2-door.
It’s also the most fun. I think I’ll miss it when it goes to fund the Delica in a couple years…
Ford Bronco all the way! 😉
Any Dodge trucks from the 1960’s and even new as an 80’s power wagon/ram power. I think value of those trucks will go up in the next decade or so, once the prices of old fords and chevys skyrocket .
International Scout, series 1. That’d do me. Owned an ’80’s Suzuki Samurai for a while though too. That was a fantastic 4×4 – went everywhere the big trucks went and then some.
Series II Land Rovers. Simple, unstoppable and any idiot can keep them going. Unfortunately they are becoming a high priced trophy cars for urban collectors, an environment in which they serve no purpose.
My old Series II on the North Rupununi trail
CJ-5, please! This is mine:
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H1LX8Ua0ZnU/UQwUUH5u7uI/AAAAAAAAAQk/60rK5WR1T5U/s1600/DSC_0039.jpg[/img]
It’s hard to beat an old Jeep (CJ-5 or earlier), or a 1st Gen Bronco. Who can resist an early FJ-40?
60 series Nissan Patrol!
Old Land Rover, Land Cruiser LWB, Lamborghini LM002, but what I really like would be Audi Quattro, Lancia Delta Integrale, Escort Cossie, stuff like that.
Recently, we’ve restored a CJ7, a Scout SSII and a fully loaded ’79 Bronco and all three of those were pretty fun to have around.
My series 2.5 Land Rover!
Any original Land Rover and especially the two door Range Rover classic!
Our Niva’s pretty kickass. If we hadn’t broken the steering box (mostly our fault) it’d be knocking about quite happily at the moment. As such, it’s waiting for an exhaust gasket and then it’s good to rock and roll.
Old Series Landys are pretty cool as well. One of my mates had an S3 2.25 and it was brilliant.
I am a fan of the non-jeep inspired 4wd vehicles.
Toyota Corolla/Celica All-Tracs
Subaru Leone Mk2/Brat
…and the 60 series Land Cruiser
Oh and should we count the Porsche 953?
Had two Niva’s (!)
They are crap in many way’s, but…
I miss them !
Any G503 jeep ! (I have a 1944 GPW)
For a left field choice how about a Monteverdi Safari http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monteverdi_Safari ?
Id have to say i always enjoyed the AMC eagles back in the day. Also the original Ford Broncos are a cool good 4X4. And last but certainly not least A Jeep CJ 5 with a lift kit and some big fat tires
1) Volvo Sugga
2) 1903 Spyker 60/80
3) Lada Niva
4) Fiat Panda1 4×4