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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)
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 speed, but for now I’m enjoying all the retro things like the full-size spare under the hood, a carburetor..
An AM/FM radio that has a line in so music’s not a problem.
About the only other mod was fitting a Forester 3rd brake light just because people expect 3rd brake lights these days.
Being a unibody, well, it’s caveat emptor. Even mine is missing sections of running boards and the rear apron is n/a. Not necessary for operation. Just keep a can of rust converter handy.
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.
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.